More healthy Oatmeal Date Bars + A Tribute • Kath Eats

Chewy, more healthy oatmeal date bars made with entire wheat flour, oats, and Medjool dates. A healthful snack or dessert that’s simple to make and naturally candy.

KK’s Date Bars

These of you who’ve learn the weblog for the reason that starting will keep in mind Karen, also called KK. She was my mother-in-law for over a decade and a good friend for years after that. Karen not too long ago misplaced her long-time battle with most cancers, and I wished to write down a tribute to her, which is on the backside of this publish.

The final time Mazen and I visited KK in California she made these date bars. She and I couldn’t cease consuming them they have been so good. She gave me the recipe, which I hadn’t made till now. Relaxation in peace KK, these are for you.

These more healthy oatmeal date bars are a kind of traditional, feel-good recipes you’ll come again to time and again. They’re chewy, evenly candy, and stuffed with a thick layer of naturally candy Medjool dates, all tucked between a hearty oat and entire wheat crust. The unique recipe requires white flour, however entire wheat subbed in completely right here – so they’re a contact more healthy!

Excellent for snacks, lunchboxes, or a not-too-sweet dessert, these bars strike that very best steadiness between comforting and healthful. If you happen to love baked oatmeal, granola bars, or something date-filled, this recipe is for you. I extremely advocate crumbling one warmed up over some vanilla ice cream!

Why You’ll Love These Date Bars

• Made with entire wheat flour and rolled oats
• The date filling provides pure sweetness plus fiber
• Gentle, chewy texture with a evenly crisp oat topping
• Straightforward to prep forward for snacks or lunches
• Freezer-friendly and nice for sharing

More healthy Oatmeal Date Bars

Elements

For the Date Filling

• 1¼ cups Medjool dates (about 8 ounces or 16 giant dates), pitted
• ¼ cup cane sugar
• ½ cup water

For the Crust and Topping

• ¾ cup salted butter, melted
• ¾ cup brown sugar
• 1 cup entire wheat flour
• 1¾ cups rolled oats
• 1 teaspoon baking soda

Pan Dimension

Use a pan that’s about 64–70 sq. inches, resembling an 8×8-inch pan or a ten×7-inch pan (used right here).

Directions

Step 1: Preheat the oven

Preheat the oven to 350°F and evenly grease a pan that’s about 64–70 sq. inches (resembling an 8×8-inch or 10×7-inch pan).

Step 2: Make the date filling

Mix the Medjool dates, cane sugar, and water in a saucepan over medium-high warmth. Cook dinner till the dates are extraordinarily mushy and breaking down. Mash with a wood spoon till a thick, jam-like paste kinds. Take away from warmth and put aside.

Step 3: Make the crust and topping

Whereas the dates are cooking, soften the butter in a big bowl. Stir within the brown sugar, entire wheat flour, and baking soda till mixed. Add the rolled oats and blend completely.

Step 4: Press the crust into the pan

Press about 2/3 of the oat combination firmly into the underside of the ready pan, utilizing a spatula to actually pack it down.

Step 5: Add the date layer

Unfold the date filling evenly over the crust, reaching all the way in which to the perimeters.

Step 6: Add the topping

Sprinkle the remaining oat combination evenly excessive and gently press it down.

Step 7: Bake

Bake for 25–Half-hour, till the highest is evenly browned.

Step 8: Cool utterly earlier than reducing

This step issues greater than anything. Let the bars cool for a REALLY very long time earlier than reducing. If you happen to slice them whereas heat, they may crumble. For greatest outcomes, allow them to cool utterly at room temperature or refrigerate for an hour or two earlier than reducing into small squares.

Storage Suggestions

Retailer at room temperature for as much as 2 days, within the fridge for as much as per week, or freeze for longer storage. These bars freeze superbly. Simply minimize them and place them in layers between parchment paper to freeze.

Date Bar FAQs

How can I make these oatmeal date bars gluten-free?

Use licensed gluten-free rolled oats and substitute the entire wheat flour with a 1:1 gluten-free baking mix. The feel could also be barely extra delicate, so cooling totally earlier than reducing is particularly necessary.

Can I exploit one other fats as a substitute of butter to make them vegan?

Sure. Melted coconut oil or a vegan butter substitute each work effectively. Coconut oil will add a refined coconut taste and corporations up properly as soon as cooled.

Might I exploit jam as a substitute of dates?

You possibly can! Swap the date filling for about 1 to 1¼ cups of thick jam. Be mindful the bars shall be sweeter and fewer fiber-rich, and also you’ll nonetheless need to allow them to cool utterly earlier than slicing.

Why do my bars crumble once I minimize them?

You chop them too early didn’t you! I do know it’s tempting to dig in whereas they’re heat, however I additionally discovered this the laborious manner. They weren’t cooled lengthy sufficient.

Tribute to KK

Karen was filled with spunk and power. She was adventurous and liked to journey. She boldly went on bike journeys by herself and got here house with new associates. She completely liked San Diego and spent her ultimate years there along with her beloved Yacht Membership associates. She liked to sail, bike, and kayak. Andrew, Mazen, and I’ll at all times snicker on the time she navigated us to search out sea lions on the San Diego Bay and we by no means discovered them – we kayaked for hours round each nook of that bay!

There was additionally the time we obtained caught in the course of the bay on a sailboat and needed to be towed in – this was a sample, haha!

She was dedicated to her two grandchildren, making them Halloween costumes by hand and spending as a lot time as she might from afar. She had Mazen out for an entire month when he was pretty younger, and I don’t know the place she obtained that power!

She was an adventurous cook dinner and liked attempting distinctive recipes like crawfish mac and cheese. If I keep in mind accurately, she as soon as carried recent shrimp house on an airplane simply so she might have the very best of the very best.

She LOVED pranks and laughing (I feel this elevator prank was her all-time favourite to look at). However her greatest prank was establishing “The Booger Man” on a bathroom for folks to find without warning:

When KK first acquired her most cancers prognosis earlier than Mazen was born, the medical doctors informed her if she made it two years she might think about it cured. It got here again after 2.5 years. She endured so many therapies and surgical procedures, however was extremely courageous and optimistic. She lived virtually 14 years with that most cancers fiercely held on the backburner whereas she lived her life to the fullest.

KK was a powerful advocate for the Dying with Dignity motion, and one in all her ultimate needs was that I share this publicly with you all to extend consciousness. She felt at peace with this selection.

KK was at all times making associates, and he or she shall be missed by so many individuals, particularly Mazen and me.