Swedish Fruit Bars

Filling
1 cup raisins
1 cup chopped dates
1 cup chopped pitted prunes
¼ cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 cup coffee
2 tablespoons lemon juice

Bars
1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
2 ¼ cups Pillsbury’s Best All Purpose or Unbleached Flour
1 cup sugar
½ cup firmly packed brown sugar
¾ cup margarine or butter, softened
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon baking soda
¾ teaspoon cinnamon
¼ teaspoon nutmeg
1 cup buttermilk
1 egg
1 tablespoon powdered sugar, if desired

In medium saucepan, combine all filling ingredients except lemon juice. Cook over medium heat until thickened, stirring occassionally. Remove from heat; stir in lemon juice. Cool slightly.

Heat oven to 350º F. Sprinkle walnuts evenly over bottom of ungreased 13x9-inch pan. Lightly spoon flour into measuring cup; level off. In large bowl, combine 2 cups of the flour, ½ cup of the sugar, brown sugar and margarine at low speed until crumbly. Sprinkle 2 cups of the crumb mixture over walnuts; press firmly. Carefully spread cooled filling evenly over crumb base. Add remaining ¼ cup flour, ½ cup sugar, salt, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, buttermilk, and egg to remaining crumb mixture; beat well. Carefully pour batter over filling.

Bake at 350º F for 30 to 40 minutes or until top springs back when touched lightly in center. Cool completely. Sprinkle with powdered sugar. Cut into bars. 36 bars.