Food for the Gods : A Simply Decadent Treat (2024)

BysannaDecember 18, 2020February 1, 2024

Buttery and chewy with crisp tops and edges, Food for the Gods is a heavenly treat that is mostly served during the holidays in the Philippines. Filled with dates and walnuts, it is surely a decadent treat. Other similartreats perfect for the season are Caramel Bars and Marbled Shortbread Cookies.

Christmas is fast approaching, my friends. I lovebakingto welcome the holiday spirit. The aroma of baked goods and the warmth from theoven,bakingguarantees a feeling of joy this holiday season.

What are youbakingthis year? In our household, Food for the Gods is a yearly thing. I love every chewybitewith the occasional crunch from thewalnutsand chew from the dates. It is a luxurioustreatif you ask me, one that we deserve not only during the holidays, but all year!

If you are looking for morerecipestobake, check out my 25 HolidayDessertsRecipes.

Food For the Gods

Food for the gods is characterized by its chewy interior with bits of chopped dates andwalnutsfor texture. The edges are baked crisp and golden while the middle remains soft and chewy.

In the Philippines, it is mostly enjoyed during the holidays, wrapped up in fancy tins or cellophane. While it is not in the limelight like the countless ube dessertsrecipes, bibingka and puto bumbong, Food for the Gods is one of the symbolic holiday food in theFilipino cuisine. (See FAQ below the post for some bit of history of these deliciousFilipinostyle blondies.

The dates (pitted) andwalnutsare chopped in the size preferred by the baker. I like mine in littlest bits but you can make them into bigger chunks if you like.

Either way, you will love these decadent little bites. Indulge, my friends. Merry Christmas! All my love for you all!

Ingredients for Food for the Gods

• Butter.Unsalted butteris best for therecipe. Saltedbuttercan alter theflavorof these chewy cookie bars.
• Dates. I recommend the ones that are not dried. Dates can be found in the produce section and mostly available all year. My favorite to use are Medjool dates.( Love Medjools? Check out Medjool Date Coffee Cake and Cinnamon Loaf with Medjool Date Filling.
• Walnuts. Together with the dates, thewalnutsadd a nice texture to thesetreats.
• Brown sugar. There is a greater proportion ofbrown sugarin thisrecipeto provide a deeperflavorand richer color.
• White sugar. A small amount ofwhite sugar, alongside thebrown sugar, sweetens thisdessert.
• Eggs. Theeggsadds tenderness and richness to therecipe. Uselarge eggs.
• Vanilla extract. This addsflavorto the baked good.
• See therecipecard for the rest of theingredients.

How to Make Food for the Gods?

Preheat oven to 350 F. Line a 7-inch square pan with parchment paper. In a mixing bowl, cream butter with the sugars until thick and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in the vanilla extract.

In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Add this mixture to the mixing bowl and beat, starting on low speed then speeding up to medium-high, until the ingredients are incorporated. Fold in the walnuts and dates.

Spread the batter (batter will be thick), into the prepared pan. Level the top with an offset spatula. Bake at 350 F for 30-35 minutes. The top should be golden. It is done when the edges are set but the center is soft.

Let the baked good cool first before slicing into squares. The center will continue to set as it cools.

How to Store Food for the Gods

• To store Food for the gods, keep them in a tightly covered container at room temperature for up to 4 days.
• You can also wrap them up in food grade paper or boxes to give as gifts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Food for the gods

Yield: 16

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes

Buttery and chewy with crisp tops and edges, Food for the gods is a heavenly, decadent treat that is mostly served during the holidays, but can be enjoyed anytime you want!

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup white granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 and 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 and 1/4 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 cup pitted dates, chopped
• 1 cup walnuts, chopped

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 F. Line a 7-inch square pan with parchment paper. In a mixing bowl, cream the butter with the sugars until thick and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in the vanilla extract.
2. In a bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Add this mixture to the mixing bowl and beat, starting on low speed then speeding up to medium-high, until the ingredients are incorporated. Fold in the walnuts and dates.
3. Spread the batter (batter will be thick), into the prepared pan. Level the top with an offset spatula. Bake at 350 F for 30-35 minutes. The top should be golden. The edges are set but the center is soft. Let the baked good cool first before slicing into squares.

Notes

The cookies/bar is done when the edges are set. The middle may look a bit jiggly in the center but it will set as it cools.

Store cookies/ bars in a tightly covered container at room temperature for up to 4 days.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 16Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 207Total Fat: 11gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 39mgSodium: 145mgCarbohydrates: 26gFiber: 1gSugar: 21gProtein: 3g

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• Ube Flan Cake
• Hokkaido Cupcakes
• Butterscotch Bars with Pecans and Chocolate Chips
• Best Ever Brownies
• Almond Chocolate Biscotti