Chewy, more healthy oatmeal date bars made with entire 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 bear in mind Karen, also referred to as KK. She was my mother-in-law for over a decade and a good friend for years after that. Karen 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 submit.
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 kind of traditional, feel-good recipes you’ll come again to repeatedly. 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 preferrred steadiness between comforting and healthful. In the event 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 entire wheat flour and rolled oats
- The date filling provides pure sweetness plus fiber
- Tender, 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
Elements
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, corresponding 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 (corresponding 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 mushy and breaking down. Mash with a wood spoon till a thick, jam-like paste types. 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 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 sides.
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 utterly earlier than chopping
This step issues greater than the rest. Let the bars cool for a REALLY very long time earlier than chopping. In the event 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 every week, or freeze for longer storage. These bars freeze fantastically. 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 chopping is particularly essential.
Can I take advantage of one other fats as an alternative of butter to make them vegan?
Sure. Melted coconut oil or a vegan butter substitute each work nicely. Coconut oil will add a delicate coconut taste and corporations up properly as soon as cooled.
Might I take advantage of jam as an alternative of dates?
You possibly can! Swap the date filling for about 1 to 1¼ cups of thick jam. Bear in mind the bars will likely be sweeter and fewer fiber-rich, and also you’ll nonetheless wish to allow them to cool utterly 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 discovered this the exhausting approach. They weren’t cooled lengthy sufficient.
More healthy Oatmeal Date Bars
These healthful, chewy bars are produced 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.
Elements
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
-
Preheat oven to 350*.
-
Mix dates, sugar, and water in a sauce pan and cook dinner over medium excessive warmth till dates are tremendous mushy. Mash with a wood spoon till you might have a paste.
-
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.
-
Press 2/3 of the crust into the underside of the pan, utilizing a spatula to press firmly.
-
Unfold the date filling throughout the crust.
-
High with remaining crumble and barely press down.
-
Cook dinner for 25-Half-hour, till prime is brown.
-
Permit to chill utterly earlier than chopping into small squares.
Tribute to KK
Karen was stuffed with spunk and vitality. She was adventurous and beloved to journey. She boldly went on bike journeys by herself and got here dwelling with new associates. She completely beloved San Diego and spent her remaining years there along with her beloved Yacht Membership associates. She beloved to sail, bike, and kayak. Andrew, Mazen, and I’ll all the time chortle 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 received 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 may from afar. She had Mazen out for a complete month when he was pretty younger, and I don’t know the place she received that vitality!
She was an adventurous cook dinner and beloved attempting distinctive recipes like crawfish mac and cheese. If I bear in mind appropriately, she as soon as carried recent shrimp dwelling on an airplane simply so she may have the most effective of the most effective.
She LOVED pranks and laughing (I believe this elevator prank was her all-time favourite to look at). However her finest prank was establishing “The Booger Man” on a bathroom for individuals to find unexpectedly:
When KK first obtained her most cancers analysis earlier than Mazen was born, the medical doctors instructed her if she made it two years she may take into account 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 nearly 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 Demise with Dignity motion, and one among her remaining needs was that I share this publicly with you all to extend consciousness. She felt at peace with this feature.
KK was all the time making associates, and she or he will likely be missed by so many individuals, particularly Mazen and me.
