Maple-Date Bars

Wrap these moist bars individually, or place them in a cookie tin between layers of wax or parchment paper.

Yield: 20 servings (serving size: 1 bar)

Ingredients

• 1 3/4  cups  finely chopped pitted dates (about 12 ounces)
• 3/4  cup  water
• 1/3  cup maple syrup
• 1  teaspoon  grated lemon rind
• 2/3  cup  sugar
• 1/2  cup butter, softened
• 1  cup  all-purpose flour (about 4 1/2 ounces)
• 1  cup  regular oats
• 1/4  teaspoon  baking soda
• 1/4  teaspoon  salt
• Cooking spray

Preparation

Combine dates, water, and maple syrup in a heavy saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil; cook 12 minutes or until most liquid is absorbed, stirring frequently. (Mixture will look like jam.) Stir in rind; cool completely.

Preheat oven to 400°.

Beat sugar and butter with a mixer at medium speed until smooth. Lightly spoon flour into a dry measuring cup; level with a knife. Combine flour, oats, baking soda, and salt. Stir flour mixture into sugar mixture (mixture will be crumbly). Press 2 cups flour mixture into bottom of a 13 x 9-inch baking pan coated with cooking spray. Spread date mixture over flour mixture. Sprinkle with remaining flour mixture. Bake at 400° for 20 minutes or until golden brown. Cool completely in pan on a wire rack.

Nutritional Information

Calories:

162 (28% from fat)

Fat:

5g (sat 2.3g,mono 2g,poly 0.3g)

Protein:

1.6g

Carbohydrate:

29.5g

Fiber:

1.8g

Cholesterol:

12mg

Iron:

0.7mg

Sodium:

78mg

Calcium:

14mg