Date Oat Bars
Soft and chewy oat bars layered with a naturally sweet date filling and a lightly golden crumble topping.
Date oat bars are a comforting homemade treat with a soft, naturally sweet date filling tucked between layers of buttery oat crumble. The dates cook down into a thick, caramel-like mixture that pairs beautifully with hearty rolled oats and warm cinnamon. These bars are ideal for breakfast on the go, lunchboxes, afternoon snacks or a simple dessert. For the best texture, use soft pitted dates and allow the bars to cool completely before slicing so the filling sets and the oat layers hold together neatly.
Ingredients
- 2 cups Pitted Dates
- 2 cups Rolled Oats
- 1 cups All-Purpose Flour
- 0.5 cups Brown Sugar
- 0.75 cups Unsalted Butter
- 1 cups Water
- 1 tablespoon Fresh Lemon Juice
- 0.5 teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- 0.25 teaspoon Salt
Nutrition per Serving
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 180°C and line a square baking pan with parchment paper.
⏱️ 3 minutes
Chop the dates and add them to a saucepan with the water and lemon juice.
⏱️ 4 minutes
Cook the date mixture over medium-low heat until the dates soften and form a thick, spreadable paste.
⏱️ 10 minutes
Stir the vanilla extract into the date filling and set it aside to cool slightly.
⏱️ 1 minutes
Combine the rolled oats, flour, brown sugar, cinnamon and salt in a mixing bowl.
⏱️ 3 minutes
Add the melted butter and mix until the oat mixture forms coarse crumbs.
⏱️ 3 minutes
Press about two-thirds of the oat mixture firmly into the bottom of the prepared pan.
⏱️ 3 minutes
Spread the date filling evenly over the oat base.
⏱️ 3 minutes
Sprinkle the remaining oat mixture evenly over the date filling.
⏱️ 2 minutes
Bake until the top is lightly golden and the edges are set.
⏱️ 30 minutes
Allow the bars to cool completely before slicing into portions.
⏱️ 30 minutes