Chewy, more healthy oatmeal date bars made with complete wheat flour, oats, and Medjool dates. A healthful snack or dessert that’s straightforward to make and naturally candy.
KK’s Date Bars
These of you who’ve learn the weblog for the reason that starting will keep in mind Karen, also called KK. She was my mother-in-law for over a decade and a buddy for years after that. Karen just lately misplaced her long-time battle with most cancers, and I needed to put in writing 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 have 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 repeatedly. They’re chewy, flippantly candy, and crammed with a thick layer of naturally candy Medjool dates, all tucked between a hearty oat and complete wheat crust. The unique recipe requires white flour, however complete 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 preferrred steadiness between comforting and healthful. When you love baked oatmeal, granola bars, or something date-filled, this recipe is for you. I extremely advocate crumbling one warmed up over some vanilla ice cream!
Why You’ll Love These Date Bars
- Made with complete wheat flour and rolled oats
- The date filling provides pure sweetness plus fiber
- Smooth, chewy texture with a flippantly crisp oat topping
- Straightforward to prep forward for snacks or lunches
- Freezer-friendly and nice for sharing
More healthy Oatmeal Date Bars
Substances
For the Date Filling
- 1¼ cups Medjool dates (about 8 ounces or 16 massive 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 complete wheat flour
- 1¾ cups rolled oats
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
Pan Dimension
Use a pan that’s about 64–70 sq. inches, resembling 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 flippantly grease a pan that’s about 64–70 sq. inches (resembling 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. Prepare dinner till the dates are extraordinarily smooth and breaking down. Mash with a picket 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, complete wheat flour, and baking soda till mixed. Add the rolled oats and blend completely.
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 actually 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 flippantly browned.
Step 8: Cool utterly earlier than chopping
This step issues greater than the rest. Let the bars cool for a REALLY very long time earlier than chopping. When you slice them whereas heat, they are going to crumble. For finest outcomes, allow them to cool utterly at room temperature or refrigerate for an hour or two earlier than chopping into small squares.
Storage Ideas
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 minimize 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 chopping 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 nicely. 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’ll be able to! Swap the date filling for about 1 to 1¼ cups of thick jam. Have in mind the bars might be sweeter and fewer fiber-rich, and also you’ll nonetheless need to allow them to cool utterly earlier than slicing.
Why do my bars crumble after I minimize 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 discovered this the exhausting means. They weren’t cooled lengthy sufficient.
More healthy Oatmeal Date Bars
These healthful, chewy bars are produced from oats and complete wheat flour with a thick layer of candy medjool dates within the center. Makes 12 massive or 24 bite-size bars.
Substances
For the date filling
- 1 1/4 cups medjool dates which is about 8 ounces or about 16 massive 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 complete 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 cook dinner over medium excessive warmth till dates are tremendous smooth. Mash with a picket spoon till you’ve gotten 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 completely.
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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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Prepare dinner for 25-Half-hour, till prime is brown.
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Permit to chill utterly earlier than chopping into small squares.
Tribute to KK
Karen was filled with spunk and vitality. She was adventurous and cherished to journey. She boldly went on bike journeys by herself and got here residence with new pals. She completely cherished San Diego and spent her remaining years there along with her beloved Yacht Membership pals. She cherished to sail, bike, and kayak. Andrew, Mazen, and I’ll at all times chuckle on the time she navigated us to search 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 acquired caught in the course 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 an entire month when he was pretty younger, and I don’t know the place she acquired that vitality!
She was an adventurous cook dinner and cherished attempting distinctive recipes like crawfish mac and cheese. If I keep in mind accurately, she as soon as carried contemporary shrimp residence 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 finest prank was establishing “The Booger Man” on a bathroom for folks to find abruptly:
When KK first acquired her most cancers analysis earlier than Mazen was born, the docs 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 powerful advocate for the Loss of life with Dignity motion, and one in every of her remaining needs was that I share this publicly with you all to extend consciousness. She felt at peace with this feature.
KK was at all times making pals, and he or she might be missed by so many individuals, particularly Mazen and me.
