Include this scrumptious recipe in your holiday baking. My mom’s friend Joanna shared this recipe with me, and if you like dates, you will love this cookie.

Date Bars

Ingredients:

Small amount of vegetable shortening for preparing pan

Batter:

3 large eggs

1 cup granulated sugar

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

½ teaspoon salt

1½ cups dates, coarsely chopped

1 cup walnuts or pecans, coarsely chopped

Topping:

¼ sup confectioners (powdered) sugar

Tip: Use standard measuring cups and spoons or scales for accurate measuring.

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Prepare one 13x9x2 inch oblong pan; lightly grease the pan with shortening.
   
   Batter:
2. In a large mixing bowl, combine the eggs, sugar and vanilla; use an electric mixer or wooden spoon and beat together until thoroughly mixed. Add the flour, baking powder, and salt; stir until well mixed. Stir in dates and nuts.
   
   Bake:
   
3. Spread the batter evenly into the baking pan. Bake 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
   
   
4. While the cookie is still warm, cut into 1 inch by 3 inch bars.
   
   Tip: My favorite tool to cut bar cookies is a stainless steel dough scraper; simply push the dough scraper straight down into the cookie for straight cuts. Or use a pizza cutter or small kitchen knife to cut the cookie into bars.
   
   Topping:
5. Using a fine-mesh sieve, dust the tops of the still warm bars with confectioners sugar. Leave bars in pan to cool; place baking pan on a wire cooling rack to cool.
   
   Makes about 3 dozen bars
   
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