Date Bars

By KRed

I first made this for the 2014 Family reunion at the Moore's lake place. Everyone, especially Terry liked them. I made these as well as many other bars the 2 weeks before, and froze them in neighbor's freezers.

Ingredients

• Date Filling
• 3 cups chopped pitted dates (1 lb) (8 oz box)
• 1 1/2 cups water (3/4 c)
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar (1/8 c. I used less since box is pre-sugared)
• Bars
• 1 cup packed brown sugar (7 oz) (3.5 oz)
• 1 cup butter or margarine, softened (1/2 c.)
• 1 3/4 cups all-purpose* or whole wheat flour (7.72 oz) (3.86)
• 1 1/2 cups quick-cooking oats (3/4 c.)
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

Details

Servings 36
Preparation time 30mins
Cooking time 65mins
Adapted from s3.amazonaws.com

Preparation

Step 1

1. In 2-quart saucepan, cook filling ingredients over low heat about 10 minutes, stirring constantly, until thickened. Cool 5 minutes.

2. Heat oven to 400°F. Grease bottom and sides of 13x9-inch pan with shortening.

3. In large bowl, stir brown sugar and butter until well mixed. Stir in flour, oats, baking soda and salt until crumbly. Press half of the crumb mixture evenly in bottom of pan. Spread with filling. Top with remaining crumb mixture; press lightly.

4. Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until light brown. Cool 5 minutes in pan on cooling rack. Cut into 6 rows by 6 rows while warm.