Pecan-Date Bars

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon bourbon 
• 0.3 cup brown sugar packed
• 0.3 cup butter chilled cut into small pieces
• 0.8 cup plus dark
• 0.5 cup dates pitted chopped
• 1 large eggs 
• 0.3 cup egg substitute 
• 2 tablespoons flour all-purpose
• 4.5 ounces flour all-purpose
• 0.3 cup pecans toasted chopped
• 0.3 teaspoon salt 
• 2 tablespoons semisweet chocolate minichips 
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 

Equipment

• bowl
• frying pan
• oven
• knife
• whisk
• wire rack
• blender
• baking pan
• measuring cup

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 40
2. To prepare crust, lightly spoon 1 cup flour into a dry measuring cup; level with a knife.
3. Combine 1 cup flour, 1/3 cup sugar, and 1/4 teaspoon salt, stirring well with a whisk.
4. Cut in butter with a pastry blender or two knives until mixture resembles coarse meal. Press mixture into the bottom of an 11 x 7-inch baking dish coated with cooking spray.
5. Bake at 400 for 12 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool completely.
6. Reduce oven temperature to 35
7. To prepare filling, combine corn syrup and next 7 ingredients (through egg) in a large bowl, stirring well with a whisk. Stir in dates, pecans, and chocolate chips.
8. Pour mixture over prepared crust.
9. Bake at 350 for 35 minutes or until set. Cool in pan on a wire rack. Cover and chill 1 hour or until firm.