Date Bran Bars Recipes

DATE BARS

Steps:

• In 2-quart saucepan, cook filling ingredients over low heat about 10 minutes, stirring constantly, until thickened. Cool 5 minutes.
• Heat oven to 400°F. Grease bottom and sides of 13x9-inch pan with shortening.
• In large bowl, stir brown sugar and butter until well mixed. Stir in flour, oats, baking soda and salt until crumbly. Press half of the crumb mixture evenly in bottom of pan. Spread with filling. Top with remaining crumb mixture; press lightly.
• Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until light brown. Cool 5 minutes in pan on cooling rack. Cut into 6 rows by 6 rows while warm.

WHOLE-WHEAT DATE BARS

Steps:

• Make filling: Bring dates and cider to a boil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium, simmer until dates are soft and almost all liquid has reduced, about 10 minutes. Let cool completely. Transfer to a food processor. Puree date mixture until smooth, set aside.
• Make dough: Whisk together flours, bran, salt, and baking soda in a medium bowl, set aside. Put sugar and zest in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix on medium speed 30 seconds. Add butter, mix until combined, about 1 minute. Add egg, mix until fluffy. Mix in flour in 3 batches, alternating with 2 batches of applesauce. Divide dough in half. Wrap each half in plastic; shape into a rectangle. Refrigerate until firm, about 2 hours.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Roll out 1 piece of dough between two lightly floured sheets of parchment paper to a 9 1/2-by-13-inch rectangle. Dust with more flour, if needed. Remove top piece of parchment. Trim dough to a 9-by-11-inch rectangle. Transfer rectangle on parchment to a baking sheet.
• Cut rectangle in half lengthwise. Spread a heaping cup filling down half of each length, leaving a 1/4-inch border. Fold dough over; pinch to seal. Refrigerate until firm, about 20 minutes. Repeat with remaining chilled dough and filling.
• Bake until golden brown, about 20 minutes. Let cool on sheets on wire racks 5 minutes. Cut into 1 1/2-inch bars. Transfer bars to racks using a spatula; let cool. Bars can be stored in airtight containers up to 3 days.

DATE BRAN BARS

Steps:

• 1. Stir together flour and baking powder. Set aside.2. Combine dates and boiling water. Set aside.3. In large mixing bowl, combine margarine, vanilla and egg. Beat well. Alternately add flour mixture and orange juice. Mix well. Fold in dates, KELLOGG'S ALL-BRAN cereal and nuts. Spread evenly in 8 x 8 x 2-inch baking pan coated with cooking spray.4. Bake at 350°F about 30 minutes or until wooden pick comes out clean. Cool in pan.

BEST DATE BARS

Steps:

• In a saucepan, combine dates, sugar and water. Cook, stirring frequently, until very thick. Stir in walnuts, if desired; cool. , Sift the flour, salt and baking soda together in a large bowl; add oats and brown sugar. Cut in butter until mixture is crumbly. Sprinkle water over mixture; stir lightly. Pat half into a greased 13x9-in. baking pan. Spread with date mixture; cover with remaining oat mixture and pat lightly. , Bake at 350° for 35-40 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool on a wire rack. Cut into bars.