Date Oat Bars

By á-24734

Ingredients

• Crust:
• 1 3/4 Cups Chopped Dates
• 1/2 Cup Water
• 2 Tbs. Brown Sugar
• 1 tsp. Grated Orange Peel
• 2 Tbs. Orange Juice
• 1 tsp. Lemon Juice
• 1 1/2 Cups Flour
• 1 tsp. Baking Powder
• 1/2 tsp. Baking Soda
• 1/4 tsp. Salt
• 1 Cup Cold Butter
• 1 1/2 Cups Old-Fashioned Oats
• 1 Cup Brown Sugar, packed

Preparation

Step 1

In a small saucepan, combine the dates, water, brown sugar, and orange peel. Cook and stir over medium heat until mixture comes to a boil, about 4 minutes. Cook and stir 3 minutes longer or until liquid is absorbed. Remove from heat. Stir in orange peel and lemon juice. Cool to room temperature. In a large bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Cut in butter until crumbly. Add oats and brown sugar, mix well. Set aside half for the topping. Press the remaining crumb mixture into a greased 13" x 9" baking pan. Drop date mixture by small round spoonfuls onto the crust. Sprinkle with reserved crumb mixture; press down gently. Bake at 325 for 30-35 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on wire rack. Cut into bars. Yield: 3 dozen.