1teaspoonorange zest(optional, but adds wonderful flavor)
1/2teaspoonvanilla
Instructions
Place dates and water in a saucepan. Cover and bring to boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 2 minutes or until dates are very soft. Remove from heat and set aside.
Place walnuts, coconut, 1/2 cup quick oats, and salt in the large bowl of a food processor. Process until finely ground. Stop processing if mixture gets sticky.
Add sugar and 1 cup regular or quick oats. If using quick oats, process just until mixed. If using regular oats, process until oats are ground slightly.
Add Earth Balance Butter Spread to mixture and pulse until mixed well.
Press approximately 2/3 to 3/4 of mixture into bottom of an oiled 8-inch x 8-inch baking dish. Transfer remaining mixture to a bowl and set aside.
Pour dates and water into bowl of food processor. Add vanilla and orange zest and process until fairly smooth.
Spread date mixture evenly over crust (oat and walnut mixture).
Sprinkle remaining oat and walnut mixture over dates.
Bake in preheated oven at 350°F for 35 to 40 minutes or until top is lightly browned.
Notes
Sugar amount can be varied depending on your taste and the sweetness of your dates. There are many varieties of dates with varying sweetness. This recipe works best with semi-dry date varieties (such as deglet noor dates).