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Published: . Last Updated: by: Ginny McMeans
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These Date Bars are two layers of a delectable oatmeal crust filled with a sweet date mixture and then baked into a vanilla/almond-scented treat.
This Date Bars recipe came to me while I was wanting to create a type of Fig Newton cookie.
Since Ed and I are date crazy I decided to go with datesinstead of figs and also because they have so much natural sweetness.
I knew they would be easy to work with - so the process began.
I keep tackling recipes that I would have thought impossible for me to make - just a few years ago.
Table of Contents
Ingredients
- Dates- are a major part of these delicious layered bars.
- Coconut sugar - is the perfect foil for dates.
- Water - helps make the date layer spreadable.
- Almonds - adds a foil to the sweetness in the date layer.
- Vanilla extract and almond extract add flavor.
- Dairy-free butter - is the creamy buttery taste in the crust.
- Brown sugar- makes the top and bottom crust taste so good.
- Whole wheat flour - blends with crust ingredients for sturdiness.
- Quick-cooking oats - also adds sturdiness.
- Baking soda - helps the baking process.
- Salt - is a seasoning
Instructions
- Put the dates in a Food Processor, and chop them into fine pieces.
- In a medium-sized saucepan add chopped dates, water,and sugar.
- Stir and cook over medium-high heat and then turn down and cook until the mixture is thickened.
- Add the vanilla extract, almond extract, and finely ground almonds.
- See its thickness in the photo below. It is very, very moist.
- Spoon into a bowl and let cool down because you will be pressing this out, with your fingers, onto the bottom layer of the crust.
- Lightly grease a 9" x 13" baking pan - set aside.
Let me show you the before and after of the date-filling mixture. The first is uncooked, and the second is cooked.
I want you tosee how thick the spread is. Spreadable, but it holds its shape too.
For the crust
- Cream the butter and brown sugar with a Hand Mixer until light and fluffy—about 5 minutes.
- Add the flour, baking soda and salt. Mix.
- Add the oats and mix well.
- It will be a crumbly mixture, but it will press together.
- Sprinkle half the dough into the prepared baking pan.
- Press down with your fingers to an even layer all across the pan bottom.
- Now take the date mixture and dab teaspoons full here and there across the bottom layer in the pan. It will be easier to spread this way.
- With your fingers - gently press out the filling for a solid layer across the complete bottom of the crust.
- Sprinkle the rest of the dough over the filling layer.
- Make sure it is even. Then, press the top crust with your hand to make a solid layer. I use my fingers and the palm of my hand. It doesn't take much pressure.
- Bake at 375 degrees for 25 minutes.
- Cut into squares while it is still warm.
- Cut to make 4 squares across and 6 squares down, which will be 24 bars.
It is so exciting when I get all done, and the recipe works. I want to tell everybody about it. Especially a pastry-type baked recipe like oatmeal date bars.
They are also very pretty and inviting.
Anyway, I have to calm down and tell you all about the bars.
There are 2 layers of a delectable oatmeal crust that are filled with a sweet date mixture and baked into a vanilla/almond scented treat.
When you let them cool, they will hold their shape perfectly.
Can you freeze date bars
- A resounding, Yes!
- TO FREEZE:
- A freezer bag or rigid-sided container would both work well.
- They defrost quickly so it really doesn't take any planning so just put them on a plate for an hour or two and enjoy.
They really are simple and you will feel accomplished when you are done because they are so pretty and taste so darn good.
Please make them. You will love them. I guarantee.
📋 Recipe
The Best Date Bars Ever
Ginny McMeans
The Best Date Bars Ever are three layers of heaven.
4.55 from 129 votes
Print Pin Recipe Save
Prep Time 25 minutes mins
Cook Time 45 minutes mins
Total Time 1 hour hr 10 minutes mins
Course Dessert
Cuisine Bars
Ingredients
- Make the date filling first because it needs to cool.
Date Filling
- 2 cups dates pitted and chopped
- ½ cup coconut sugar
- 1 ¼ cups water
- ½ cup almonds , finely ground - not to a meal but finely ground
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon almond extract
Oat Crust
- ¾ cup dairy-free butter , softened
- 1 cup brown sugar , packed
- 1 ½ cup whole wheat flour
- 1 ½ cup quick cooking oats
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
Instructions
Date Filling
Put the dates in a Food Processor, and chop too fine pieces.
In a medium-sized saucepan add chopped dates, water,and sugar.
Stir and cook over medium-high heat and then turn down and cook until the mixture is thickened.
Add the vanilla extract, almond extract and finely ground almonds.
