I guess we’re having a vintage-y kind of Christmas around here! First the Graham Cookie Bars, then the Haystacks, and now this old, old recipe for Chinese Chews. I remember my mother and grandmother making Chinese Chews every Christmas when I was a girl. They were and still are a tradition.
I did some searching on the internet for the origin of this recipe and it seems to have first appeared in the early 1900′s. However, no one really knows why they’re called Chinese Chews. There’s nothing particularly Chinese about them. Maybe back in that time, the dates seemed exotic and anything exotic was perhaps associated with the Far East? I dunno. What I do know is that these little bar cookies are very delicious. And they’re another recipe that has firmly withstood the test of time.
Start by preheating your oven to 325 degrees. Generously butter an 8×8 pan and set it aside.
In a large bowl, mix the flour, sugar, baking powder, dates, salt, and nuts. I used walnuts this time, but I really prefer pecans. They just have a richer taste, in my opinion.
Add the eggs and, using a sturdy wooden spoon, stir until the eggs are incorporated. It takes a little effort :-)
Now spread the mixture into the pan you prepared at the beginning.
Bake for about 30 minutes and check for done-ness. A knife inserted in the middle should come out clean.
Let the pan cool on a wire rack for about 10 minutes. Then turn the whole thing out and cut it into small pieces. You want them to be about 1 to 1 1/2 inches square.
Dust with powdered sugar and…
Enjoy!
A very old recipe for a traditional Christmas bar cookie featuring dates and nuts.
Ingredients
- ¾ cup flour
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 tsp. baking powder
- 1 cup chopped dates
- ¼ tsp. salt
- 1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts
- 2 eggs
- Powdered sugar (for dusting)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Grease an 8x8 pan and set aside.
- In a large bowl, mix the flour, sugar, baking, powder, dates, salt, and nuts. Add eggs. Stir until all ingredients are thoroughly combined.
- Spread into prepared pan.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes or until knife inserted in center comes out clean.
- Remove from oven and cool in pan for 10 minutes. Remove from pan, cut into small squares and dust with powdered sugar.
Other recipes for bar cookies you might enjoy from around the internet:
- Homemade Girl Scout Cookies: Samoas Bars from Baking Bites
- Snickerdoodle Bars from Bake or Break
- Date Squares Bar Cookie from Eating Out Loud
- Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars from Brown Eyed Baker
- Chewy Cookie Crunch Bars from Amanda’s Cookin’
- Hello Dolly Bars from Smitten Kitchen
What I was up to…
- One year ago: Quick and Easy Fudge
- Two years ago: Chocolate Cherry Muffins
- Three years ago: Homemade Marshmallows
{ 18 comments… read them below or add one }
They look great! And I don’t even like sweet stuff.
Thanks, Kay! They’re a really old-fashioned bar cookie that I remember having every Christmas when growing up. I hadn’t thought about them in a long time but I’m glad I did!
Might just find the courage to make them with J-man. You know how I am about baking :)
I don’t think I’ve ever tried Chinese chews, but I must say they look really, really good. And I love the simplicity of the recipe!
I think you’d enjoy these, Dara. It’s one of those really quick and easy recipes which is so great for this busy time of year.
One of my very favorite bars, Lana! Love these!!!
Thanks, Robyn. I really enjoy keeping these old, traditional recipes alive. I saw your post for Chinese Chews so I know you must feel the same :-)
Thanks soo much, Lana! Have searched my beloved Mother’s recipe box repeatedly for this very recipe. Reminds me so very much of Christmas and her! You have definitely brought another demension to my world.
I hope you’ll make them and enjoy them, Rosie!
Pardon the typo . . . dimension!!! lol
Make some for Polly. She loves them.
Miss P
I know! I thought about that the whole time I was making them.
My mother used to make this recipe all the time!!!! She passed away in 1997, and being the dolt that I can be at time, I never asked Mum for the recipe!!! Thank you so much for taking a culinary trip down memory lane!!!!
These look really yummy, Lana! Love the addition of chopped dates… great holiday sweet!
Wow, I haven’t thought of these (or had them for that matter) in ages!! So glad you posted these – with all the new cookie creations on the web, its refreshing to see the old tried and true recipes !!!
Thanks, Nancy. I truly enjoy keeping the old recipes alive.
my grandmother used to make these. i had a craving and decided to look at her recipe, and because her hand written recipes were, let’s say, sketchy, i decided to look it up online, and this is exactly it! Yum. Do you remember congo bars and blondies? :)
I do remember congo bars now that you mention them! I’m going to have to look up a recipe and make some soon. Also, there’s a blondie recipe here on the blog. Just do a search and you’ll find it :-)