Date-Pecan Bars

http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes/date_pecan_bars.html

From EatingWell:  July/August 1995, The Essential EatingWell Cookbook (2004)

Here, graham cracker crumbs, dates and nuts are folded into beaten eggs and sugar to make a wonderfully chewy bar that's much lighter than traditional recipes.

15 bars | Active Time: 15 minutes | Total Time: 45 minutes

Ingredients

• 2 teaspoons instant coffee powder
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 large egg white
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups fine graham cracker crumbs, (36 graham cracker squares)
• 2/3 cup chopped dates
• 1/2 cup chopped pecans, (2 ounces)
• Confectioners' sugar, for dusting (optional)

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 300°F. Coat an 8-by-12-inch or 7-by-11-inch baking pan with cooking spray.
2. Stir together coffee powder and vanilla in a large bowl until the powder dissolves. Add sugar, eggs, egg white and salt and beat with an electric mixer on high speed until thick and pale, about 2 minutes. Fold in graham cracker crumbs, dates and pecans. Transfer the batter to the prepared baking pan; smooth the top.
3. Bake the bars until the top feels dry and a knife inserted in the center comes out clean, 30 to 35 minutes.
4. Let cool in the pan on a wire rack. Cut into bars. If desired, dust lightly with confectioners’ sugar.

Nutrition

Per bar : 147 Calories; 5 g Fat; 1 g Sat; 2 g Mono; 28 mg Cholesterol; 22 g Carbohydrates; 2 g Protein; 1 g Fiber; 120 mg Sodium; 101 mg Potassium

1 1/2 Carbohydrate Serving

Exchanges: 1 1/2 other carbohydrate, 1 fat

Tips & Notes

• Make Ahead Tip: The bars will keep in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

• To turn graham crackers into graham crumbs, use a food processor or place the crackers in a large ziplock plastic bag and crush them with a rolling pin.