Chewy Date Bars with Cinnamon Oat Crust Recipe
This Date Bar Recipe features a delicious cinnamon oat crust paired with a rich, chewy date filling. Perfect as a sweet snack or breakfast option, these bars are soft, flavorful, and easy to make, offering a delightful blend of textures and comforting spices.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
- Yield: 24 large bars
- Category: Breakfast, Dessert, Snack
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Date Bar Filling
- 2 cups dates, pitted
- 1 1/2 cups water
Oatmeal Crust
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup packed brown sugar (light or dark)
- 1 tsp. ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1/2 tsp. baking soda
- 8 Tbsp. unsalted butter, cut into cubes
- 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 cups quick cooking oats
- 1 Tbsp. water
Instructions
- Prepare Date Filling: Place the dates and water in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat. Once boiling, reduce the heat to a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, until the water thickens and is mostly absorbed, about 20 minutes. This creates a thick, sticky date filling.
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line a 13 x 9 inch baking dish with parchment paper and lightly grease it to prevent sticking.
- Make Oatmeal Crust Mixture: In a food processor, pulse together flour, brown sugar, vanilla extract, cinnamon, salt, and baking soda until combined. Add the cubed butter and pulse until the mixture resembles coarse sand. Then add oats and water, pulsing just until combined.
- Bake Bottom Crust Layer: Press half of the oat mixture evenly onto the bottom of the prepared baking dish using a spatula or your hands. Bake for 10 minutes until lightly browned, creating a firm base for the filling.
- Assemble Bars: Spread the thickened date filling evenly over the partially baked crust. Sprinkle the remaining oat mixture over the dates and lightly press down to adhere.
- Bake Final Bars: Return the dish to the oven and bake for an additional 30-35 minutes, or until the top of the crust turns a light golden brown.
- Cool and Slice: Allow the date bars to cool completely in the pan. Once cooled, lift out using the parchment paper and slice into 24 large bars or squares. Serve and enjoy this chewy, cinnamon-spiced treat!
Notes
- Make sure the date filling is thick and not watery before assembling to prevent soggy bars.
- Using quick cooking oats helps achieve the right texture for the crust.
- You can substitute the all-purpose flour with gluten-free flour if desired, but results may vary slightly.
- Store bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days or refrigerate for longer freshness.
- For a nuttier flavor, consider adding chopped nuts or seeds to the oat crust mixture.
