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Food for the Gods - Dates and Raisins Bars

The secret to baking  these all-time favorite Filipino dessert bars called Food for the Gods- Dates and Raisins Bars is to use good butter. I used Kerrygold Butter and the dessert bars were rich, moist and decadent. Each bar was packed with dates, raisins, nuts, and butter, even more than the amount of flour. It was easy to bake and even easier to love. Bake these for gifts, for the family or just to indulge. These date bars stored well and were easy to travel with. This is an AsianInAmericamag recipe formulated by my sister, Isabel Besa Morales, M.S.R.D. This recipe makes 12 to 14 pieces.
Prep Time30 minutes
Cook Time35 minutes
Total Time1 hour 5 minutes
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American, Asian, Filipino
Keyword: Food for the Gods Dates Walnuts Raisins Bar
Servings: 14 pieces
Calories: 300kcal
Author: Elizabeth Ann Quirino

Equipment

  • Baking Pan : 9 x 11 inches

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
  • 1 cup unsalted butter softened at room temperature (I used Kerrygold Butter)
  • 3/4 cup dark brown sugar
  • 3/4 cup granulated white sugar
  • 3 whole large eggs I used organic, cage-free eggs
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 cup dark molasses
  • 1 cup chopped unsalted walnuts (optional, omit if there are nut allergies)
  • 1 cup raisins
  • 1 cup pitted chopped dates chopped in small bits almost size of raisins
  • 12 to 14 pieces cellophane candy wrappers cut in 4 x 4-inch pieces; or muffin paper cups

Instructions

  • Cream butter and both sugars using an electric mixer at medium speed.
  • Add eggs one at a time. Add molasses,and vanilla.
  • Add flour and other dry ingredients. Blend well. Mix in by hand the walnuts, raisins, dates. Blend ingredients well with a wooden spoon.
  • Pour batter into a greased baking pan (9 x 11 inches) that’s lined with parchment paper. Bake at preheated oven 350 F degrees for  35 minutes . Test for doneness by sticking a knife in the center of pan. If knife comes clean, then bars are cooked.
  • When done, cool on counter for a few minutes. Then slice in 2-inch bars.
  • To wrap: In the Philippines, these are wrapped individually in brightly colored cellophane. Or you can put them in colored muffin paper cups and store them in cookie tins to give as presents.
  • To store: These Food for the Gods date bars will keep with no refrigeration for up to 3 days. To store in the freezer - once cooled from baking, wrap in plastic, a layer of foil and keep in plastic resealable bags or sealed plastic containers then freeze. These keep in the freezer for up to a month.

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    Nutrition

    Serving: 1g | Calories: 300kcal | Carbohydrates: 45g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 35mg | Sodium: 50mg | Potassium: 222mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 27g | Vitamin A: 405IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 37mg | Iron: 1mg