Recipe: Date Sticks / Date Nut Bars (rolled in powdered sugar) - 4 recipes

DATE STICKS / DATE NUT BARS

1 cup chopped dates
1 cup chopped nuts
1 cup sugar
1 cup flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
3 eggs, separated
1 tsp. vanilla
Powdered sugar (for finishing)

Mix dates and nuts with sugar and then with flour into which the baking powder and salt have been sifted.

Add beaten egg yolks, beaten and vanilla. Beat egg whites and fold into batter last. Spread thinly on a well greased 13x9-inch baking pan.

Bake in a 350 degree F oven for 25-30 minutes. Set pan on rack to cool.

Cut into sticks when cool and roll in powdered sugar.

---

DATE NUT BARS (using 2 cups dates)

3 eggs, separated
1 cup sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
1 cup flour
1 tsp. baking powder
2 cups chopped dates, rolled in flour and cut
1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
Confectioner's sugar (for finishing)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Grease 9x12-inch pan and line with buttered wax paper.

In large mixing bowl, beat egg whites until stiff; add sugar a little at a time. Keep beating well. Add egg yolks and vanilla and beat until smooth.

Fold in sifted flour and baking powder; mix thoroughly. Add chopped dates and nuts; mix all together until smooth. Spoon batter evenly into prepared pan.

Bake 15 to 20 minutes at 375 degrees F. Set pan on rack to cool.

Cut into 4 long strips, 1-inch across. Cut into bars. Squeeze each bar into the shape of a date and roll in confectioners' sugar.

---

DATE STICKS (using white and brown sugar)

1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
3 eggs, separated
1 cup flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1 cup nuts
1 cup chopped dates
1 tsp. vanilla
Powdered sugar (for finishing)

Mix together white and brown sugars and egg yolks. Mix in flour, baking powder, nuts and dates; set aside.

Beat egg whites; add vanilla and combine with sugar and nut mixture. Spread in a greased 13x9-inch baking pan.

Bake in a 325 degree F oven for 50 minutes. Set pan on rack to cool

When cool, cut into bars and roll in powdered sugar.

---

DATE NUT BARS (using 2 eggs)

1 cup flour
1 cup sugar
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 cup cut-up dates
1/2 cup nuts, chopped (optional)
2 eggs, separated
1/4 tsp. salt

Sift flour, sugar and baking powder over nuts and dates; set aside.

Beat egg whites with salt to a stiff froth. Add well beaten egg yolks, then add flour mixture. Spread an inch thick in greased and floured baking pan.

Bake in slow oven at 300 to 325 degrees F for 30 to 45 minutes. While still warm cut in bars and roll in powdered sugar.

---

Hi Nancy,

Other recipes that I've seen for these date bars have the same ingredients but the beaten eggs are added without beating the egg whites separately. I think these recipes may give you the sponge cake texture you're looking for. If you try any of them please let us know how they turn out. I hope one will be close to "Hester's Date Bars"!

Happy Holiday Baking!
Betsy