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Ingredients
- For the batter:
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter (1 1/2 sticks) at room temperature
- 1 1/2 cups flour
- 1 1/2 cups rolled oats
- 1 cup brown sugar firmly packed
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- Date Paste:
- 2 cups dates, pitted and diced
- Juice and zest of 1 lemon
- pinch of salt
Preparation
Step 1
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Butter an 8-by-8-by-2-inch baking pan, and set aside. In a large bowl, combine flour, oats, brown sugar, and baking soda. Add butter, and blend with your fingertips until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
Transfer two-thirds of the crumb mixture into prepared pan, and press into bottom and up sides. Spread date paste over bottom layer of the dough. Cover with remaining crumb mixture.
Bake until golden brown, about 35 minutes. Transfer pan to a wire rack to cool completely. Invert onto a plate, then back onto a cutting board. Cut into 2-inch squares. Store in an airtight container for up to 1 week.
Date Paste:
Place dates in a saucepan with water, salt, and lemon zest and juice. Cook over medium heat until dates are soft, about 12 minutes. Remove from heat; let cool before using.