Date Filled Cookie Bars

The name says it all. A delicious bar cookie with rich date filling.

• Calories: 279 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 cup chopped walnuts
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ½ cup water
• 1 teaspoon lemon zest
• 1 pound dates, pitted and chopped
• 1 cup butter, melted
• 2 teaspoons orange zest
• ⅓ cup confectioners' sugar for dusting
• 1 ½ cups rolled oats

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

In a medium saucepan bring the dates, sugar, water, lemon zest and orange zest to a boil. Boil for 3 minutes, stirring constantly, then remove from the heat and set aside to cool.

Step 2

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

Step 3

In a medium bowl, stir together the rolled oats, flour, baking soda, brown sugar and cinnamon. Stir in the walnuts and melted butter. Mixture will be somewhat crumbly. Press half of the mixture into the bottom of the prepared pan. Spread the date filling evenly over the crust. Crumble the rest of the crust mixture over the filling, and pat down slightly.

Step 4

Bake for 25 to 30 minutes in the preheated oven. Cut into bars while warm. Dust with confectioners' sugar when cooled.