Best Date Bars Ever

Name: The Best Date Bars Ever
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 70 min
Ingredients: Make the date filling first because it needs to cool.; 2 cups dates (pitted and chopped); 1/2 cup coconut sugar; 1 1/4 cups water; 1/2 cup almonds (, finely ground - not to a meal but finely ground); 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; 1 teaspoon almond extract; 3/4 cup dairy-free butter (, softened); 1 cup brown sugar (, packed); 1 1/2 cup whole wheat flour; 1 1/2 cup quick cooking oats; 1/2 teaspoon baking soda; 1/2 teaspoon salt

Published: February 3, 2014. Last Updated: July 12, 2020 by: Ginny McMeans

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Best Date Bars Ever are two layers of a delectable oatmeal crust that are filled with a sweet date mixture then baked to a vanilla/almond scented treat.

Stacks of date bars in front of a green compote with more on the plate.

Best Date Bars Ever came to me while I was wanting to create a type of Fig Newton cookie.

Since Ed and I are date crazy I decided to go with dates instead of figs and also because they have so much natural sweetness.

I knew they would be easy to work with – so the process began.

I keep tackling recipes that I would have thought impossible for me to make – just a few years ago.

Jump to:

🥘 Ingredients
🔪 Instructions
🔪 For the crust
💭 Pin for later
💭 Can you freeze date bars
📖 Easy fruit desserts
📋 Recipe
📋 Recipe

A stack of layered square treats are stacked four high with a parchment square separating each.

🥘 Ingredients

Dates – are a major part of these delicious layered bars.
Coconut sugar – is the perfect foil for dates.
Water – helps make the date layer spreadable.
Almonds – adds a foil to the sweetness in the date layer.
Vanilla extract and almond extract add flavor.
Dairy-free butter – is the creamy buttery taste in the crust.
Brown sugar – makes the top and bottom crust taste so good.
Whole wheat flour – blends with crust ingredients for sturdiness.
Quick-cooking oats – also adds sturdiness.
Baking soda – helps the baking process.
Salt – is a seasoning

A close-up of the Best date Bars stacked high on a green compote dish.

🔪 Instructions

Put the dates in a Food Processor, and chop too fine pieces.
In a medium-sized saucepan add chopped dates, water, and sugar.
Stir and cook over medium-high heat and then turn down and cook until the mixture is thickened.
Add the vanilla extract, almond extract and finely ground almonds.
See it’s thickness in the photo below. It is very very moist.
Spoon into a bowl and let cool down because you will be pressing this out, with your fingers, onto the bottom layer of the crust.
Lightly grease a 9″ x 13″ baking pan – set aside.

Let me show you a before and after of the date filling mixture. The first is uncooked and the second is cooked.

I just want you to see how thick the spread is. Spreadable but it holds its shape too.

Overhead view of chopped dates in a white bowl.

Overhead view of dates cooked with coconut sugar and waiting to be layered.

🔪 For the crust

Cream the butter and brown sugar with a Hand Mixer, until light and fluffy. About 5 minutes.
Add the flour, baking soda and salt. Mix.
Add the oats and mix well.
It will be a crumbly mixture but it will press together.
Sprinkle half the dough into the prepared baking pan.
Press down with your fingers to an even layer all across the pan bottom.
Now take the date mixture and dab teaspoons full here and there across the bottom layer in the pan. It will be easier to spread this way.
With your fingers – gently press out the filling for a solid layer across the complete bottom of the crust.
Sprinkle the rest of the dough over the filling layer.
Make sure it is even. Then press the top crust with your hand to make a solid layer. I use my fingers and the palm of my hand. It doesn’t take much pressure.
Bake at 375 degrees for 25 minutes.
Cut into squares while it is still warm.
Cut to make 4 squares across and 6 squares down and that will be 24 bars.

It is so exciting when I get all done and the recipe works. I want to tell everybody about it. Especially a pastry type baked recipe like oatmeal date bars.

