Date Bar Cookies

Ingredients

• 0.5 teaspoon baking soda 
• 1 cup firmly brown sugar packed
• 0.8 cup butter very cold cut into small cubes
• 3 cups dates coarsely chopped
• 1.8 cups flour 
• 0.3 cup granulated sugar 
• 1.5 cups old-fashioned rolled oats 
• 1 teaspoon salt 
• 1.5 cups water 

Equipment

• bowl
• frying pan
• sauce pan
• oven
• blender
• hand mixer

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
2. In a nonreactive medium saucepan over low heat, combine dates, granulated sugar, and water. Cook, stirring constantly, until thickened, about 15 minutes. Cool completely. In a large bowl or bowl of an electric mixer, place brown sugar, flour, baking soda, salt, and oats.
3. Mix on low speed until combined. While mixer is running, add butter, 1 piece or 2 at a time.
4. Mix until crumb like, with some lumps of butter no larger than pea size.
5. Using your hands, press and flatten half of crumb mixture into a greased 9 by 13-inch pan.
6. Spread cooled filling over crust. Cover with remaining crumb mixture, patting lightly.
7. Bake until lightly browned, 25 to 35 minutes. Cool slightly and cut into bars while still in the pan. Gently remove cut bars from pan.
8. Serve warm or at room temperature. Date bars, stored in an airtight container, refrigerate and freeze well.