Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups water
- 1 1/2 cups fresh Medjool dates, pitted and chopped
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
- 1 cup light brown sugar, packed
- 1 cup old-fashioned oats
- 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, diced, room temperature
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray an 8x8 inch baking pan with non-stick cooking spray.In a medium saucepan, bring 1 1/2 cups water to a simmer. Add the dates and simmer until very soft and thick, stirring occasionally, about 10 minutes. Cool to room temperature. Stir in vanilla.In a large bowl, stir together flour, brown sugar, oats, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt. Add butter and use pastry cutter or hands to work into dry mixture until moist clumps form.Press half of oat mixture evenly over bottom of prepared pan. Spread date mixture over. Sprinkle with remaining oat mixture and press gently to adhere. Bake until brown at edges and golden brown and set in center, about 40 minutes. Cool completely in pan on rack. Cut into bars and serve. Enjoy!