Chock-Full Blondie Squares

Ingredients

• 1 cup boiling-hot water
• 1 cup dried cranberries (5 oz)
• 1 cup dried tart cherries (5 oz)
• 1 cup golden raisins (5 oz)
• 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• + 10 more ingredients
• • ¾ teaspoon cinnamon
  • 2 sticks (1 cup) unsalted butter, melted and cooled
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla
  • 1 cup whole almonds with skins (6 oz), toasted
  • and very coarsely chopped
  • Special equipment: a 17- by 12-inch shallow baking pan (1 inch deep)
  • Accompaniment: eggnog ice cream
  • (optional)

1. Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 325°F. Butter and flour baking pan, knocking out excess flour. 2. Pour boiling-hot water over dried fruit in a small bowl and soak 20 minutes, then drain well in a sieve. 3. Stir together flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon in another b...

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