Natural Date Bars

Total Time: 1 hr Preparation Time: 25 mins Cook Time: 35 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 35
• 1/2 cup salted butter (softened)
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup old fashioned oats
• 1 tablespoon water
• 1 3/4 cups dates (chopped and pitted)
• 1/2 cup golden raisin
• 1 1/4 cups water
• 1/4 cup orange juice

Recipe

• 1 for the filling, in a medium saucepan combine pitted dates, raisins, 1-1/4 cups water, and 1/4 cup of orange juice. bring to boil; reduce heat. simmer covered, for 8 to 10 minutes or until thickened. set aside to cool slightly.
• 2 meanwhile, in a large mixing bowl beat the butter with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. add the brown sugar; beat until combined. beat in the flour, baking soda, and salt until crumbly. stir in the oats and 1 tablespoon water until combined. press half of the mixture into the bottom of a 13x9x2 inch baking pan.
• 3 spread the filling evenly over mixture in pan. sprinkle remaining crumb mixture evenly on top, pressing slightly into filling. bake in a 350 degree f oven about 35 minutes or until golden. cool in pan on a wire rack. cut into bars. recipe yields 35 bars.