These simple Date Bars are a pleasant candy deal with made with a buttery crust, a jammy date filling, and a pecan-oat crumble on prime. Each chunk tastes like nostalgia, with heat, comforting flavors and candy dried fruit!
I’m a bar connoisseur. No, not the ingesting type, however the dessert type! I like bars and squares, like cherry crumb bars and mango crumb bars as a result of they’re delightfully crumbly, nearly at all times function a fruity filling, and are a pleasant change from basic brownies or cupcakes.
Talking of classics, these Date Bars are an old style Canadian dessert that also holds up in the present day! They’re a three-layered deal with made with a buttery cinnamon-infused crust, a candy date filling, and a pecan-oat crumble on prime. The result’s a platter of gooey, candy, and simply plain comforting bars the entire household will love!
Recipe options
- An oldie, however a goodie; date bars are an old style layered dessert which may remind you of glad instances spent at your grandparents’ home.
- They’re simple to make with dates and easy baking staples!
- It’s a flexible recipe that may simply be made gluten free, dairy free, nut free, and egg free.
- With comforting heat spices and a candy date filling, it’s no surprise why these oatmeal date squares are so common!
Substances
Dates – Be sure that the dates are pitted earlier than you get began!
Oats – I made the crust with fast rolled oats however old style rolled oats ought to work simply as properly.
Flour – That is used for the bottom of the crust and crumble topping. All function flour works finest, however complete wheat flour or a high quality 1:1 gluten free flour ought to work simply as properly.
Brown sugar – Brown sugar sweetens the date filling and the crust/crumble topping.
Butter – Maintain your butter within the fridge or freezer till you’re prepared so as to add it to the crust combination. Chilly butter melts slowly because it bakes, which leaves you with a extra delectable, melt-in-your-mouth crust.
Egg – An egg helps bind the crust collectively. To make these egg free, exchange the egg with one flax egg as an alternative (1 tablespoon of floor flaxseed blended with 2.5 tablespoons of water).
Pecans – These add a pleasant crunch and nutty taste to the crumble topping. You possibly can exchange these with any form of nut you have already got at dwelling, like almonds or walnuts. Or omit the pecans you probably have a nut allergy.
Step-by-step directions
Step 1: Make the date filling. Add the dates, water, brown sugar, and lemon juice to a saucepan. Carry the combination as much as a boil, then scale back the warmth. Stir the combination sometimes till it’s thickened.
Step 2: Mash the dates. As soon as it’s prepared, use a wood spoon to mash the date items within the filling till you’ve gotten a considerably easy combination. Take the saucepan off the warmth and stir within the vanilla.
Step 3: Make the crust. Stir the oats, flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and brown sugar collectively in a big bowl. Add the grated butter and work it into the dough utilizing a fork or your fingers. End by stirring within the egg.
Step 4: Begin assembling. Add a few of the crust to the underside of your ready pan and press it down into a fair layer. Unfold the date filling over prime.
Step 5: End assembling. Stir the pecans into the bowl with the remaining crust. Crumble it over the date combination within the pan.
Step 6: Bake, then slice. Place the pan within the oven and bake till the highest is barely golden. Let the date bars cool within the pan earlier than eradicating and slicing them into squares. Get pleasure from!
Suggestions and FAQS
- Combine up the flavors by stirring shredded coconut, seeds, or dried fruit into the crumble topping as an alternative of the pecans.
- Keep in mind to go away a 1-inch overhang of parchment paper within the baking pan for straightforward elimination.
- At all times let the bars cool within the baking pan for at the least half-hour earlier than eradicating and slicing! This manner, they gained’t crumble or crumble an excessive amount of.
- For the cleanest slices, run a pointy chef’s knife beneath sizzling working water earlier than slicing into the bars. Repeat after each slice.
What sort of dates are finest for date squares?
Pitted Medjool dates are common in date sq. recipes as a result of they’ve the sweetest taste. Should you don’t have Medjool dates, be at liberty to make use of any form of pitted date you have already got at dwelling.
How do you make gluten free date bars?
I’ve solely examined this recipe with all function flour, however a 1:1 gluten free flour ought to work properly as an alternative. I don’t suggest utilizing another form of gluten free flour.
Additionally, be sure that the oats you’re utilizing are licensed gluten free, as not all oats are naturally gluten free.
Can they be made dairy free?
Once more, I’ve solely examined this recipe with common butter, however good high quality dairy free butter or coconut oil ought to work properly as an alternative. Simply be sure that they’re very chilly earlier than you get began!
Storage
Fridge: Retailer the sliced bars in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 1 week.
Freezer: As soon as they’re fully cool, switch the date bars to a freezer-safe container, separating every one with a layer of parchment or wax paper so they do not stick. Freeze for as much as 3 months.
Extra bars and squares to strive
Should you made this recipe, make sure you go away a remark and star ranking under. Thanks!
Date Bars
These simple Date Bars are a pleasant candy deal with made with a buttery crust, a jammy date filling, and a pecan-oat crumble on prime. Each chunk tastes like nostalgia, with heat, comforting flavors and candy dried fruit!
Servings: 9
Substances
- 2 cups pitted dates, chopped measure as soon as chopped, not complete
- 1 cup water
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For the crust:
- 1 ¼ cups fast rolled oats
- ¾ cup all function flour
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ¾ cup brown sugar
- ½ cup butter chilly
- 1 egg whisked
- ½ cup pecans chopped
Directions
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Preheat the oven to 350° and line an 8×8 baking dish with parchment paper; put aside.
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Add the dates, water, brown sugar, and lemon juice to a saucepan. Carry the combination to a boil, then scale back warmth to low and stir sometimes till it’s thickened, 3-5 minutes, utilizing a wood spoon to assist break down the dates. Take away from the warmth then stir within the vanilla.
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Subsequent, make the crust: stir the oats, flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and brown sugar collectively in a big bowl. Grate the butter into the bowl, then use a fork or your fingers to mix till the butter is small and pebble-like. Final, add the egg and stir to mix. The dough ought to stick collectively while you pinch.
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Add ⅔ of the combination to your ready pan, utilizing your fingers to press it down into the pan. Then, add the date combination overtop, utilizing the again of a spoon to easy it out.
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Add the pecans to the bowl with the remaining crust combination then stir to mix. Sprinkle it overtop of the date combination.
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Place the pan within the oven and bake the bars for 35-40 minutes, till the highest is barely golden.
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Permit the bars to chill within the pan for at the least half-hour earlier than eradicating the bars. Slice into 16 smaller bars or 9 giant bars and revel in!
Notes
*Energy are per serving and are an estimation.
Vitamin
Serving: 1g | Energy: 402kcal | Carbohydrates: 65g | Protein: 5g | Fats: 16g | Saturated Fats: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fats: 2g | Monounsaturated Fats: 5g | Trans Fats: 0.4g | Ldl cholesterol: 45mg | Sodium: 250mg | Potassium: 333mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 45g | Vitamin A: 348IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 65mg | Iron: 2mg
