Walnut Oat Date Bars

Makes around 24

Ingredients:

For the filling:

  • 3 cups pitted and chopped dates
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • Around 1 cup water
  • 1 tsp vanilla essence
  • 1 tsp powdered cinnamon

For the bar:

  • 3/4 cup butter, softened
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 1 3/4 cup flour
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 1/2 cups rolled oats

Method:

  • Pre-heat oven to 400F
  • Grease and flour a 9x13" pan
  • Cook over low heat the ingredients for the filling stirring constantly, until the mixture is thick. It could take around 15 mins. Let cool.
  • Mix together the butter and flour. Then sift together the flour, baking soda and salt and add it to the butter-sugar mixture. Add in the rolled oats and use a hand mixer at low speed to combine everything gently
  • Put half the dough mixture in to the pan and gently press and smooth it out
  • Pour the date mixture over it
  • Crumble the remaining dough mixture on top and press gently to even it out
  • Bake at 400F for 25-30 mins until lightly browned on top
  • Let cool and cut in to bars