Serves: 18
Total Calories: 178

1 (8-ounce) package dates chopped
1/2 cup water
3/4 cup butter or margarine, softened
1/2 cup brown sugar packed
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup flour
1/4 cup whole wheat flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 cups oats

Preheat oven to 350°. Grease an 8 x 8 x 2-inch baking pan.

In a medium saucepan over medium heat, bring dates and water to a boil reduce heat to low and simmer for 2 to 3 minutes or until very thick, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat.

In a large mixer bowl at medium speed, beat butter and brown sugar until fluffy. Beat in vanilla. At low speed, beat in flour, whole wheat flour and baking soda. Beat in oats until combined. Set 1cup of the mixture aside. Pat remaining mixture into baking pan, flouring fingers if needed. Spread date mixture over. Crumble reserved 1 cup mixture over dates.

Bake for 30 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool in pan on a wire rack, loosening from edge of pan while warm.

Cut into bars. Store loosely covered.

Tip: For neat, easy-to-cut bars, omit greasing the pan. Instead line pan with foil, then grease the foil. Lift out when cool peel off foil before cutting.

Fruit Preserve Bars: Instead of preparing the date filling, spread 3/4 to 1 cup preserves or jam, such as strawberry, raspberry or peach, over base and top with crumbs. Bake as above.

Nutritional Facts:

Serves: 18
Total Calories: 178
Calories from Fat: 72

More Recipes from the Goodies To Go Cookbook:
Colossal Cookie
Cookies On A Stick
Date Bars
Granola Bars
Peanut Butter Snowballs
Peanut Butter Turtle Cookies
Spooky Spiders
Temptation Bars
Tropical Drops
Wheat Treats
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