Something different
Sometimes you just want something that isn’t chocolate. Yeah, I know what I just said. Sometimes you need an alternative to chocolate. Potlucks, parties, family reunions, church dinners, etc., it always seems that the majority, if not all, of the people bring some form of chocolate baked goods. The last time my department at work had a “Food Day”, I counted 7 types of brownies (mostly store-bought too, slackers!), 2 chocolate cakes, and 2 trays of chocolate cupcakes, and there might have been cookies too. One person brought in a different kind of dessert, something with fruit. I know the people who didn’t eat chocolate enjoyed it and many others liked the change of pace. In fact, it was the dessert most people mentioned when talking about what was available. With this recipe, you can be the person with the popular dessert.
I made these chewy date-nut bars for a different event, which once again was dominated chocolate desserts. I found this recipe in my bible of cookbooks, the one I check first, the King Arthur Flour Cookie Companion. This book has never let me down and this recipe is a prime example. Say the name of these bars to many people and you’ll probably get “uh, dates, I don’t know…”. Believe me, I was one of them. But these bars are moist and chewy, have just a touch of sweetness, and have a pleasant date flavor. Many people who tried them were surprised they were eating, and enjoying, dates.
So the next time you need to make a dessert for some party or potluck, consider something different and make these instead.
Chewy Date-Nut Bars
from page 195 of the The King Arthur Flour Cookie Companion: The Essential Cookie Cookbook
Makes about 16 bars
2 large eggs
1 1/4 cups (5 1/4 oz) unbleached all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup (8 oz) brown sugar (I used dark)
1 cup (4 oz) chopped walnuts
1 cup (5 1/4 oz) chopped dates
Powdered sugar for dusting
Preheat the oven to 400° F. In a mixing bowl large enough to hold all the ingredients, beat the eggs until frothy. In a different bowl, add the flour, salt, baking powder, and brown sugar and whisk together until they are sufficiently mixed. Add these dry ingredients to the eggs and stir until mixed. Fold in the dates and walnuts. Grease a 9×9 inch pan. Put the batter into the pan and spread evenly. I recommend using your fingers. Make sure they are well greased because this batter is very sticky. Bake the bars for 18 to 22 minutes. They are done when they are golden brown and the top of the bars is shiny. Since we want chewy bars, not crunchy, the center should be slightly wet when a toothpick or tester is inserted into the middle. Overbaking will dry these bars out making them crunchy. Cool them completely before cutting. Dust the tops with powdered sugar.
