Date Nut Bars

  Adapted

 

4 stars based on 7 reviews

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Dates, walnuts, cinnamon, and vanilla mingling with the flavors of honey and apple jelly - this bar has something for everyone. Put it all on our simple oatmeal *cookie bar crust, and you've got an instant bake-sale classic. Don't be put off by the long list of ingredients; these are a breeze to throw together.

This sweet oatmeal crust makes the perfect base for a variety of cookie bars.

Ingredients Cookie Bar crust *

• 3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened but cool
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

• 1/2 cup oats, quick or old-fashioned
• 1 3/4 cups flour
• 1 tsp vanilla powder
• 1 tablespoon cold water

  Instructions

1. Heat the oven to 350º, then butter a 13- by 9-inch pan and set it aside.
   
2. Cream the softened butter, sugar, and salt in a large bowl with a wooden spoon. Stir in the oats, vanilla powder then stir in the flour a third at a time, rubbing in the last bit of it by hand to make coarse crumbs. Sprinkle on the water and rub briefly.
   
3. Press the dough into the pan, spreading it evenly into the bottom and very slightly up the sides. Chill the pan for 15 minutes. Then bake the pastry on the center oven rack for 15 minutes. Transfer the crust, in the pan, to a wire rack to cool thoroughly.
   

 

Ingredients

• 1 Quick Cookie Bar Crust as above and cooled
• 1/2 cup honey
• 1/2 cup apple jelly
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 1/4 cups chopped dates
• 1/2 cup dried apple pieces
• 1 1/4 cups chopped walnuts

 

Instructions

1. Prepare the Quick Cookie Bar Crust and allow it to cool in the pan.
   
2. Heat the oven to 350º. Combine the honey, apple jelly, and butter in a medium saucepan over moderate heat. Whisk the mixture occasionally until the butter and jelly melt, about 5 minutes, then remove the pan from the heat.
   
3. Mix the brown sugar, flour, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon in a medium bowl. Add the eggs and vanilla extract and whisk until they're well mixed, then whisk in the honey mixture. Next, stir in the dates and walnuts.
   
4. Pour the filling over the crust and spread evenly with a spoon. Bake the bars on the center oven rack for 25 minutes, until they're a rich golden brown. Transfer the bars, in the pan, to a wire rack to cool thoroughly. Cover and refrigerate the bars for 1 to 2 hours before slicing. Makes up to 24 bars.