- Ingredients:
- Filling:
- 2 cups packed and pitted dried dates (about 300 g)
- 2 tablespoons packed light brown sugar
- 1 cup of water
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- Crust and Topping:
- 2 cups rolled oats (not instant)
- 1 cup whole wheat flour
- 1 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup butter or margarine
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Prepare a 9 inch baking pan by lining with parchment paper and greasing lightly.
In sauce pan combine dates, brown sugar and water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, stirring and mashing the dates slightly until thick and jam-like. Stir in vanilla and set aside.
Combine oats, flour, brown sugar, baking soda and salt and cut in butter until well blended and crumbly.
Divide the oat mixture in half, pressing one half firmly into the bottom of the prepared pan to form the crust. Spread date mixture evenly over the crust.
Sprinkle the remaining oat mixture evenly over the date filling.
Bake in the oven for 30 minutes or until golden brown. Cool completely and cut into 16 squares.