Aunt Theresas Date Bars Recipes

DATE BARS

Steps:

• In 2-quart saucepan, cook filling ingredients over low heat about 10 minutes, stirring constantly, until thickened. Cool 5 minutes.
• Heat oven to 400°F. Grease bottom and sides of 13x9-inch pan with shortening.
• In large bowl, stir brown sugar and butter until well mixed. Stir in flour, oats, baking soda and salt until crumbly. Press half of the crumb mixture evenly in bottom of pan. Spread with filling. Top with remaining crumb mixture; press lightly.
• Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until light brown. Cool 5 minutes in pan on cooling rack. Cut into 6 rows by 6 rows while warm.

GRAN'S DATE BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Bring dates and water to a boil in a saucepan over medium heat. Reduce heat; simmer and stir until thick, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in vanilla extract.
• Combine oats, flour, brown sugar, walnuts, salt, and baking soda in a large bowl. Add melted butter; mix until blended.
• Pour 2/3 of the oat mixture into an 8-inch square baking dish, pressing over the bottom and sides. Spread the date mixture over the oats; crumble remaining oat mixture evenly on top. Press down lightly.
• Bake in the preheated oven until golden, about 25 minutes.

DATE NUT BARS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the sugar, flour, baking powder, salt, dates and nuts. Add the eggs, butter and vanilla; stir just until dry ingredients are moistened (batter will be very stiff). , Spread in a greased 15x10x1-in. baking pan. Bake at 350° for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown. Cool bars on a wire rack. Dust with confectioners' sugar. ,

DATE BARS

Steps:

• Make the crust: Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Butter a 9-by-9-inch baking pan. Line with parchment paper, leaving a 2-inch overhang. Butter parchment; set aside.
• In the bowl of a food processor, combine flour, sugar, salt, and butter. Pulse to combine. Add egg and pulse until evenly moistened. Transfer mixture to prepared pan; press into bottom (use the base of a dry measuring cup or a small offset spatula to help). Freeze for 10 minutes. Bake until lightly golden, 20 to 25 minutes.
• Make the filling: In a saucepan, combine dates, sugar, and cider. Cook over medium heat until soft and the consistency of jam. Using a hand blender, puree mixture until smooth. Stir in lemon zest. Spread mixture evenly over baked crust.
• Make the topping: In a medium bowl, whisk together oats, flour, brown sugar, salt, and cinnamon. Using your hands, work in butter to form crumbs. Evenly distribute crumbs over filling to cover. Bake until topping is golden brown and filling is set, 20 to 25 minutes. Run a paring knife around edges of pan to loosen; let cool completely in pan on wire rack. Using parchment overhang, remove from pan; cut into squares using a serrated knife.

OLD-FASHIONED DATE BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°F.
• Cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
• Beat in eggs one at a time.
• Stir in vanilla.
• Mix together flour, baking powder, and baking soda; and gradually add to the creamed mixture.
• Fold in the dates and nuts.
• Spread the batter evenly in a greased 13x9 baking pan and bake at 375°F for 25 minutes or until golden.
• Cool in pan.
• Cut into approximately 24 bars.

BEST DATE BARS

Steps:

• In a saucepan, combine dates, sugar and water. Cook, stirring frequently, until very thick. Stir in walnuts, if desired; cool. , Sift the flour, salt and baking soda together in a large bowl; add oats and brown sugar. Cut in butter until mixture is crumbly. Sprinkle water over mixture; stir lightly. Pat half into a greased 13x9-in. baking pan. Spread with date mixture; cover with remaining oat mixture and pat lightly. , Bake at 350° for 35-40 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool on a wire rack. Cut into bars.

DATE BARS FROM MY CHILDHOOD

Steps:

• Make the filling: Boil dates, sugar, and water until thick, about 5-10 minutes.
• Add 1 TBSP butter, the vanilla, and the walnuts.
• Set aside to cool a bit.
• Prepare the crust: Combine all dry ingredients with the melted butter.
• Press half of the mixture into a lightly greased 13 x 9 pan.
• Cover with filling mixture and top with remaining half of crust mixture.
• Press lightly.
• Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes.
• NO LONGER THAN THAT!
• Cut into squares when cool.