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.

Date Pinwheel Cookies

This is my mom's recipe and one of her favorites. She made these cookies every Christmas and to make sure that she was serving  "fresh from the oven" cookies, she would keep the dough in the freezer and slice off and bake a few at a time.

Ingredients

For the filling

2 1/4 cup dried date pieces
1 cup sugar
1 cup water
1 cup chopped walnuts

For the cookie

2 cups brown sugar
3 eggs
4 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup shortening or butter

Instructions

Prepare the filling by chopping the dates coarsely (if whole).  In medium saucepan, combine the chopped dates, sugar, water and nuts. Heat over medium heat until hot, stirring frequently until the mixture has the consistency of jam, about 20 minutes. Let the filling cool while you prepare the dough.
Cream brown sugar with shortening or butter. Add eggs, one at a time, and beat well after each addition. Add dry ingredients.
Divide the dough into four equal parts. Wrap each section in plastic wrap and chill for at least an hour.
Roll each portion of dough to 3/8 inch thickness. Spread one-quarter of the date mixture onto the dough and roll up like a jelly roll.
Wrap the rolled dough in plastic wrap and chill for 24 hours. At this point the dough can be frozen to make individual "fresh from the oven" cookies.
Slice dough into 1/4 inch pieces. Place sliced cookies on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 400 degrees for 10 minutes.

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.