I mentioned in my post #29 Mrs. RQSR knowing of a Date Bar recipe, and that if she found it, I’d type it up, and post it. Here ‘tis:
Date Filled Oat Bars
Date filling
1 lb. pitted dates
1 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
1 cup water
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
Oat crust
1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/8 tsp (pinch) of salt
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, cut up
2/3 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
1/2 cup finely chopped walnuts (optional)
Preheat the oven to 350 deg. Fah.
Line a 13X9” baking pan/Pyrex with aluminum foil, letting the edges overhang.
Date filling: Cook the dates with the brown sugar, and water in a saucepan over medium heat until the sugar has dissolved completely. Remove from the heat and add the vanilla, and the cinnamon.Transfer to a food processor or blender, and process until pureed. Return to the bowl and let cool completely.
Oat crust: Mix the flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl. Use a pastry blender to cut in the butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in the oats and walnuts. Firmly press half the mixture into the prepared pan to form a smooth, even layer. Pour the filling over the oat crust and sprinkle with the remaining oat crust mixure. Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until lightly browned.
Using the foil as handles, lift onto a rack and let cool completely. Cut into bars.
Makes 36-45 bars
Mrs. RQSR, and myself haven’t tried this yet, so we can’t vouch for how good it is, but looking at the recipe it appears sane, and responsible. I’d say it’ll be pretty good.
Appreciate the recipe. I’ll have to check and see if I have some pecans left in the freezer. [I’ve been feeding the six year old ‘in the shell’ pecans to the squirrels next to the house.] I may have a frozen baggie of shelled pecans in there somewhere.