Food For The Gods Recipe
Food for the Gods is a popular Filipino holiday dessert recipe made with rich and tasty dates and walnuts. Just like any brownie, this baked dessert is chewy and moist. However, instead of being simply a chocolate bar cookie, it is a special version that instead features sweet, tender dates and bitter, nutty walnuts.
We make them at home for Noche Buena or give them as gifts to friends and family.
Ingredients
- ½ c. (115 g) unsalted butter, melted
- 1 c. muscovado sugar
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- 2 large eggs
- 1 c. all-purpose flour
- ¼ tsp. salt
- 1 tsp. baking powder
- 1 c. pitted dates, chopped
- 1 c. walnuts, roughly chopped
1. Preheat oven to 180°C. Line and lightly grease a 20 x 20 cm pan with parchment paper. Set aside.
2. In a mixing bowl, mix butter and sugar. Let cool slightly before beating in eggs. Stir in vanilla extract.
3. Add in flour, baking powder, and salt. Fold flour mixture into butter mixture until just combined. Fold in dates and walnuts until mixed in.
4. Spoon into prepared pan, and bake until a toothpick inserted into the middle emerges cleanly, for about 25 minutes. Don’t over-bake! Let cool to the touch on a wire rack.
5. Lift out of the pan and transfer to a cutting board. Lightly grease a knife before cutting into bars.
Recipe and photo by Vicky Bogers
Vicky is from the Philippines and is mom to three boys. She moved to Europe 13 years ago. As Vicky battled homesickness for the first few months, she focused on learning the different variety of ingredients in her new country, read cookery books, tried local and international restaurants and later got hooked on cooking. Vicky uses ingredients that are widely available and prepares food that is seasonal, simple, and family-friendly.
