Date Bars

Total Time: 55 mins Preparation Time: 10 mins Cook Time: 45 mins

Ingredients

• 2 3/4 cups pitted dates, chopped (medjool dates preferred)
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 1/2 cups water
• 1/3 cup walnuts, chopped (optional)
• 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 1/2 cups rolled oats, quick cooking
• 1 cup light brown sugar, packed
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, slightly softened
• 1 tablespoon water

Recipe

• 1 preheat oven to 350 degrees f, then grease a 13"x9" baking pan.
• 2 in a saucepan, combine dates, granulated sugar & 1 1/2 cups water. over medium heat, cook, stirring frequently until very thick, then remove from heat & stir in walnuts. set aside to cool.
• 3 in a large bowl, whisk together the flour, salt & baking soda, then stir in the oats & brown sugar.
• 4 cut in the butter until mixture is crumbly, then sprinkle the tablespoon of water over the mixture & lightly stir, before patting half of this mixture into the prepared baking pan.
• 5 spread the date mixture over this bottom layer & then cover the date mixture with the remaining oat mixture, patting down lightly.
• 6 bake for 35 to 40 minutes or until lightly browned, then cool on a wire rack before cutting into bars.