Orange Date Bars
- Ready In:
- 9hrs 30mins
- Ingredients:
- 17
- Yields:
-
20 bars
- Serves:
- 20
ingredients
-
Dough
- 6 tablespoons butter, softened
- 1⁄4 cup sugar
- 1⁄4 cup honey
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 large egg
- 1 3⁄4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1⁄4 teaspoon salt
-
Filling
- 2 cups dried dates (about 12 ounces)
- 1 tablespoon orange rind, grated
- 1⁄4 cup boiling water
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 2 tablespoons fresh orange juice
-
Other ingredients
- cooking spray
- 1 teaspoon low-fat milk
- 1 large egg yolk, slightly beaten
directions
- For dough: Beat butter at medium speed with a mixer until smooth. Add the 1/4 cup of sugar and beat 2 minutes.
- Add 1/4 cup honey, vanilla, and egg, beating until well blended.
- In separate bowl, combine flour, baking powder and salt with a whisk. Add flour mixture to egg mixture, stirring just until moist.
- Divide the dough in half, and gently press each half of dough into a square on plastic wrap. Cover with additional plastic wrap and chill for 8 hours.
-
Filling:
- Preheat oven to 375°F Coat a 9-inch square pan with cooking spray and set aside.
- Place dates and orange rind in a food processor, and process until all are minced.
- Combine boiling water, 2 tbs sugar and 2 tbs honey, stirring until sugar dissolves. Stir in fresh orange juice.
- With processor on, slowly add orange juice mixture to date mixture through the food chute. Process until well blended, scraping sides occasionally; set aside.
- Working with one portion of dough at a time (cover remaining dough to keep from drying), roll each portion to a 9-inch square on a heavily floured surface. Fit one portion into the bottom of the baking pan.
- Spread date mixture evenly over the dough in the pan.
- Place the remaining square of dough on top of the date filling.
- Combine the milk and egg yolk in a small bowl, stirring with a whisk. Brush milk mixture over top of dough.
- Bake for 30 minutes or until top is golden. Cool 30 minutes on wire rack. Remove from pan and cool completely.
- After the bars have cooled completely, transfer to a flat surface or sturdy cutting board and use a sharp, heavy knife to cut into pieces.
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RECIPE SUBMITTED BY
<p>I'm one of the original members of RecipeZaar and an active member in the old forums. I loved meeting so many wonderful people from across the globe in what were truly amazing forums and during events on the site which encouraged interaction. I miss those forums and am saddened that this is now just another recipe collection site. I will always come back here as I have so many recipes saved of my own and tried many gems. I hope you are able to find something you like.</p>