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4.54 from 128 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 24 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
  • ½ cup coconut sugar
  • 1 ¼ cups water
  • ½ cup almonds , finely ground - not to a meal but finely ground
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon almond extract

Oat Crust

  • ¾ cup dairy-free butter , softened
  • 1 cup brown sugar , packed
  • 1 ½ cup whole wheat flour
  • 1 ½ cup quick cooking oats
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt

Instructions

Date Filling

  • Put the dates in a Food Processor, and chop too fine pieces.
    Put the dates in a Food Processor
  • In a medium-sized saucepan add chopped dates, water, and sugar.
    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.
    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.
    Add the vanilla extract almond extract and finely ground almonds
  • See it's thickness in the photo below. It is very very moist.
    See its thickness. 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.
    Spoon into a bowl and let cool down
  • Lightly grease a 9" x 13" baking pan - set aside.
    Lightly grease a 9 x 13 baking pan

Oat Crust

  • Cream the butter and brown sugar with a Hand Mixer, until light and fluffy. About 5 minutes.
    Cream the butter and brown sugar with a Hand Mixer
  • Add the flour, baking soda and salt. Mix.
    Add the flour baking soda and salt
  • Add the oats and mix well.
    Add the oats and mix well
  • It will be a crumbly mixture but it will press together.
    It will be a crumbly mixture but it will press together
  • Sprinkle half the dough into the prepared baking pan.
    Sprinkle half the dough into the prepared baking pan
  • Press down with your fingers to an even layer all across the pan bottom.
    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.
    Take the date mixture and dab teaspoons full here and there across the bottom layer in the pan
  • 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.
    Then press the top crust with your hand to make a solid layer
  • Bake at 375 degrees for 25 minutes.
    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.
    Cut to make 4 squares across and 6 squares down and that will be 24 bars

Video

Nutrition

Serving: 1Bar | Calories: 195kcal | Carbohydrates: 30g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 129mg | Potassium: 158mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 19g | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 25mg | Iron: 0.8mg