Chewy, more healthy oatmeal date bars made with entire wheat flour, oats, and Medjool dates. A healthful snack or dessert that’s simple to make and naturally candy.
KK’s Date Bars
These of you who’ve learn the weblog because the starting will bear in mind Karen, often known as KK. She was my mother-in-law for over a decade and a good friend for years after that. Karen just lately misplaced her long-time battle with most cancers, and I needed to write down a tribute to her, which is on the backside of this put up.
The final time Mazen and I visited KK in California she made these date bars. She and I couldn’t cease consuming them they had been so good. She gave me the recipe, which I hadn’t made till now. Relaxation in peace KK, these are for you.
These more healthy oatmeal date bars are a type of basic, feel-good recipes you’ll come again to time and again. They’re chewy, frivolously candy, and full of a thick layer of naturally candy Medjool dates, all tucked between a hearty oat and entire wheat crust. The unique recipe requires white flour, however entire wheat subbed in completely right here – so they’re a contact more healthy!
Good for snacks, lunchboxes, or a not-too-sweet dessert, these bars strike that best steadiness between comforting and healthful. In case you love baked oatmeal, granola bars, or something date-filled, this recipe is for you. I extremely suggest crumbling one warmed up over some vanilla ice cream!
Why You’ll Love These Date Bars
- Made with entire wheat flour and rolled oats
- The date filling provides pure sweetness plus fiber
- Delicate, chewy texture with a frivolously crisp oat topping
- Simple to prep forward for snacks or lunches
- Freezer-friendly and nice for sharing
More healthy Oatmeal Date Bars
Components
For the Date Filling
- 1¼ cups Medjool dates (about 8 ounces or 16 giant dates), pitted
- ¼ cup cane sugar
- ½ cup water
For the Crust and Topping
- ¾ cup salted butter, melted
- ¾ cup brown sugar
- 1 cup entire wheat flour
- 1¾ cups rolled oats
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
Pan Dimension
Use a pan that’s about 64–70 sq. inches, equivalent to an 8×8-inch pan or a ten×7-inch pan (used right here).
Directions
Step 1: Preheat the oven
Preheat the oven to 350°F and frivolously grease a pan that’s about 64–70 sq. inches (equivalent to an 8×8-inch or 10×7-inch pan).
Step 2: Make the date filling
Mix the Medjool dates, cane sugar, and water in a saucepan over medium-high warmth. Cook dinner till the dates are extraordinarily tender and breaking down. Mash with a wood spoon till a thick, jam-like paste varieties. Take away from warmth and put aside.
Step 3: Make the crust and topping
Whereas the dates are cooking, soften the butter in a big bowl. Stir within the brown sugar, entire wheat flour, and baking soda till mixed. Add the rolled oats and blend totally.
Step 4: Press the crust into the pan
Press about 2/3 of the oat combination firmly into the underside of the ready pan, utilizing a spatula to essentially pack it down.
Step 5: Add the date layer
Unfold the date filling evenly over the crust, reaching all the way in which to the perimeters.
Step 6: Add the topping
Sprinkle the remaining oat combination evenly excessive and gently press it down.
Step 7: Bake
Bake for 25–Half-hour, till the highest is frivolously browned.
Step 8: Cool fully earlier than reducing
This step issues greater than anything. Let the bars cool for a REALLY very long time earlier than reducing. In case you slice them whereas heat, they are going to crumble. For greatest outcomes, allow them to cool fully at room temperature or refrigerate for an hour or two earlier than reducing into small squares.
Storage Suggestions
Retailer at room temperature for as much as 2 days, within the fridge for as much as per week, or freeze for longer storage. These bars freeze superbly. Simply lower them and place them in layers between parchment paper to freeze.
Date Bar FAQs
How can I make these oatmeal date bars gluten-free?
Use licensed gluten-free rolled oats and substitute the entire wheat flour with a 1:1 gluten-free baking mix. The feel could also be barely extra delicate, so cooling absolutely earlier than reducing is very vital.
Can I exploit one other fats as a substitute of butter to make them vegan?
Sure. Melted coconut oil or a vegan butter substitute each work effectively. Coconut oil will add a refined coconut taste and corporations up properly as soon as cooled.
Might I exploit jam as a substitute of dates?
You may! Swap the date filling for about 1 to 1¼ cups of thick jam. Be mindful the bars will probably be sweeter and fewer fiber-rich, and also you’ll nonetheless wish to allow them to cool fully earlier than slicing.
Why do my bars crumble after I lower them?
You chop them too early didn’t you! I do know it’s tempting to dig in whereas they’re heat, however I additionally realized this the onerous means. They weren’t cooled lengthy sufficient.
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More healthy Oatmeal Date Bars
These healthful, chewy bars are constructed from oats and entire wheat flour with a thick layer of candy medjool dates within the center. Makes 12 giant or 24 bite-size bars.
Components
For the date filling
- 1 1/4 cups medjool dates which is about 8 ounces or about 16 giant dates
- 1/4 cup cane sugar
- 1/2 cup water
For the crust and topping
- 3/4 cup salted butter melted
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 cup entire wheat flour
- 1 3/4 cups rolled oats
- 1 tsp baking soda
Directions
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Preheat oven to 350*.
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Mix dates, sugar, and water in a sauce pan and prepare dinner over medium excessive warmth till dates are tremendous tender. Mash with a wood spoon till you may have a paste.
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Whereas the dates warmth up, soften butter in a big glass bowl. Add brown sugar, flour, and baking soda and stir to combine. Stir in oats and blend totally.
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Press 2/3 of the crust into the underside of the pan, utilizing a spatula to press firmly.
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Unfold the date filling throughout the crust.
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High with remaining crumble and barely press down.
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Cook dinner for 25-Half-hour, till prime is brown.
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Permit to chill fully earlier than reducing into small squares.
Tribute to KK
Karen was stuffed with spunk and power. She was adventurous and beloved to journey. She boldly went on bike journeys by herself and got here house with new associates. She completely beloved San Diego and spent her remaining years there together with her beloved Yacht Membership associates. She beloved to sail, bike, and kayak. Andrew, Mazen, and I’ll at all times giggle on the time she navigated us to seek out sea lions on the San Diego Bay and we by no means discovered them – we kayaked for hours round each nook of that bay!
There was additionally the time we obtained caught in the midst of the bay on a sailboat and needed to be towed in – this was a sample, haha!
She was dedicated to her two grandchildren, making them Halloween costumes by hand and spending as a lot time as she might from afar. She had Mazen out for a complete month when he was pretty younger, and I don’t know the place she obtained that power!
She was an adventurous prepare dinner and beloved making an attempt distinctive recipes like crawfish mac and cheese. If I bear in mind accurately, she as soon as carried recent shrimp house on an airplane simply so she might have the perfect of the perfect.
She LOVED pranks and laughing (I feel this elevator prank was her all-time favourite to observe). However her greatest prank was organising “The Booger Man” on a bathroom for individuals to find unexpectedly:
When KK first acquired her most cancers analysis earlier than Mazen was born, the medical doctors informed her if she made it two years she might think about it cured. It got here again after 2.5 years. She endured so many therapies and surgical procedures, however was extremely courageous and optimistic. She lived virtually 14 years with that most cancers fiercely held on the backburner whereas she lived her life to the fullest.
KK was a robust advocate for the Dying with Dignity motion, and considered one of her remaining needs was that I share this publicly with you all to extend consciousness. She felt at peace with this selection.
KK was at all times making associates, and he or she will probably be missed by so many individuals, particularly Mazen and me.