They are also very pretty and inviting.

Anyway, I have to calm down and tell you all about the bars.

There are 2 layers of a delectable oatmeal crust that are filled with a sweet date mixture and baked to a vanilla/almond scented treat.

When you let them cool they will hold their shape perfectly.

💭 Pin for later

Want to try this tasty date energy bars?

PIN IT to your Lunch, Salad or Side Dish board to save for later!

Find me on Pinterest for more great recipes!

💭 Can you freeze date bars

A resounding, Yes!
TO FREEZE:
A freezer bag or rigid sided container would both work well.
They defrost quickly so it really doesn’t take any planning so just put them on a plate for an hour or two and enjoy.

They really are simple and you will feel accomplished when you are done because they are so pretty and taste so darn good.

Please make them. You will love them. I guarantee.

📖 Easy fruit desserts

Pina Colada Bars are equally as popular as this date bar recipe but the flavors are completely unique to the famous pina coladas.
The crock pot comes is very handy for this super simple and delicious Slow Cooker Strawberry Crisp.

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This post contains affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

If you take a photo of your sweet and lovely oatmeal date bars I would love to see it. Follow me over on Instagram and tag me on your photo @vegan_in_the_freezer.

Your opinion means a lot to me and if you’d like to leave a comment and possibly a star rating I’d love to hear your thoughts.

📋 Recipe

5 from 8 votes

The Best Date Bars Ever

The Best Date Bars Ever are three layers of heaven.

Course Dessert

Cuisine Bars

Prep Time 25 minutes

Cook Time 45 minutes

Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes

Servings bars

Calories 195kcal

Author Ginny McMeans

Ingredients

Make the date filling first because it needs to cool.

Date Filling

2 cups dates pitted and chopped
1/2 cup coconut sugar
1 1/4 cups water
1/2 cup almonds , finely ground – not to a meal but finely ground
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon almond extract

Oat Crust

3/4 cup dairy-free butter , softened
1 cup brown sugar , packed
1 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1 1/2 cup quick cooking oats
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt

Instructions

Date Filling

Put the dates in a Food Processor, and chop too fine pieces.
In a medium-sized saucepan add chopped dates, water, and sugar.
Stir and cook over medium-high heat and then turn down and cook until the mixture is thickened.
Add the vanilla extract, almond extract and finely ground almonds.
See it’s thickness in the photo below. It is very very moist.
Spoon into a bowl and let cool down because you will be pressing this out, with your fingers, onto the bottom layer of the crust.
Lightly grease a 9″ x 13″ baking pan – set aside.

Oat Crust

Cream the butter and brown sugar with a Hand Mixer, until light and fluffy. About 5 minutes.
Add the flour, baking soda and salt. Mix.
Add the oats and mix well.
It will be a crumbly mixture but it will press together.
Sprinkle half the dough into the prepared baking pan.
Press down with your fingers to an even layer all across the pan bottom.
Now take the date mixture and dab teaspoons full here and there across the bottom layer in the pan. It will be easier to spread this way.
With your fingers – gently press out the filling for a solid layer across the complete bottom of the crust.
Sprinkle the rest of the dough over the filling layer.
Make sure it is even. Then press the top crust with your hand to make a solid layer. I use my fingers and the palm of my hand. It doesn’t take much pressure.
Bake at 375 degrees for 25 minutes.
Cut into squares while it is still warm.
Cut to make 4 squares across and 6 squares down and that will be 24 bars.

Video

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts

The Best Date Bars Ever

Amount Per Serving (1 Bar)

Calories 195 Calories from Fat 72

% Daily Value*

Fat 8g12%

Saturated Fat 1g5%

Sodium 129mg5%

Potassium 158mg5%

Carbohydrates 30g10%

Fiber 2g8%

Sugar 19g21%

Protein 2g4%

Vitamin C 0.1mg0%

Calcium 25mg3%

Iron 0.8mg4%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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