Date Maple Cream Bars

Filling
¾ cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 ½ cups finely chopped dates
1 ½ cups dairy sour cream
1 teaspoon maple extract
3 egg yolks

Base And Topping
1 ¼ cups Pillsbury’s Best All Purpose or Unbleached Flour
2 cups quick-cooking rolled oats
¾ cup firmly packed brown sugar
½ teaspoon baking soda
¾ cup margarine or butter

Heat oven to 350º F. Grease 13x9-inch pan. In medium saucepan, combine all filling ingredients. Cook over medium heat until slightly thickened, stirring constantly. Cool slightly.

Lightly spoon flour into measuring cup; level off. In medium bowl, combine flour, rolled oats, ¾ cup brown sugar and baking soda; mix well. With pastry blender or fork, cut in margarine until mixture is crumbly. Reserve 1 ½ cups oat mixture for topping. Press remaining oat mixture evenly in bottom of greased pan.

Bake at 350º F for 10 minutes. Spoon filling evenly over base. Sprinkle with reserved oat mixture. Return to oven and bake an additional 20 to 30 minutes or until light golden brown and set. Cool completely. Cut into bars. 36 bars.