Chewy Date Bars

(tastespotting recipe)

Ingredients - serves 20 - 3.5 per serve

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• ¼ tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• 1 cup pitted dates, chopped
• 1 cup flora ultra light margarine, melted
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 2/3 cup sugar
• 1 tbsp. honey
• 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup walnuts, coarsely chopped

Method

• Preheat oven to 180C. Line a 9″ x 13″ rectangular pan OR 2 – 8″ square pans with aluminum foil. Set aside.

• Sift the all-purpose flour, salt and baking powder together. Divide this mixture into two. Use one-half to dredge the chopped dates.

• Meanwhile, in a bowl, combine melted butter, brown sugar, sugar and eggs. Mix until well-blended. Add inthe honey and vanilla extract.

• Fold in the dry ingredients to the batter mixture. Lastly, fold in the dates and walnuts.

• Pour the mixture to the prepared pan. Spread evenly. Bake in the oven for 15 minutes or check doneness with a cake tester. Insert tester close to the side. It should come out clean and dry. The center would still be a little wet when tested. Cool completely. Slice into bars.

Tips:

• I used a standard size cookie sheet and the thickness of the bar is just perfect!

• Resist the urge to eat it just minute out of the oven. Patience! Let it cool completely and cut into bars. If you have a hard plastic spatula, that’s perfect for cutting because it won’t be as sticky as when you use a knife.