Date Bars

5 from 8 votes

These easy Date Bars are a delightful sweet treat made with a buttery crust, a jammy date filling, and a pecan-oat crumble on top. Every bite tastes like nostalgia, with warm, comforting flavors and sweet dried fruit!

Prep Time20

Cook Time45

Total Time1 5

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Diet: Vegetarian

Keyword: date bars

Servings:

Author: Erin Alvarez

Ingredients

2 cups pitted dates, chopped measure once chopped, not whole
1 cup water
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 tbsp lemon juice
1 tsp vanilla extract

For the crust:

1 1/4 cups quick rolled oats
3/4 cup all purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup butter cold
1 egg whisked
1/2 cup pecans chopped

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350° and line an 8x8 baking dish with parchment paper; set aside.
Add the dates, water, brown sugar, and lemon juice to a saucepan. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to low and stir occasionally until it’s thickened, 3-5 minutes, using a wooden spoon to help break down the dates. Remove from the heat then stir in the vanilla.
Next, make the crust: stir the oats, flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and brown sugar together in a large bowl. Grate the butter into the bowl, then use a fork or your hands to combine until the butter is small and pebble-like. Last, add the egg and stir to combine. The dough should stick together when you pinch.
Add ⅔ of the mixture to your prepared pan, using your hands to press it down into the pan. Then, add the date mixture overtop, using the back of a spoon to smooth it out.
Add the pecans to the bowl with the remaining crust mixture then stir to combine. Sprinkle it overtop of the date mixture.
Place the pan in the oven and bake the bars for 35-40 minutes, until the top is slightly golden.
Allow the bars to cool in the pan for at least 30 minutes before removing the bars. Slice into 16 smaller bars or 9 large bars and enjoy!

Notes

*Calories are per serving and are an estimation.

Nutrition