Date and Orange Slice Bars

Bar cookies with two layers of filling, date and orange. These are awesome cookies - My mother used to make these every Christmas!

• Preparation Time: 30 mins
• Cooking Time: 30 mins
• Total Time: 60 mins
• Calories: 271 Calories

Ingredients

• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ½ cup white sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• ¾ cup shortening
• 1 cup water
• 2 tablespoons hot water
• 8 ounces chopped pitted dates
• 2 (10.5 ounce) packages orange slice candies, cut in half lengthwise

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.

Step 2

In a saucepan combine the dates, 1/2 cup of sugar, 2 tablespoons of flour, and water. Bring to a boil, and cook until thickened, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat, and set aside to cool.

Step 3

In a medium bowl, cream together the shortening and brown sugar until smooth. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla. Dissolve the baking soda in hot water, then stir into the creamed mixture. Combine 1 3/4 cups of flour and salt; stir into the batter just until blended.

Step 4

Spread half of the batter in the bottom of the prepared pan. Cover with a layer of orange slice candy, then spread the date mixture over the orange candy. Cover with the remaining batter.

Step 5

Bake for 30 minutes in the preheated oven, or until golden brown. Cool, and cut into bars.