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Classic Date Bars

Servings: Makes 16 bars
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups water
1 1/2 cups chopped pitted dates
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup dark brown sugar, firmly packed
1 cup old-fashioned oats
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks/6 oz./170g) unsalted butter, diced, room temperature

Instructions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F/180 degrees C. Butter 8x8-inch metal baking pan. Bring 1 1/2 cups water to simmer in medium saucepan. Add dates; simmer until very soft and thick, stirring occasionally, about 10 minutes. Cool to room temperature. Stir in vanilla.

Combine flour, sugar, oats, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt in large bowl; stir to blend. Add butter. Using fingertips, rub in until moist clumps form. Press half of oat mixture evenly over bottom of prepared pan. Spread date mixture over. Sprinkle with remaining oat mixture; press gently to adhere. Bake until brown at edges and golden brown and set in center, about 40 minutes. Cool completely in pan on rack. Cut into bars and serve.

Makes 16 bars.

Source: Bon Appétit, February 2004
Date: August 23, 2006