The Ultimate Date Bars
Date Filling — (recipe follows):
1 cup butter or margarine — softened
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups quick-cooking or old-fashioned oats
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
DATE FILLING
2 (8 ounce) packages pitted dates — chopped
1/4 cup sugar
1 1/2 cups water
Prepare Date Filling; cool.
Heat oven to 400º. Mix butter and brown sugar in large bowl with
spoon. Stir in remaining ingredients. Press half of the oat mixture in
ungreased rectangular pan, 13 × 9 × 2 inches. Spread with filling. Top
with remaining oat mixture; press gently into filling.
Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until light brown. Cool 30 minutes. Cut into 8
rows by 4 rows while warm.
DATE FILLING:
Mix all ingredients in 2-quart saucepan. Cook over low heat 10
minutes, stirring constantly, until thickened.