Ingredients

  • 4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon salt, or to taste
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 1/2 cups butter, at room temperature
  • 1 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup molasses
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 cups rolled oats (such as Quaker Oats(R))
  • Filling:
  • 1 cup pitted and chopped dates
  • 1/2 cup white sugar
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Method

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
  • Blend flour, salt, and baking soda in a bowl. Add butter, brown sugar, molasses, and eggs. Stir until smooth. Blend in oats.
  • Roll dough out on floured board, about 1/8-inch thick. Cut into rounds using a 2 1/2-inch cookie cutter. Place half of the rounds on an ungreased baking sheet.
  • Combine dates, white sugar, and water in a saucepan; bring to a boil, stirring often until thickened. Stir in walnuts. Remove from heat and let cool, about 10 minutes.
  • Spoon 1 teaspoon of the date mixture into the center of each round on the baking sheet. Cut a cross in the middle of the remaining rounds. Place over date mixture; press down on the edges of the dough to seal.
  • Bake in the preheated oven until golden, 12 to 15 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.