Monday, January 13, 2014

Date Bars


Tea today is on my wooden slab that is used for a tray.  I have my snowball candle lit and my snowflake dishes.  I'm using my Goebel sledding kids for some wintry décor.    How about  sharing a date bar and some Constant Comment tea with me?



This is one of those desserts that takes me back to my childhood. I love these bars and remember my Mom buying a date bar mix for me to make,  because I always made desserts for our dinners.  This mix can't be found any more,  and I think it was made by Betty Crocker.  Here's a wonderful recipe for them,  if you're a date lover like me.  This recipe makes an 8" square pan and can easily be doubled for a 9" x 13" pan.


Date Filling

Mix 8 ounces of cut up dates, 2 T. sugar and 3/4 cup of water in a saucepan. Cook, stirring occasionally for 8-10 minutes, until thick. Using a potato masher really helps break the mixture down. Let cool.

Crumb Base and Topping

1/4 cup + 2 T. butter, softened
1/2 cup brown sugar (packed)
3/4 cup flour
1/4 t. salt
1/4 t. baking soda
3/4 cup rolled oats

Cream together the butter and brown sugar. Mix in remaining ingredients until crumbly. If needed, add about 1-2 t. water. Press half the mixture into a greased 8" square pan. Spread with the filling. Top with the remaining crumb mixture and press lightly. Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes.

Cinnamon Icing (optional)

Mix together 1/2 cup powdered sugar and 1/8 t. cinnamon. Add enough milk to drizzle.  Drizzle over top of bars.


I am sharing this with these lovely parties:

            Thank you for your visit!  xo



26 comments:

  1. I would love to try these date bars Kitty! I honestly can't remember if I've ever had dates (at G-Mom-B's maybe?), I know I've never bought them. Looks like a good cookie, I have the strong coffee... only missing one thing:@)

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  2. They look delicious!
    Liz @ Shortbread & Ginger

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  3. I love dates and would love these date bars. We make date balls for Christmas and they are also yummy.

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  4. These bring back memories for me too Kitty. I still have my late mother's stained recipe card for date squares.
    It would be nice to have one with a cup of tea.

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  5. Ohhh these bars look delicious! And what's better than some cozy tea time!

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  6. Oh, those date bars bring back memories for me. When I started high school there was a bakery just a building away, and I often ran over there for their date-nut bars to have with my lunch. Thank you for sharing your recipe!
    I've never had Constant Comment tea. I'll have to give it a try. Have a great day!

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  7. I don't know what I like more: The fact that there is a tea called "Constant Comment" (which should therefore by dubbed the official tea of Debbie Land) or the recipe for the date bars. I'm a huge date lover. I will be trying yours.
    (BTW, if your blog ears were ringing over the weekend, it's because Denise at "Forest Manor" and I were e-yakking and somehow came to the topic of how much we love the recipes on the this blog and the blogger behind them.

    So there.
    You're famous

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  8. Thank you thank you thank you! My mother used to make date bars and I loved them. This certainly takes me way way way back. Constant Comment -- yes! I'll be right over! LOL! Happy Tea Day!

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  9. I make Constant Comment Iced tea for my husband every week. It is generally what he has with his lunch. I occasionally make hot tea with it for myself but he seems to prefer the iced version and it is easy to make!
    I love the smell of it.... and if you add a few finely chopped walnuts to the hot tea it makes a wonderful little extra treat.

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  10. Your date bars look really great, Kitty! I'll have to give them a try! I like your tea setting too. What cute little figures and candle. Thanks for sharing your recipe.

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  11. Yum; I love date squares, Kitty, and your recipe is very similar to my own. I never thought of using the masher. What a great tip! Your snowflake dishes are really pretty. Thank you for sharing and coming to tea.

    Blessings & hugs,
    Sandi

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  12. Your date bars take me bake to my childhood too. My wonderful Aunt Ionia was famous for her date bars. She would often gift her nieces and nephews with a tin of them. Yummy! I had no clue there used to be a mix. Joni

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  13. Yup, I'm skipping around the kitchen table. I love these things and have never made them. I've pinned them so I hope that I will remedy that!

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  14. Kitty,
    This look just wonderful and they made me think of how Mom used to make her own date filling for sugar cookies.
    Oh, I just loved them-I am going to pin this recipe!
    Happy New Year,
    xo-
    Jemma

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  15. I REALLY REALLY looove date bars. Yours look so wonderful. Love the plate/mug...the fireplace...the figurines...the candle. Everything is inviting. Wish I could come and visit with you right there. Thanks much for sharing at Weekend Potluck!

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  16. The date bars look so good. Love the winter dishes. Blessings, Martha

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  17. What a perfect dessert for a cold winter day. You set up a darling little vignette here!

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  18. Yummy! What an enticing vignette...makes me want to just sit right down with a hot cuppa tea (LOVE C.Comment!) & chat with you over those delicious looking date bars.
    When I saw the photo of them, it reminded me of another recipe that I have not made in AGES...totally different taste but very similar in appearance. I'll have to dig it out & make it again soon.

    Warm hugs,
    Rett

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  19. Oh my, I'd love to join you! I love fresh dates and anything baked with them. I appreciate your sharing...

    xo
    Pat

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  20. Oh your date bars look delicious Kitty! I'm a big date/fig fan so I'd love to join you by the fireplace with a mug of tea and a bar! Ditto on what Debbie said ♥

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  21. Oh my! These look so good. I'm not eating things like this on a regular basis, but I am SO PINNING THIS!
    Thanks for sharing.
    Blessings,
    Laura of Harvest Lane Cottage

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  22. Your date bars look delicious! I had a really good date bar recipe and seem to have lost it so I am glad I found your recipe. :-)

    If you like chocolate cheesecake you might like my recent recipe post; https://michaelswoodcraft.wordpress.com/2014/01/08/chocolate-cheesecake/

    I printed your recipe, thank you, :-)
    Michael

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  23. The funniest thing - I just found a container of dates in my pantry and thought, "I really need to find a recipe and use these." So glad to see you at SYC. Have a great week.

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  24. Love date bars and constant comment tea. I am so glad to get a good recipe.

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  25. I am thrilled to have this recipe. Growing up my mom use to buy a date bar mix in a box. Us kids all loved them! Have not seen it to buy in years. These look just like them. Will be making these for sure! Thanks for sharing with SYC.
    hugs,
    Jann

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  26. Good Morning Kitty,
    Your Date Bars look delicious, I just love using dates in different recipes. Looks like a very cozy setting for a nice dessert. Thanks for helping us celebrate Three Years at Full Plate Thursday and come back soon!
    Miz Helen

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