Chocolate!

[tiggs]

Okay so this is a new twist on an old favorite, I love date bars but I love them even more with chocolate!!!



Oatmeal Crust:

2 cups old fashioned rolled oats

3/4 cup all purpose flour

1/3 cup pure cocoa powder

3/4 cup light brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 cup cold unsalted butter, cut into pieces

Date Filling:

3 cups pitted dates - chopped coarsly

2/3 cup espresso (or strong coffee)

3 squares bakers dark chocolate

1/4 cup brown sugar

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (177 degrees C) and place rack in center of oven. Butter and flour (or use a non stick cooking spray) an 8 x 11 inch or a 9 x 9 inch pan. Set aside.

Date Filling: Place all the ingredients in a small sauce pan and cook on medium temp. until mixture has thickened, stirring occasionally. Let cool to room temperature and set aside.


Oatmeal Crust: In the bowl of a mixer place the oats, flour, sugar, baking soda, cocoa powder and salt. mix to combine. Then add the butter and mix until the mixture is crumbly. Press 2/3 of the mixture into the base of the prepared pan.

Spread the dates evenly over the oatmeal crust. Sprinkle the remaining dough evenly over the top of the dates and press lightly to form an even crust. Bake for about 30 - 40 minutes or until golden brown. Place on a wire rack to cool. Once the squares have cooled, cover the pan with plastic wrap, and place in the refrigerator at least one hour or until firm enough to cut easily into squares.

These will keep, covered, in the refrigerator up to a week.


If you want to make it even more chocolatey you can melt some chocolate chips in a pan and spoon the melted chocolate into a piping bag (or zip lock baggy with the corner cut out if you don't have a piping bag), and drizzle this over the bars when they have cooled a bit.