12 Days of Christmas Cookies: Date Walnut Double Decker Bars

These are really date bars, and by the way this recipe will lend itself to nearly any dried fruit, for example a few changes and voila, you have apricot bars.  I made some yesterday.  You are basically making and baking a shortbread crust  and then pouring on a topping which bakes a second time, producing delectable bars in whatever flavor.  See an earlier post for my pecan pie bars.  The same exact techniques are used.

Date Walnut Bars:


Pastry Layer:
1 1/3 c. sifted flour1/3 c. granulated sugar
1/2 cup unsalted butter

Combine flour sugar and butter and blend into fine crumbs.  Pack into the bottom of a greased, nine-[inch square pan.  Bake at 35 degrees F. for about 20 minutes, until edges are lightly browned.


Top Layer:
1/3 cup light brown sugar, packed
 1/3 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs
1 t. vanilla
2 tablespoons flour
1 teaspoon baking  powder
1/2 t. salt
1/4 t. nutmeg
1 cup chopped walnuts
1 8-oz. package pitted dates, chopped


Combine sugars, eggs and vanilla and beat together well.  Sift flour with baking powder, salt and nutmeg and add to mixture.  Stir in walnuts and chopped dates. Pour batter over hot pastry layer and bake at 350 degrees F. about 20 minutes.  cool in pan and sprinkle with powdered sugar, then cut into bars.  makes about 18 bars, 2 3/4 by 1 3/8 inches.

Grapeshot and Grandma in Hesston, Kansas in days of yore