Scrumptious Orange Bites

One bite of these cookies and you will know why they are scrumptious.  My husband loves anything with orange in it.  He loved these!

• 1 1/3 cups flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 1/2 cups pitted whole dates, chopped
• 8 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon grated orange zest
• 1/2 cup orange juice
• 2 large eggs
• 1 cup butterscotch chips
• 1 cup pecans, chopped
• Confectioners’ sugar, opt.

Heat oven to 375 degrees.

Whisk flour, salt and baking soda together in bowl.

Bring dates, butter, brown sugar, orange zest and orange juice to simmer in saucepan and cook until mixture has thickened slightly and measures 2 cups, about 5 minutes.  Transfer mixture to large bowl and let cool to room temperature, about 30 minutes.

Whisk eggs into cooled date mixture, one at a time, until combined.  Fold in flour mixture until just combined, then fold in butterscotch chips and pecans.  Drop generous tablespoon-size portions of dough onto prepared baking sheets, spaced about 2 inches apart.  Bake cookies until edges are set and beginning to brown but centers are still soft and puffy, about 8 to 10 minutes.

Let cookies cool on sheets for 10 minutes, then transfer to wire rack and let cool completely.  Repeat with remaining dough using cooled baking sheet.  Lightly dust cooled cookies with confectioners’ sugar before serving, if desired.

Makes about 4 dozen.

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