During the fall months dates are super easy to find but the squares are so delicious you can actually use figs also!
Soaked in espresso and bourbon or brandy these will be a huge hit, of course you can also do this with raisins or other dried style fruits even pineapple!
Date Bar Squares Recipe
4 tablespoons butter, at room temperature
1 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 cup hot espresso coffee
1 large egg
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
3 tablespoons bourbon or brandy
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 3/4 cups flour
1 cup chopped pecans or filberts
8 ounces of chopped dates (about 1 1/2 cups)
soak the dates in the coffee and bourbon.
Mix everything else together just until combined with the dates.
Bake at 350 degrees until the middle is cooked using the toothpick method.
Cool completely, I like to dust them with powdered sugar after cutting in squares.
