Date Squares
Date Filling:
3 cups dried pitted dates
1 cup water
1 tsp vanilla
Oatmeal Crust
2 cups old fashioned rolled oats
1 cup flour
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1/8 tsp cinnamon
1 cup unsalted butter
Date Filling:
(Side note you can do all this work or you can go to your local health store and they have it already done for you in tubs.)
Place the dates and water in a medium saucepan and cook over low heat, stirring occasionally, until the dates are soft and have absorbed most of the water (about 5-10 minutes). Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract. Let cool to room temperature and then puree in your food processor.
Preheat oven to 350. Prepare a 9 X13 pan with non stick spray or butter.
Oatmeal Crust:
In the bowl of your food processor, place the oats, flour, sugar, baking soda, salt and ground cinnamon. Pulse to combine. Then add the butter and pulse until the mixture is crumbly. Place 2/3 of the mixture in the bottom of your pan.
Spread the dates evenly over the oatmeal crust. Sprinkle the remaining dough evenly over the top of the dates. Bake for about 30 - 40 minutes or until golden brown. Once the squares have cooled place container in the refrigerator at least one hour or until firm enough to cut easily into squares..
These will keep for about a week.
