Some time ago, I ordered several pounds of dates from an online provider when the price locally had gone beyond my budget. They were diced with a very light coating of cornstarch to keep the pieces from sticking together, and I have found them to be very good in a wide variety of baked goods–along with our family’s favorite no-bake dateballs.
However, I recently realized that I still have quite a few left. We are entering the season when I avoid turning the oven on because of the heat, so on a day like today when the skies are cloudy and the air is cool, this would be a good day to bake.
Along with the dates, I had part of a jar of homemade, unsweetened applesauce and powdered sugar frosting in the refrigerator, left from last week’s cinnamon rolls. These “leftovers” were just perfect for a quick dessert to take to a barbecue tonight. If you too have dates already pitted and diced, this recipe could take less than ten minutes to prepare.
Oh, and one more variation opportunity: If you manage to completely forget the walnuts until these cookies are baked, do as I did today, just put them on top of the glaze, as shown in this photo.
Applesauce Date Bars
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup butter softened to room temperature
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 cup diced or chopped pitted dates see step 1 for how to measure
- 1 cup unsweetened applesauce see step 1 for how to measure
- 1 1/2 cups flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/2 cup chopped walnuts optional
Instructions
- Beat together the butter, sugar, and egg until very light and fluffy.
- Put one cup dates in a two cup measure, pressing lightly to measure. Pour in applesauce to fill to the two cup line, stirring and adding applesauce as the gaps between the dates are filled in.
- Pour the date and applesauce mixture into the beaten butter mix and stir until well combined.
- Sift or stir together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and spices. Add to the date/applesauce/butter mixture and stir just until completely combined. Don't overly beat. If using walnuts, stir them in just before putting batter in pan.
- Spray or oil a 7 X 11 or 9 x 9 inch pan and pour the batter into it. The batter will be thick so carefully smooth it so it is as even as possible.
- Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 22 to 25 minutes.
- When well cooled, sprinkle with powdered sugar OR spread a thin layer of powdered sugar glaze over the top.
