The Best Old-Fashioned Date Bars Recipe

Date bars are a simple and easy treat made with a buttery oatmeal crust and crumb topping, filled with a sweet, spicy date filling. 

Good morning friends, I am joining my friend Sheri for our monthly series, “Sweet treats for your Sweet tooth.” Each month we share our favorite version of a sweet treat, everything from cookies, bars, cakes, puddings and more. If you don’t know Sheri she is a professional photographer and the writer of the Sheri Silver blog. Today she is sharing Oatmeal Date Smash Cookies and I am sharing Old Fashioned Date Bars, just like your grandma’s recipe.

Dates have been going viral on social media for years and although I jumped on date bark bandwagon and made my family’s date and walnut loaf I had never made old fashioned date bars. I am not sure what I was waiting for, these sweet treats are ready in an hour and they are scrumptious. The filling for these classic date bars is made with just a few ingredients and is sandwiched between a brown sugar oat crumble and crust.  These bars are perfect with a cup of coffee or tea for a little afternoon pick me up or after dinner with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream.They are now one of my favorite things that I bake.

Why You Will Love This Recipe

• This recipe is made with a few simple ingredients that you already have in your pantry.
• Sweet dates and buttery, oat crumble that melts in your mouth to make a delicious and healthy-ish afternoon snack or dessert.
• They are a great addition to dessert trays and holiday cookie swaps and are sure to become family favorites.
• Can be made ahead and frozen until ready to eat.

What You Need To Make Old Fashioned Date Bars

Date Layer

• 3 cups chopped pitted medjool dates (1 lb)
• 1 1/2 cups water
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Crust and Crumble

• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour or whole wheat flour
• 1 1/2 cups quick-cooking oats
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

How to Make Date Bar

• In a medium saucepan, cook chopped dates, water, sugar and cinnamon over low heat until the dates are soft and the mixture is thickened. About 10 minutes. Stir constantly so the mixture does not burn. Remove from heat, cool 5 minutes then stir in the vanilla extract.
• Heat oven to 400°F. Prepare a 13×9-inch pan with parchment paper and non-stick cooking spray, set aside.
• In large bowl, stir brown sugar and softened butter until well mixed.
• Stir in dry ingredients, flour, oats, baking soda, cinnamon and salt into the butter mixture until crumbly. Press half of the crumb mixture evenly in bottom of pan. Spread the date mixture evenly over the top of the bottom crust. Top with remaining crumb mixture, press the crumb mixture into the date paste.
• Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until golden  brown. Remove from oven and cool in the pan on a cooling rack. Cut into bars and enjoy.

Variations

• Medjool dates are preferred for this recipe but you can use any kind of dates. If using smaller, harder dates, like deglet noor soak them for 2-3 minutes in boiling water to soften them. Pour off the soaking water and cook with the rest of the filling ingredient to make the date layer.
• Add citrus zest, orange or lemon to the date filling to brighten the flavor and to give it a little tang.
• Make date nut bars, sprinkle the bars with toasted nuts or add chopped nuts to the crumble topping before baking, , walnuts and pecans are great options. They add extra crunch and nuttiness.
• Add a pinch of nutmeg, or allspice to the oat mixture if you like a little more spice, they both compliment the cinnamon already used in the recipe.
• Drizzle the bars with dark chocolate after baking and cooling the date bars. The melted chocolate makes the bars look and taste more special.

What To Serve With Old Fashioned Date Bars

• Chai tea or coffee are perfect with these old fashioned date bars.
• Fresh Fruit, serve with slices of apple, pear, or berries for added nutrition.
• A scoop of classic vanilla ice cream because ice cream makes every dessert even better.
• Cinnamon whipped cream, lightly whipped cream with a dash of cinnamon.

Freezing & Storing Leftovers

Store date squares in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. To keep them fresh longer, keep them in the fridge. Bring to room temperature before serving for the best texture.

For longer storage, wrap individual bars tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil, then place in an airtight freezer bag or an airtight container. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw the date bars at room temperature, then enjoy.

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THAT’S ALL FOR NOW

I hope that you enjoyed this recipe for homemade Old Fashioned Date Bars and that it reminds you of your grandma’s recipe. It’s a little bit old fashioned and nostalgic and that is a good thing in my opinion.

Have a great day friends, thank you for spending part of your day with me.

Don’t forget to visit Sheri and pin her recipe for Oatmeal Date Smash Cookies.

You can also keep up with me on Pinterest, Instagram, and Facebook. And last but not least, if you like Pinecones & Acorns share it with a friend!

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The Best Old-Fashioned Date Bars Recipe

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Date bars are a simple and easy treat made with a buttery oatmeal crust and crumb topping, filled with a sweet, spicy date filling.

Ingredients

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Date Layer

• 3 cups chopped pitted medjool dates (1 lb)
• 1 1/2 cups water
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Crust and Crumble

• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour or whole wheat flour
• 1 1/2 cups quick-cooking oats
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

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Instructions

In a medium saucepan, cook chopped dates, water, sugar and cinnamon over low heat until the dates are soft and the mixture is thickened. About 10 minutes. Stir constantly so the mixture does not burn. Remove from heat, cool 5 minutes then stir in the vanilla extract.

Heat oven to 400°F. Prepare a 13×9-inch pan with parchment paper and non-stick cooking spray, set aside.

In large bowl, stir brown sugar and softened butter until well mixed.

Stir in dry ingredients, flour, oats, baking soda, cinnamon and salt into the butter mixture until crumbly. Press half of the crumb mixture evenly in bottom of pan. Spread the date mixture evenly over the top of the bottom crust. Top with remaining crumb mixture, press the crumb mixture into the date paste.

Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until golden  brown. Remove from oven and cool in the pan on a cooling rack. Cut into bars and enjoy.

• Author: Elizabeth