Diane, I just found these, I was looking on the recipe exchange! LOL Thank you so much for posting these, the plain dough and date filling looks just like what Dad wanted, although I've got to find a way to reduce his sugar consumption. Sigh. Annie

As usual I am LATE to the party, but BF and I made the BEST applesauce date bread tonight. He loves dates. This is going to be quite the keeper, since I think it could be used for all kinds of dried fruits like raisins or dried cherries for example. The original recipe was for figs. I very often have applesauce and yogurt in the fridge to use up. This bread is YUM! Date, Applesauce and Almond Breakfast Loaf (original recipe was for Figs) Recipe by Barbara Estabrook, for "Cooking Light" magazine, October 2010. Makes 2 8 inch loaf pans. Struesel topping (I left this off) 2 1/2 TBSLP brown sugar 2 TBLSP all purpose flour 1 1/2 TBLSP coarsely chopped almonds 1 TBLSP chilled butter, cut into small pieces 1/8 tsp. ground cinnamon Bread: 1 cup dried figs (or dates) 1/2 cup boiling water Cooking spray 1 TBLSP all purpose flour 2 large egg whites 1 large egg 3/4 cup unsweetened applesauce 1/3 cup fat free yogurt 1/4 cup canola oil 1/2 tsp. almond extract (I used Amaretto liqueur instead) 3/4 cup granulated sugar 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour 1/2 cup whole wheat flour 1/3 cup chopped toasted almonds (no salt) 1 tsp. baking powder 1 tsp. cinnamon 1/2 tsp. salt 1/2 tsp. baking soda Preheat oven to 350 degrees Prepare struesel topping ingredients by mixing them together in a small bowl and setting them aside. Spray or grease the two 8 inch loaf pans and then shake the flour around in them until very lightly coated. Combine wet ingredients Add flours and baking powder, soda, etc. Drain dates and mix in Add almonds. Pour batter into pans, top with streusel. Bake for 55 min. or until toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Not the best photo, one of my bread pans was too large.

Date Filled Cookies 1 cup dates, pitted and chopped 1/2 cup granulated sugar 3/4 cup water 1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened 1/2 cup packed brown sugar. 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour 1/4 teaspoon baking soda 1 1/4 cups rolled oats 1/2 teaspoon salt Preheat oven to 350° F. In a small saucepan over low heat, mix dates, sugar and 1/2 cup of water. Stir occasionally for 15 mins. or until thick ans snooth. Cream together butter and brown sugar. Mix together flour, baking soda, and salt, Add flour to butter mixture and mix well. Add the oatmeal and mix well. Add 2 to 4 tablespoona of water. Form kough into a ball and refrigerate for 15 minutes. Roll dough to 1/8" thikness and cut into 2" rounds. Place 1/2 of the rounds on cookie sheets. Spoon date mixture in the center of each round and top with another round. Press edges firmly together. Bake 15 min. or until browned Servings: 30 I'm not real sure if I'll like the rolled oats... I have another one that is for filled raisin cookies that might work better. It is ... Stuffed Raisin Cookies Raisin stuffing.. 1 1/2 cup raisins 1 1/2 cup sugar Boil 10 mins Thicken with 1 1/2 tbsp cornstarch dissolved in 1/4 cup water. Let come to a boil remove from heat and let cool before using. Cookie dough... 2 1/4 cup all peupose flour 1 teaspoon baking powder 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/2 cup butter or margarine 1 cup sugar 1 egg, beaten 1/2 teasoon vanilla 2 Tablespoons milk Sift flour 3 times..(lol this is a real old recipe I don't sift.)with baking powder and salt. Cream butter, blend in sugar gradually. Add egg and beat until smooth and fluffy. Stir in vanilla. Add dry ingredients and milk Chill for at least 1 hour. Rollout onto lightly floured board to about 1/8 in thick. Cut out circles (about 2 to 2 1/2") Place cutout on lightly greased baking sheet. Fill with raisin filling and top with another cut out circle. pinch edges together Bake at 350° 6 to 8 mins You could use this cookie dough and put the dates into them. patti

I offer you the best date cookies ever -- totally addictive!! At first bite, they may not seem impressive, but oh! my. As I find them absolutely irresistible, I try not to make them in the first place, lol. A Christmas tradition at my house. FABULOUS DATE NUGGETS SIFT together: 2 cups all purpose flour 1/4 teaspoon baking soda pinch of salt CREAM: 2 sticks unsalted butter 3/4 cup granulated sugar 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon ADD: 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla ADD: flour mixture in two batches STIR IN: 1/2 cup finely chopped dates 1/2 cup lightly toasted pecans, finely chopped CHILL 2 hours or overnight OVEN: 350* Line cookie sheet with parchment Roll level teaspoons of dough into balls and place 2" apart BAKE: 10-12 minutes til set and lightly golden edges COOL for 5 minutes then sift over Confectioner's sugar to coat. Let cool completely. Store in layers with waxed paper in airtight container. ************************************************************ A dear friend brought these for the library book and bake sale several decades ago. I bought her out after tasting one -- and did so every year after. Unfortunately she moved away, so I am now forced to bake them myself. Worth it!! =)