Date Bars Recipe

Ingredients

• 3 cups dates (pitted, chopped)
• ¼ cup sugar
• 1½ cups water
• ¼ cup coconut (sweetened, flakes)
• ¼ cup walnuts (or pecans, finely chopped)
• 1 teaspoon rum (Appleton)
• 1 teaspoon orange (zest)
• ½ cup butter ((unsalted), soft)
• 1 cup brown sugar (dark)
• 1½ cups all-purpose flour
• 1½ cups oats
• ¾ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• ¼ teaspoon cinnamon (ground)