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Sesame Date Bars

An energy bar with a nod to the flavors of the Middle East. Loaded with good-for-you ingredients, these not-too-sweet bars still taste like a treat, and they'll withstand cold, heat, and being stuffed in a backpack or pocket.


This recipe for cranberry orange breakfast cookies is courtesy of Sunset Magazine. It was originally featured in the October 2008 issue.
Preparation time: 1 hour, plus 30 minutes to chill
Yield: Serves 16

Cooking-oil spray
1 cup regular rolled oats
1 cup oat bran
3 tablespoons flax seeds
1 cup whole-wheat flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup toasted sesame seeds
1 cup chopped pitted dates
3/4 cup tahini (sesame paste)
1/4 cup low-fat milk
1 large egg
1/2 cup plus 2 tbsp. honey
Finely shredded zest from 1 lemon
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

1. Line a 9- by 13-in. pan with plastic wrap, leaving an overhang on the 9-in. sides, and coat with cooking-oil spray. In a large bowl, stir together oats, oat bran, flax seeds, flour, baking powder, salt, and dates until well blended.

2. In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat together tahini, milk, egg, honey, lemon zest, and lemon juice until well blended.

3. Add flour mixture to tahini mixture and beat until completely blended. Scrape dough into pan and, with wet fingers or a rubber spatula, pat to fill pan completely and evenly (dough is sticky, so you may need to wash your hands a few times). Chill dough until firm, about 30 minutes.

4. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 300°. Invert pan onto a work surface, lift off pan, and peel off plastic. Using a bench scraper or knife, cut straight down lengthwise through middle, then crosswise to make 16 bars, each 1 1/2 in. wide. Place bars about 1 in. apart on a baking sheet lined with parchment.

5. Bake bars until lightly browned and somewhat firm to touch, about 20 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool completely.

Make ahead: Store airtight up to 2 weeks or freeze.

Nutritional Information (per bar)

Calories: 235 (38% from fat)
Protein: 6.7g
Fat: 10g (sat 1.5)
Carbohydrate: 35g
Fiber: 5.2g
Sodium: 109mg
Cholesterol: 13mg