If you are not a fan of prunes then don't add them and use only dates! Easy peasy right!
Without further ado here are some pictures and the recipe! Enjoy!
Filling:
2 cups of dried pitted dates (chop them up with kitchen scissors)
1 cup pitted prunes
1/3 cup brown sugar
1 cup water
1 tbsp lemon juice
2 tbsps brandy or liquor of your choice ( today I used Grand Marnier) or you can flavor the filling with 1 tsp vanilla extract.
Base and Topping:
1/2 cup of butter (salted or unsalted) (room temperature but no super soft)
1/2 cup of brown sugar
1/4 cup white sugar
1/4 tsp baking soda
1 cup flour
1 cup old fashioned rolled oats (I like the large oats) (not quick cooking oats)
To make the filling, in a saucepan add the dates, prunes, sugar, water, lemon juice and liquor. Bring to boil, then reduce heat and simmer gently, stirring often until thick consistency. About 1/2 hour. Although I let this sit on the stove and simmer on very low for about an hour. Let cool.
For the base and topping cream the butter, then add the brown sugar and white sugar. Beat well.
Combine the flour, baking soda, and oats and stir well. Stir flour mixture into the butter mixture. Mixture will be crumbly. Pat two thirds of the flour mixture into the bottom of 8 or 9 inch square baking pan that has been lined with parchment paper. Spread the date/prune mixture on top. Sprinkle the remaining crumb mixture on top.
Bake in a preheated oven 350 degrees. for 30 minutes. Cool and cut into squares. The squares are gooey, so I cut them into squares and then cover with plastic wrap and put the pan into the fridge (see last photo) And then when I want one... or two... maybe three... I eat them directly cool from the fridge.
They freeze wonderfully so you don't have to eat them all at once! lol
