Chinese Chews

Chinese Chews, with their crispy tops and chewy centers, are a very old traditional bar cookie featuring nuts and dates.

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 30

Total Time 35

Servings pieces

Preheat the oven to 325°F degrees. Grease an 8x8 pan and set aside.
In a large bowl, mix the flour, sugar, baking, powder, dates, salt, and nuts.
¾ cup flour, 1 cup sugar, 1 teaspoon baking powder, 1 cup chopped dates, ¼ teaspoon salt, 1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts
Add eggs. Stir until all ingredients are thoroughly combined.
2 eggs
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.
Dust with powdered sugar.
Powdered sugar

Mixing the batter does require a bit of effort. Because there's very little liquid or fat in the recipe, the dough is fairly stiff. You can mix this in a stand mixer or a food processor if you like.
Store in an airtight container (a plastic container with a tight fitting lid works best) at room temperature for about a week.
May be frozen in a freezer-safe plastic container for up to two months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before adding confectioner's sugar and serving.