The 11th Pillsbury Bake-Off would have been in 1959.
A family recipe provided by Jennifer Kiel of Washington, DC, from her mother-in-law’s collection, started in Kent, Ohio.
Chocolate Refreshers
(Prize winners in the 11th Pillsbury Bake-off)
1-1/4 cups all purpose flour
3/4 tsp. soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1-1/4 cups dates, cut in pieces
3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup butter
1 cup (6 oz. pkg) semi-sweet morsels
2 unbeaten eggs
1/2 cup orange juice
1/2 cup milk
1 cup chopped nuts
Sift flour with soda and salt. Combine dates, brown sugar, water, butter in large sauce pan. Cook over low heat stirring constantly until dates soften. Remove from heat. Stir in chocolate morsels; beat in eggs. Add dry ingredients alternately with orange juice and milk. Blend thoroughly after each addition. Stir in walnuts. Bake in well-greased 15x10x1″ jelly roll pan. 350 degrees 25 to 30 minutes.
Cool. Spread with glaze. cut in bars.
Orange Glaze
1-1/2 cups sifted confectioners sugar
2 Tbsp. soft butter
1 to 2 tsp. grated orange rind
2 to 3 Tbsp. cream
Combine sugar, butter and orange rind. Blend in cream until of spreading consistency.