Recipe: Old-Fashioned Chewy Date-Nut Bars (using eggs, no oil or butter)

CHEWY DATE-NUT BARS

"With most of us here qualifying as inveterate recipe collectors, there are many, many recipe boxes and treasured ring-bound recipe collections around the office that come from our grandmothers' kitchens. These yellowed, stained "receipts" are mute testament to the generations of bakers who have lovingly used them. The following old-fashioned, humble-looking bars would never win a beauty contest. But they're delicious: moist and chewy, sweet and nutty, they're perfect with a cup of tea."

2 large eggs
1 1/4 cups (5 1/4 ounces) unbleached all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup (8 ounces) brown sugar
1 cup (4 ounces) chopped walnuts
1 cup (5 1/4 ounces) chopped dates
Confectioners' sugar (optional, for dusting top)

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Lightly grease a 9x9-inch pan.

In a medium-sized mixing bowl, beat the eggs until they're frothy and thoroughly combined.

In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, baking powder, and brown sugar. Stir the dry ingredients into the eggs. Stir in the nuts and dates.

Spread the sticky batter into the pan. Greasing or wetting your fingers, or using an offset spatula, helps to distribute the dough evenly.

Bake the bars for 18 to 22 minutes, until they're golden brown and shiny on top, but slightly wet looking in the center when you insert a cake tester. Overbaking will result in a crunchy rather than chewy bar. Remove the bars from the oven, and cool completely before cutting them into squares. Dust with confectioners' sugar on top, if desired.

Makes 16 bars
Source: King Arthur Flour Cookie Companion