Date Bars

This is definitely the recipe of 2009. We went to Salt Lake and stayed with Bruce's parents and they had these sitting on the counter, we could not stop eating them. Uncle Red had the recipe from an old bakery and gave it to Dad to make (since he loves to bake). We now make them all the time but they do not sit on our counters long. They are really called Fruit Bars.

2 c sugar
3/4c shortening
3 eggs
1/3 c Honey
3 T molasses
2 tsp Cinnamon
3/4 c coconut
1 1/4 c dates
1 c nuts, chopped
1 c raisins
1/2 c rolled oats
4 1/3 c flour
1 tsp salt
2 tsp soda

Cookie Glaze

Cream together sugar and shortening; then beat in eggs. Stir in honey and molasses. Sift together flour, salt , soda, and cinnamon and stir in along with remaining ingredients. Mix with hand, if needed, to blend, add a little water if mix is too dry to form into rolls.

Shape dough into rolls 2 inches in diameter, length of cookie sheet and arrange on greased cookie sheets. Slightly flaten rolls with fingers. Makes 4 rolls -2 per large cookie sheet.
Bake at 375 for 11- 12 minutes or until golden brown and test with a toothpick.
Cut crosswise into bars while warm. Frost or drizzle with cookie glaze. Makes 3 dz large or 6 doz small bars.

Cookie Glaze

1/2 c sugar
1/4 c water
1 T corn syrup
11/3 c powdered sugar

In a small saucepan, stir together sugar, water and corn syrup. Cook over medium hear, stirring constantly until mixture boils, remove from heat. Cool for 5 minutes. Gradually stir in powdered sugar, beating until smooth after each addition. Mixture should have syrup consistency.