These were always a popular baked treat in my Grandmother’s kitchen – I think she made them mostly for my Dad who has always loved them. Admittedly, I have never made them before now as I don’t think that I had much of an appreciation for dates until adulthood. As a child, these squares were of little interest to me and it wasn’t until I tried them recently at my Mom’s, that I realized that how good they really are, and better yet, how fast they are to make.
Now, in terms of the name, I have no clue! They don’t seem very Chinese to me at all!
Chinese Chews
1 cup white sugar
1 cup chopped dates
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
3/4 cup flour
2 eggs, well beaten
Mix all dry ingredients together in bowl. Beat eggs until light and thick, and pour over the dry ingredients until well moistened. Scrape batter into a greased 9X9 pan, and bake at 350 degrees F for 35 minutes (watch them though, as they might not take that long) Cut into squares, and dust the top with icing sugar.
