Maple Date Bars Food

MAPLE DATE BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
• Combine dates, water, and maple syrup in a heavy saucepan on medium heat.
• Bring to a boil and cook about 12 minutes, stirring frequently, until most of the liquid is absorbed and it looks like jam. Stir in the rind and remove from heat to cool completely.
• Cream the sugar and butter with a mixer at medium speed until smooth. Combine flour, oats, baking soda, and salt, then stir into sugar mixture. (It will become crumbly) Press 2 cups flour mixture into bottom of a 13 x 9-inch baking pan coated with cooking spray. Spread date mixture on top, then sprinkle with remaining flour mixture. Bake 20 minutes or until golden brown. Cool completely in pan on a wire rack.

DATE BARS

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, combine the chopped dates and water. Over medium low heat, bring to a simmer and cook for 5 minutes. Add the sugar and lemon juice and stir until the sugar has dissolved. Bring back up to a boil and cook for 1 minute. Remove from the heat and allow to cool to room temperature.
• Thoroughly butter a 9 x 13 inch baking pan with 2 inch sides and line the base of it with parchment paper.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. In a large mixing bowl, combine the oats, flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt. Mix together well with a wooden spoon, then drizzle in the melted butter and stir to moisten evenly. Spread 1/2 of this crumb mixture in the base of the pan, then cover with an even layer of the cooled date mixture. Top the date layer with another layer of the crumb mixture and bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the top is golden and bubbly, and the edges have begun to caramelize. Cool on a rack, to room temperature. Run a knife around the inside edge of the pan to release, and cut into 12 squares.

DATE BARS WITH MAPLE SYRUP AND BROWN SUGAR

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400°F.
• Combine the dates, water and maple syrup in a small heavy saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil, then cook, stirring frequently, until most liquid is absorbed (about 12 minutes). Mixture should look like jam. Remove from heat and stir in zest. Cool completely.
• In a large bowl, whisk together flour, oats, baking soda and salt. Beat the brown sugar and butter with a mixer at medium speed until smooth. Stir flour mixture into sugar mixture (it will be crumbly).
• Coat an 11- x 9-inch baking pan with cooking spray. Press 2 cups of mixture into bottom of pan. Spread date mixture over flour mixture. Sprinkle remaining flour mixture on top.
• Bake for 20 minutes or until golden brown. Cool completely in pan on wire rack, then cut into 20 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.