Cookies/Bars

Date-Filled Cookies - Oman

• 3 C flour  

•  1 TS baking powder  

• ½ TS salt  

• ¾ C butter or margarine (at room temperature)  

• 1 ½ C sugar  

• 2 eggs  

• 1 TS vanilla extract
  

filling:  8 oz pitted dates (chopped)    ½ C sugar   ¼ C lemon juice   ½ C chopped walnuts

Sift the flour with the baking powder and salt. Set aside. In a large bowl mix the butter, sugar, eggs and vanilla until light and fluffy. Gradually stir in the flour mixture until it is all well combined. Form the dough into a ball, wrap in plastic wrap or aluminum foil, and refrigerate several hours or overnight.

Divide dough into four parts and refrigerate until ready to use. Meanwhile, make the Filling: In a small saucepan combine the dates and sugar with ½ C of water. Cook, stirring, over medium heat until the mixture has thickened - about 5 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in the lemon juice and walnuts. Cool completely. On a lightly floured surface, roll dough, one part at a time, ⅛” thick. With a floured 2 ½” cookie cutter (or the bottom of a glass), cut out cookies. Re-roll trimmings and cut. Using a spatula, place half of the cookies on a lightly greased cookie sheet, about 2” apart. Spread 1 teaspoon of filling over each cookie. Cover with another cookie. With a floured fork, seal the edges firmly. Also, prick the center of the cookie once with the fork. Bake in a 375° oven for 10 - 12 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove to a wire rack and cool. *VARIATION: use date paste mixed with chopped walnuts in place of the filling.

Date Filled Oatmeal Cookies

• 1 TS vinegar     

• ½ C milk     

• 1 C flour (stirred before measuring)     

• 1 TS baking soda     

• ¼ TS salt     

• ¾ C granulated sugar     

• ¾ C soft shortening     

• ¼ C butter     

• 5 C uncooked quick-cooking rolled oats

filling :  1 C chopped dates     1 C granulated sugar     

1 TS lemon juice     ¼ C water

Date-Nut Cookies - Oman

• 1 C sugar     

• ¾ C butter (at room temperature)   

• 2 TB of (prepared) milk   

• 1 TS vanilla    

• 2 beaten eggs   

• 2 ¼ C flour   

• 1 TS of baking soda    

• 1 TS of baking powder    

• 1 C chopped nuts   

• 1 C dates (chopped, pitted)  

In a large mixing bowl, beat the butter and sugar together until well mixed. Add the milk, vanilla and eggs. In a separate bowl, sift the flour with the baking soda and baking powder. Gradually add the flour mixture to the sugar-egg mixture. Lastly, stir in the chopped dates and nuts. Drop rounded teaspoons full of dough about 2” apart unto an ungreased baking sheet. Bake in a 375° oven or until the cookies' edges are lightly browned. Cool the cookies on a wire rack.

Oatmeal Date Bars

• 1 C flour   

• 1 C raw oatmeal   

• C packed brown sugar (or ½ C regular sugar + ¼ C of date syrup)  

• ¼ TS baking soda   

• ¼ TS baking powder   

• ½ C butter or margarine (softened)   

• juice of a lemon   

• 1 C packed, chopped, pitted dates    

• ½ C water    (or 1 C of date paste and 3 TB of butter)  

• C of chopped nuts (optional)