This old-fashioned date bars recipe features a buttery oat crust and deliciously sweet date filling. They are a nostalgic and delicious treat that you are sure to love.
If you have never had a date bar, you are in for a treat. The crust is like a buttery brown sugar oat cookie.
The filling is made from dates that are cooked down until they are like a thick jam. Think fig newton, but with dates and oats. 🤷♀️
I don’t know if you have noticed, but we have been having quite a moment with dates lately. We have been enjoying my husband’s grandma’s date nut bread for years, so it shouldn’t be a surprise.
We recently enjoyed grandma’s date pudding, which has more of a cake like texture. Dates are also a must in cherry winks.
On the more candy side of things, there is nothing better than a batch of date balls. Or make some date snickers for something super fast and simple.
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I’m buying dates almost weekly now. In fact, there are two bags in my online cart right now.
These date bars quickly went on the list of favorites. They have that classic nostalgic feel and are pretty easy to put together.
The fact that it has fruit and oats in it makes it feel not so bad. They still taste like a treat, though, so it is the best of both worlds.
Use other fruits
If you don’t have dates, prunes or figs work as well.
I hope you will give them a try. If you have a favorite date recipe, you will have to let us know about it. We are always looking for fun new ways to enjoy them!
Old Fashioned Date Bars
Ingredients
Crust
- 1½ cups old fashioned rolled oats
- 1½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup light brown sugar packed
- ¾ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoons salt
- ¾ cup butter softened
Filling
- 10 ounces pitted dates diced
- ⅓ cup light brown sugar packed
- 1 cup water
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350℉. Grease an 8-inch square pan or line it with parchment paper.
- In a medium saucepan, combine the 10 ounces pitted dates, 1 cup water and ⅓ cup light brown sugar. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Continue to cook, stirring frequently, until the mixture is thickened to a jam consistency.
- Remove from the heat and stir in the 1 teaspoon lemon juice. Set aside to cool while you make the crust.
- In a medium bowl, mix together the 1½ cups old fashioned rolled oats, 1½ cups all-purpose flour, 1 cup light brown sugar, ¾ teaspoon baking soda, and ¼ teaspoons salt.
- Add the ¾ cup butter and mix until crumbly, feel free to use your hands for this process.
- Press between ½-⅔ of the dough into the bottom of the pan.
- Spread the date filling over the bottom crust.
- Drop little pieces of the remaining dough over the top of the date filling to cover.
- Bake 20-25 minutes or until the top is lightly toasted and golden.
- Cool completely before cutting into squares.
Notes
Video
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