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, often known as KK. She was my mother-in-law for over a decade and a pal for years after that. Karen just lately misplaced her long-time battle with most cancers, and I wished to put in writing a tribute to her, which is on the backside of this publish.
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 basic, feel-good recipes you’ll come again to repeatedly. They’re chewy, calmly candy, and stuffed 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 ultimate stability between comforting and healthful. In case 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 calmly crisp oat topping
- Straightforward 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 complete wheat flour
- 1¾ cups rolled oats
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
Pan Measurement
Use a pan that’s about 64–70 sq. inches, similar 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 calmly grease a pan that’s about 64–70 sq. inches (similar 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 smooth 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, complete 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 actually pack it down.
Step 5: Add the date layer
Unfold the date filling evenly over the crust, reaching all the best way 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 calmly browned.
Step 8: Cool fully earlier than slicing
This step issues greater than anything. Let the bars cool for a REALLY very long time earlier than slicing. In case you slice them whereas heat, they may crumble. For finest outcomes, allow them to cool fully at room temperature or refrigerate for an hour or two earlier than slicing into small squares.
Storage Suggestions
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 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 totally earlier than slicing is very essential.
Can I take advantage of 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 delicate coconut taste and corporations up properly as soon as cooled.
May I take advantage of jam as a substitute of dates?
You’ll be able to! Swap the date filling for about 1 to 1¼ cups of thick jam. Remember 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 once 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 laborious method. 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 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 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 prepare dinner over medium excessive warmth till dates are tremendous smooth. Mash with a wood spoon till you will 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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Prime with remaining crumble and barely press down.
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Cook dinner for 25-Half-hour, till high is brown.
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Enable to chill fully earlier than slicing 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 ultimate 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 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 may 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 keep in mind appropriately, she as soon as carried contemporary shrimp house on an airplane simply so she may have the very best of the very best.
She LOVED pranks and laughing (I feel this elevator prank was her all-time favourite to look at). However her finest prank was organising “The Booger Man” on a rest room for folks to find without warning:
When KK first acquired her most cancers analysis earlier than Mazen was born, the medical doctors instructed her if she made it two years she may contemplate it cured. It got here again after 2.5 years. She endured so many remedies 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 Dying with Dignity motionand one among her ultimate 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 associates, and he or she will probably be missed by so many individuals, particularly Mazen and me.
