Best Date Bars Ever are two layers of a delectable oatmeal crust that are filled with a sweet date mixture then baked to vanilla/almond scented treat.
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.
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.
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.
Can You Freeze these Best 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. 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.
Not only that scroll down below the recipe and I’ll show you a pic of the fabulous Pina Colada Bars and also a super simple and delicious Slow Cooker Strawberry Crisp.
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Check out the video too! It is right here if you’re on mobile or at the top of the page if you’re on desktop.
The Best Date Bars Ever
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
Here are the two fruity dessert pictures, as promised.
Just to tempt you!
Thank you too Dani! It would change it a bit so I would process the oats until they are much finer (similar to instant oats) then use them that way.
I’m excited to try this recipe. Haven’t had a date bar in years, but I remember loving them! Question – I don’t have quick-cooking oatmeal, just old-fashioned oatmeal. Is it okay to use this? Will it change anything? I have the rest of the ingredients. Thank you!
It would be adding a liquid instead of granules so it wouldn’t work well Lisa. I would switch to organic granulated sugar if you need to switch out. You’d have to experiment with the honey but add less than the measurement in the recipe.
Hi there. I am very excited to try these bars. I am wondering if honey would work with the date mixture rather than coconut sugar. Any thoughts?
I love that these will turn out chewy. I love bars but only if chewy. Makes them that much more delicious.
Forget store brought, these homemade bars look so much better! Plus I know everything that is going into them too.
These date bars sound so, so delicious. They really do seem like the “best ever”!
Ginny, I love coming on you blog to see all these amazing goodies.These look awesome and my family would enjoy them.
Yum, I’m a sucker for anything chewy. Will have to try these!
Yes, it would Keisha. Some varieties would make it a bit denser but others would be the same in this amount. Either would taste great!
Would gf flour work instead of whole wheat flour?
Yes Colleen. It sure will. I would hold out 2 tablespoons of the granulated sugar because it is so much sweeter.
Would regular sugar work, instead of coconut sugar? I haven’t got any on hand.
You are so welcome Rusty! Glad you found them 🙂
Sorry about that Mary. You do not process it again and I will fix it in the recipe. Thanks for the heads up.
Your comments state “you are going to process the date mixture after it cooks also”, but this is not mentioned in the recipe steps. Did you intend to add that step in the preparation of the date mixture?
Yes, cut back on the dates and keep the measurement the same when adding the berries. You might have to go a little bit longer when you are cooking it because there will be more liquid coming out of the berries and you want to keep it thick enough for the layer. probably not more than 5 minutes. It sounds really good.
Yum. Wondering if I can add blueberries or raspberries to the date mix for change up?
That is fantastic Barbara! Thanks for letting us know. 🙂
I have made these twice and both times they turned out perfectly! They are delicious!
Fantastic Emily. I love when people are brave enough to change an ingredient here and there. Thanks for letting me know. 🙂
These turned out great! I used a few substitutions based in what I had on hand and still delicious!!
Thanks for the reply! Sunflower seeds are perfect, I never would have thought of them. I have a batch in the oven now and can’t wait to sample… (oh and I subbed maple extract for the almond extract too)
Yes, there are substitutes, ground up oats is a good idea. You can also use a couple of things that are more nut like – ground up pumpkin seeds or ground up sunflower seeds (the meats). I buy those in containers that are already shelled. I found them at Sprouts and I think Trader Joe’s too.
These look great! I’m wondering though if I could substitute something for the almonds. My son’s school has a nut restriction but I would love to send these for his snack. Maybe some ground up oats? :/
Great! The coconut oil is definitely better for you. I am curious how it works with this recipe.
I’ve got mine in the oven right now, will let you know:) Vegan butter was hard to find, so I wound up using a coconut oil I found in the health food store.
You are so welcome Loretta. Thanks so much for letting me know! 🙂
I made your date bars this morning and they were truly wonderful! Thanks so much for sharing the recipe!
That is great Letty! Your substitutions sound wonderful. Isn’t it fun to turn out something so good? Congratulations and I may just have to try your recipe too. 🙂
These bars are super…. One thing I did was substitute orange juice for water, used no sugar and used walnuts with the dates rest was the same they turned out terrific soft in the middle crunchy on the bottom!!!! I just LOVE them and with less sugar!
Hi Susan!!! When I started these I was going for the fig newton but I didn’t have any figs. So … date newtons. Ha! I believe that the figs will work perfectly.
YUM!! Can’t wait to try these! We are all about dates in this house. Did you ever create your Fig Newtons? I just bought a bag of figs at Costco the other day and am looking for a good recipe to make some. Wonder if they would work in this recipe if I sub them for the dates? May have to try it… Thank you!!
That is great @Heather! You won’t believe how good they are.
I have been eyeballing these all week! I really love them! They look so incredible! I love chewy oatmealy things and am really excited to try the dates.
That is so great Susan! Good information for making gluten-free too. I thank you and your husband. 🙂
Thanks Ashley!
I made these this morning and they are REALLY good. Hubby likes them and that is the final test at our house. They are very sweet….A great treat!
I needed to have them be gluten free so used my homemade GF flour blend, and only had 1/2 cup of vegan ‘butter’- (Earth Balance sticks), so used 1/4 cup of EB coconut oil spread to get to 3/4 cup ‘butter’.
Thanks so much for the recipe and for your site…I use your ideas frequently.
These look sooooo good!
That is great! It is wonderful that you are such a good friend. I also love it when people find that they don’t have to be vegan to enjoy vegan food. 🙂
These look fantastic! I am not vegan, but I have a new friend who is. Last week, I made your vegan chocolate lace cookies for her and she loved them! I will make the date bars for her next.
Thank you so much for your support and compliments. Yes, I am making another mess in the kitchen today. Ha! Oh yeah, I do that everyday. 🙂
I know what you mean about tackling recipes…I used to get so intimidated when I saw a unfamiliar ingredients or tricky techniques. I was afraid to mess up, which I’ve learned now is part of the fun of cooking! In fact some of the most stunningly wonderful things come out of the messiest mistakes. 🙂
And ohgoodgolly you bet I will be trying these…date bars get me all weak-kneed and yours look crazyyumful! Many thanks! 🙂