Heavenly Date Bars

These bars are a little of Heaven...a buttery cookie crust with a soft date filling spread on top.  All of my favorites:  butter, dates, pecans and coconut.  It's hard to eat just one!!

Heavenly Date Bars

12-24 Bars, Depending on Size You Cut.

Crust Ingredients:

3/4 Cup Butter, Softened

1/2 Brown Sugar

1/2 Cup Granulated Sugar

3 Egg Yolks

1 Teaspoon Vanilla

2 Cups Flour

1 Teaspoon Baking Powder

1/4 Teaspoon Baking Soda

1/4 Teaspoon Salt

1/2 Cup Finely Shredded Coconut

Date Top Layer Ingredients:

1 package (8 oz) Chopped Dates

3/4 Cup Chopped Pecans

3/4 Cup Finely Shredded Coconut

1 Cup Water

1/2 Teaspoon Vanilla

1/4 Cup Bourbon

Powdered Sugar for Dusting (optional)

Crust Instructions: 

Step 1:  Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.  Grease an 13x9-inch cake pan.  

Step 2:  In the bowl of your mixer, combine the butter, brown sugar, granulated sugar, egg yolks and vanilla.  Beat until smooth. 

Step 3:  In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.  Stir to combine.  

Step 4:  Add the coconut and dry ingredients to the bowl of the mixer (butter/sugar/egg mixture) and mix on low until well combined.

Step 5:  Pat the mixture into the bottom of the pan.  Bake for 20 minutes.  Meanwhile, make the Date Top Layer.

Date Top Layer Instructions:

Step 1:  In a medium saucepan, combine the dates, pecans, coconut, water, and bourbon.  Bring to a boil.  Reduce the heat to a simmer and continue cooking until thickened - stirring constantly.  Note:  the dates will break down into a gooey consistency.  Once thickened, if you want a 'smoother' texture - you can run the filling through a food processor (caution:  filling will be hot . . .use food processor according to the manufacturer instructions for hot foods)

Step 2:  Remove from heat and stir in vanilla.  Spread over the crust.  

Step 3:  Bake for 25 minutes.  Cool completely.  Dust with powdered sugar (optional) once cooled.