Mara Moorhead's Date Bars
For Filling:
2 Cups Chopped Dates (Apricots or Figs are fine too)
1 lemon (Juice and zest)
4 Tablespoons Water ( More if mixture seems dry)
1 Teaspoon Pure Vanilla extract
For Crust:
2 Cups Flour (Whole Wheat, All Purpose or Gluten Free)
1 Cup Old Fashion Oats
3/4 Cup Raw Sugar (you can use regular or brown sugar)
1Teaspoon Cinnamon
10 Tablespoons of Melted Butter
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line an 8x8 pan with foil and spray the foil
with cooking spray.
In a medium saucepan combine dates, lemon juice, lemon zest, vanilla and
water. Cook over medium-low heat stirring occasionally until dates are soft
and spreadable. If mixture looks dry add a little more water.
While dates are cooking, assemble the crust.
Combine flour, oats, sugar, cinnamon and melted butter until mixture
comes together. Firmly press half the mixture into prepared pan. Spread
the date mixture evenly on top of crust. Cover the layer of dates with the
remainder of the crust mixture and press firmly to make the top crust.
Bake for 20 minutes or until golden brown.