Easy Date Squares

My MIL's easy, no fail date squares...Make an extra batch of the date jam its good on its own...over bagels or toast. If your date jam is a little thick. Add a little extra water to thin it out, until it is the consistency that you like. Becareful not to make it too thin.

• Ready In: 40 mins
• Serves: 12
• Yields: 3 doz

Ingredients

• Oatmeal Layer

• 1 1⁄2 cups flour
• 1  cup rolled oats
• 1  cup sugar, brown
• 1⁄2 cup walnuts (optional) or 1⁄2 cup pecans, chopped (optional)
• 1⁄4 teaspoon salt
• 3⁄4 cup butter

• Date Jam

• 1 1⁄2 cups dates, pitted and chopped
• 1⁄4 cup sugar, brown
• 1⁄2 cup water
• 1  teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Date Jam
3. Combine dates, sugar, water and vanilla in saucepan and bring to a boil.
4. Simmer 5 minutes, until mixture resembles a thick paste.
5. Cool completely
6. Oatmeal Layer
7. Combine flour, oats, sugar, nuts and salt in mixing bowl.
8. Cut in butter.
9. Reserve 2 cups of this mixture for topping.
10. Press remaining mixture into bottom of greased 9 x 9" pan.
11. Spread cooled date jam over the bottom layer and sprinkle reserved oatmeal mixture evenly over top.
12. Bake 25- 33 minute.
13. Cool completely then cut into squares.