Lemon Date Bars

From Sundays at the Moosewood Restaurant

Classic, healthy and delicious! I use a third of the sugar and it still turns out great. Make sure you use UNSALTED butter! The first time I made these I didn't realize that I put salted butter in them and I brought them to a party. It was really awkward as people bit into them and tasted how salty they were, and then looked all disappointed and embarrassed. I had to resort to putting the tinfoil back on top of them in shame.

Prep time: about 45 minutes

2 cups chopped pitted dates
juice of 1 lemon
1/2 cups of water
1/2 cups of margarine or UNSALTED butter, softened
3/4 cups unbleached white flour
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda, sifted
1 cup rolled oats
preheat oven to 350 degrees celsius


In a saucepan, combine the dates, lemon and water. Cook, covered on low heat for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat and set aside.



In a bowl, cream together the butter and brown sugar Stir in the flour, salt and baking soda. Add the oats and mix well, using your hands. The dough will be crumbly but will hold together when squeezed. Press 2/3rds of the dough into an oiled 8 or 9 inch square baking pan. Stir the date mixture and spread it over the dough. Crumble the remaining dough on the top. Bake for 30 minutes. Cool in the pan. Cut into 16 bars.