Chipper Date Brownies

Found this recipe in an older Southern Living Christmas Cookie Cookbook. Very tasty.

• Ready In: 50 mins
• Yields: 36 brownies

Ingredients

• 1 (8 ounce) package pitted dates, chopped
• 1  cup boiling water
• 1  cup shortening
• 1  cup sugar
• 2  eggs
• 1  teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 3⁄4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1⁄4 cup  cocoa
• 1⁄2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
• 3⁄4 cup  chopped walnuts
• 1 (6 ounce) package  semisweet chocolate morsels

Directions

1. Combine dates and boling water in a small mixing bowl;cook to room temperature.
2. Cream shortening in a large mixing bowl; gradually add sugar, beating well. Add eggs, beating well. Stir in vanilla and date mixture, mixing well.
3. Combine flour, cocoa, soda, and salt in a medium mixing bowl. Add to creamed mixture, stirring well. Spread batter in a greased 15X10X1 inch jellyroll pan: sprinkle with walnuts and chocolate morsels. Bake at 375 for 25 to 30 minutes. Cool completely in pan; cut into 2 inch squares.