Date Bars

 Fresh dates turn into a jammy sweet layer in these bars.

Ingredients

For the date filling:

3 cups (1 pound) fresh chopped pitted dates

1 1/2 cups water

1/4 cup sugar

For the bars:

1 cup brown sugar

1 cup softened butter

1 3/4 cup flour

1 1/2 cup quick-cooking oats

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

Instructions

In saucepan, combine chopped dates, water and sugar. Cook over medium-low heat for 10 minutes, stirring constantly, until thickened. Cool while preparing remaining ingredients.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Grease bottom and sides of 13x9 inch pan with shortening,

In large bowl, combine brown sugar and butter with electric mixer. Stir in flour, oats, baking soda and salt. Mixture should be crumbly.

Press half of the oatmeal mixture on the bottom of the prepared pan. Spread date mixture evenly on top. Top this with remaining oatmeal mixture. Press lightly.

Bake 25 minutes of until lightly brown. Cool at least 5 minutes in pan before cutting into bars.

Note: Dried figs could be substituted for dates to make fig bars.