Date Crumble Bars

This recipe was found in the 2008 cookbook, Fruit!

• Ready In: 1 hr
• Serves: 12

Ingredients

• 1 1⁄2 cups dates, pitted, chopped
• 2⁄3 cup  fresh orange juice
• 3⁄4 cup unsalted butter
• 3⁄4 cup light brown sugar, packed
• 1  cup rolled oats (a generous cup!)
• 1 1⁄2 cups self rising flour

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F, then grease & line (with parchment) a 7"x11" cake pan.
2. Combine the dates & orange juice in a saucepan & bring to a boil before turning the heat down to low ~ Cover the saucepan & simmer gently for 5 minutes to soften the dates.
3. Remove from the heat & mash the date mixture until smooth, then set aside to cool.
4. In a mixing bowl, beat together the butter & sugar, then stir in the oats & flour to form a crumbly mixture.
5. Press half of this mixture into the base of the prepared pan to form a smooth base, then use a fork to prick the base all over.
6. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until lightly golden.
7. Spread the date paste over the cooked base & sprinkle the remaining crumbly mixture over that as a topping.
8. Return to the oven & bake for another 30 minutes or until lightly golden.
9. Remove from the oven, cut into 12 bars & allow to cool in the pan on a wire rack.
10. Great served either warm or cold.