See it's thickness in the photo below. It is very very moist.
Spoon into a bowl and let cool down because you will be pressing this out, with your fingers, onto the bottom layer of the crust.
Lightly grease a 9" x 13" baking pan - set aside.
Oat Crust
Cream the butter and brown sugar with a Hand Mixer, until light and fluffy. About 5 minutes.
Add the flour, baking soda and salt. Mix.
Add the oats and mix well.
It will be a crumbly mixture but it will press together.
Sprinkle half the dough into the prepared baking pan.
Press down with your fingers to an even layer all across the pan bottom.
Now take the date mixture and dab teaspoons full here and there across the bottom layer in the pan. It will be easier to spread this way.
With your fingers - gently press out the filling for a solid layer across the complete bottom of the crust.
Sprinkle the rest of the dough over the filling layer.
Make sure it is even. Then press the top crust with your hand to make a solid layer. I use my fingers and the palm of my hand. It doesn't take much pressure.
Bake at 375 degrees for 25 minutes.
Cut into squares while it is still warm.
Cut to make 4 squares across and 6 squares down and that will be 24 bars.
Video
Nutrition
Serving: 1BarCalories: 195kcalCarbohydrates: 30gProtein: 2gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 129mgPotassium: 158mgFiber: 2gSugar: 19gVitamin C: 0.1mgCalcium: 25mgIron: 0.8mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
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Reader Interactions
Comments
Ginny McMeans
Hi Olivia, it can't be an oil because it needs to harden up a bit as it cools in the bars. Oil won't do that. Just use the spread that you use at home. Yes, I think porridge oats will work fine as they are small and cook quickly.
LouAnn
I can’t have any oil or vegan butter.
Would almond butter work for the crust?Ginny McMeans
If your almond butter gets a bit hard when cooled then it would work LouAnn.
Deb
Love these bars!!! My family went through the first batch and asked for more. This recipe is quick, easy and delicious. Highly recommend it. 5 stars from all of us!!!Amanda
These sound delicious, but I’m allergic to almonds. Can you recommend a nut free substitute?
Ginny McMeans
I think hemp hearts would work great Amanda!
Camille
Very tasty date and nut bars. Love the hint of vanilla and almond in the filling. I used Earth Balance vegan butter. I'm vegan and these are wonderful!Ginny McMeans
That's great Camille! Thank you for trying them 🙂
Saman Rahimullah
How can we make it gluten free? Can i use a gluten free flour the same measurement as the regular flour
Ginny McMeans
Only if it's one of those 1:1 gluten free mixes Saman. Bob's Red Mill has one and Arrowhead Mills to name a couple.
Terre
OMG, date bars (out of the box) used to be my FAVORITE treat!I tried another vegan date bar recipe awhile ago but it didn't quite do it. I think the difference is in baking the dates.
Can't wait to try this. Thank you, Ginny!
Joan
My family's new favorite weekend treat!Tommie
This looks amazing! My questions are: 1-does it really need any sugar in the date mixture since dates are pretty sweet. 2-and does it really need a whole cup of brown sugar for the crumble part.
Thank you!
Ginny McMeans
I haven't tried it with less but I feel like that's a good point. If you try it please let us know how it goes. I'll try to test it out too but it might take a little while before I'm able to.
Karen
Can’t wait to make these tomorrow. They look fantastic! Was wondering however is it 2 cups dates before or after they are chopped? Thanks
Barbara Cohen
WOW!! So yummy! I used walnuts instead of almonds and it turned out perfectly! Thanks very much for this great recipe. =o)))Debbie
I substituted figs for the dates. The bars were delicious!!!
Shari Moorman
They turned out delicious. I used coconut oil instead of butter, and gluten free flour. I also substituted any sugars for zero calorie sweetener versions. Yummy!Leslie
I also used Figs, delicious bars!
ChattiPati
Can I use the same amount of regular butter in place of the dairy-free butter?
Ligia Lugo
That should work just fine as long as you don't want it to be vegan.
Francine Bruder
Awesome! My sons favorite dessert ever! Although I usually feel as if I have more of the date mixture than is necessary for the amount of crumble. I usually save some in the freezer for a future batch of these.
Caterina Meadows
As usual …. I used what I had. Substituted the wheat flour for almond flour, the brown sugar for maple syrup and I omitted the almond extract - not a big fan of that. Turned out really good. I’ve spent a lot of time searching for a recipe that tastes like the box version my mom used back in the 60s. This comes pretty close!
4.55 from 129 votes (115 ratings without comment)
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