Oatmeal Date Bars

I have a sliced date cookie recipe that everyone loves, but they are very time consuming.  I don't make them often.  Then I discovered these date bars.  It's a family recipe from on of my friends from the Tea.  Oh!  These are much easier to whip up.  Plus it has oats!  Yum.

Do I ever get a recipe I don't tinker with?  I halved the original amount of sugar.  The dates are already naturally sweet and I like the nuttiness of the oats to stand out.  Next time I may have to swap out some of the flour with whole wheat.  These are soft, chewy and satisfying.


Date Bars

1 cup butter, melted
½ cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 cups sifted flour
1½ cups quick oats

1½ cups chopped dates
A handful of raisins
¼ cup sugar
¾ cups of boiling water

Mix shortening, brown sugar & vanilla.  Sift flour and baking soda. Add quick oats and mix thoroughly.  Set aside.

In a separate bowl, add chopped dates, raisins, sugar and boiling water.  Set aside to cool.  (I tend to plop everything together, then give it a good stir after it has sat for five minutes.)

Press half of the oat mixture into a 7x11” brownie pan.  Spread cooled date mixture on top.  Crumble remaining oat mixture over the date layer.  Bake at 350F for 22 - 25 minutes.  Let it cool completely before cutting into bars.