Sugar-coated date temptations

18 servings

Ingredients

QuantityIngredient
8ouncesChopped pitted dates
2Strips orange zest
(1/2 by 2 inches long)
6tablespoonsVery hot water
2cupsConfectioners' sugar
2largesEggs; lightly beaten
1tablespoonVegetable oil
1tablespoonFresh lemon juice
½cupUnbleached all-purpose flour
½teaspoonGround cinnamon
1pinchSalt

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly butter a 9-inch square baking pan.

2. Finely chop the dates and orange zest in a food processor. With the motor running, gradually add the hot water to moisten the dates. Transfer to a large bowl.

3. Add 1 cup of the confectioners' sugar, the eggs, oil and lemon juice.

Beat with a wooden spoon until blended. Add the flour, cinnamon and salt, stir until blended.

4. Spread the batter into the prepared pan. Bake for 25 minutes, or until the edges begin to pull away from the side of the pan. Cool on a wire rack before cutting into bars.

5. Place the remaining 1 cup confectioners' sugar on a plate. Roll the bars in the sugar to coat them. These keep especially well. Makes 18 bars.

Cookbook Bar Cookies A to Z by Marie Simmons, 1994; ISBN 1-881527-55-7.

Recipe by: Bar Cookies A to Z, by Marie Simmons Converted by MM_Buster v2.0l.