Pecan-Date Bars

You can prepare and refrigerate these luscious bars a day or two in advance. They are actually easier to cut once they have been completely chilled.

Yield: 24 servings (serving size: 1 bar)

Ingredients

• Crust:
• 1  cup  all-purpose flour (about 4 1/2 ounces)
• 1/3  cup  packed brown sugar
• 1/4  teaspoon  salt
• 1/4  cup  chilled butter, cut into small pieces
• Cooking spray
• 
  Filling:
• 3/4  cup  dark corn syrup
• 1/3  cup  packed brown sugar
• 1/4  cup  egg substitute
• 2  tablespoons  all-purpose flour
• 1  tablespoon  bourbon
• 1  teaspoon  vanilla extract
• 1/4  teaspoon  salt
• 1  large egg
• 1/2  cup  chopped pitted dates
• 1/3  cup  chopped pecans, toasted
• 2  tablespoons  semisweet chocolate minichips

Preparation

Preheat oven to 400°.

To prepare crust, lightly spoon 1 cup flour into a dry measuring cup; level with a knife. Combine 1 cup flour, 1/3 cup sugar, and 1/4 teaspoon salt, stirring well with a whisk. 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. Bake at 400° for 12 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool completely.

Reduce oven temperature to 350°.

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. Pour mixture over prepared crust. Bake at 350° for 35 minutes or until set. Cool in pan on a wire rack. Cover and chill 1 hour or until firm.

Nutritional Information

Calories:

123 (26% from fat)

Fat:

3.6g (sat 1.3g,mono 1.6g,poly 0.5g)

Protein:

1.4g

Carbohydrate:

22g

Fiber:

0.7g

Cholesterol:

14mg

Iron:

0.6mg

Sodium:

89mg

Calcium:

13mg