Coconut Date Bars

These bars came about when a friend requested I put together something with dates, oats and coconut for a new body building program he is on.

Creamy date filling spiked with orange juice and zest. Spelt and almond crust with a crumbly topping of coconut and old fashioned oats.

1c spelt flour
1/2c sliced almonds
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/4c solid coconut oil (not melted)
1c turbinado sugar
1c old fashioned rolled oats
1/2c unsweetened coconut flakes

Filling:
2c chopped dates
1c water
1/4c maple sugar crystals
2 tbl finely grated orange peel
1/4c orange juice
2 tsp lemon juice


Combine flour, almonds, baking powder, soda, and salt into a food processor. Pulse to chop almonds. Add turbinado sugar and rolled oats. Cut in coconut oil. Pulse to combine. Add coconut flakes and mix well.
Press half of the mixture into a greased 13 x 9-inch baking pan.
To make filling: Combine dates, water, maple sugar crystals and orange zest in saucepan. Cook until thick and smooth, around 15 minutes.
Stir in orange juice and lemon juice; mix well. Cool before spreading.
Pour cooled date filling evenly over the mixture. Cover with remaining flour/oat mixture.
Bake at 350° for 15 to 20 minutes. Cut while warm; cool in pan.