Calypso Bars

Ingredients

• 1.33 cups chopped dates
• 2 ½ , 1 ounce
• 0.67 cups water
• 1.33 cups white sugar
• 0.25 cups butter
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1.25 cups packed brown sugar
• 0.75 cups butter
• 1.5 cups quick-cooking oats
• 1.5 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup chopped walnuts
• 0.5 teaspoons baking soda
• 0.5 teaspoons salt

Instructions

1. 1

   Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease an 8x10-inch baking pan.

2. 2

   Cook and stir dates, chocolate, water, white sugar, and 1/4 cup butter in a heavy saucepan over medium-low heat until melted and thickened, 5 to 10 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in vanilla extract. Set aside to cool.

3. 3

   Beat brown sugar and 3/4 cup butter together in a bowl until creamy. Add oats, flour, walnuts, baking soda, and salt; stir until texture is crumbly.

4. 4

   Press half the oat mixture into bottom of the prepared pan. Evenly spread chocolate-date mixture over oat mixture layer; crumble remaining oat mixture over chocolate-date layer.

5. 5

   Bake in the preheated oven until topping is lightly browned, about 30 minutes. Cut into 30 small squares.