Dates Bars

Ingredients SERVINGS:

1 cup rolled oats 1 cup all purpose flour 1/2 cup brown sugar (or demerara) 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1/4 teaspoon salt 120 grams unsalted butter (chilled and cut into small pieces) 400 grams pitted dates (diced) 1 cup water 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1. Preheat oven to 350ºF

2. In a mixing bowl, mix together oats, flour, sugar, baking soda and salt 

3. Rub in butter with hands until resembles coarse crumbs

4. Place half of crust in a 8 inch x 10 inch baking pan (or pan of choice) lined with greased parchment paper

5. Press firmly and evenly

6. Bake for about 15 minutes, let cool

7. Meanwhile, cook dates and water in a non-stick pot over medium heat about 15 minutes until thickened

8. Turn heat off, stir in vanilla and let cool slightly

9. Spread dates paste evenly on top of baked crust

10. Sprinkle remaining crust mixture (just a thin and even layer)

11. Bake for about 25 minutes until golden

12. Cool completely before cutting into squares