Maple Date Bars

More fall goodness!

Ingredients

1 3/4 cup finely chopped dates
3/4 cup water
1/3 cup maple syrup
1 teaspoon lemon rind
2/3 cup sugar
1/2 cup softened butter
1 cup flour
1 cup regular oats
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
Cooking spray

Instructions

Combine dates, water and maple syrup in saucepan. Over medium heat, bring to boil and cook for 12 minutes or until most of the liquid is absorbed, stirring frequently. The mixture should look like jam. Stir in the lemon rind and cool completely.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Beat sugar and butter until smooth. Combine flour, oats, baking soda and salt. Stir flour mixture into butter-sugar mixture. The mixture may be crumbly.

Spray the bottom of a 9x13 inch pan with cooking spray. Press two cups of the mixture into the bottom of the pan. Spread date mixture over the  pressed crust. Sprinkle with remaining flour mixture.
Bake for 20 minutes or until golden brown. Cool completely on wire rack.