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 straightforward to make and naturally candy.

KK’s Date Bars

These of you who’ve learn the weblog because the starting will keep in mind Karen, also called KK. She was my mother-in-law for over a decade and a pal for years after that. Karen just lately misplaced her long-time battle with most cancers, and I needed 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 had 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 basic, feel-good recipes you’ll come again to time and again. They’re chewy, frivolously candy, and full of 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 excellent steadiness between comforting and healthful. When you 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
• Comfortable, chewy texture with a frivolously crisp oat topping
• Simple 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 Measurement

Use a pan that’s about 64–70 sq. inches, akin to 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 frivolously grease a pan that’s about 64–70 sq. inches (akin to 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. Prepare dinner till the dates are extraordinarily delicate and breaking down. Mash with a picket spoon till a thick, jam-like paste varieties. 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 essentially pack it down.

Step 5: Add the date layer

Unfold the date filling evenly over the crust, reaching all the best way to the sides.

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 frivolously browned.

Step 8: Cool fully earlier than reducing

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

Storage Ideas

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 reduce 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 very necessary.

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

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

May I take advantage of jam as a substitute of dates?

You’ll be able to! Swap the date filling for about 1 to 1¼ cups of thick jam. Take note the bars can be sweeter and fewer fiber-rich, and also you’ll nonetheless wish to allow them to cool fully earlier than slicing.

Why do my bars crumble after I reduce them?

You narrow 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 method. They weren’t cooled lengthy sufficient.

Tribute to KK

Karen was stuffed with spunk and vitality. She was adventurous and beloved to journey. She boldly went on bike journeys by herself and got here residence with new mates. She completely beloved San Diego and spent her ultimate years there along with her beloved Yacht Membership mates. She beloved to sail, bike, and kayak. Andrew, Mazen, and I’ll all the time snort on the time she navigated us to seek 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 bought caught in the midst 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 may from afar. She had Mazen out for an entire month when he was pretty younger, and I don’t know the place she bought that vitality!

She was an adventurous cook dinner and beloved attempting distinctive recipes like crawfish mac and cheese. If I keep in mind appropriately, she as soon as carried contemporary shrimp residence on an airplane simply so she may have one of the best of one of the best.

She LOVED pranks and laughing (I believe this elevator prank was her all-time favourite to look at). However her greatest prank was organising “The Booger Man” on a rest room for folks to find unexpectedly:

When KK first acquired her most cancers prognosis earlier than Mazen was born, the docs advised her if she made it two years she may take into account 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 nearly 14 years with that most cancers fiercely held on the backburner whereas she lived her life to the fullest.

KK was a robust advocate for the Loss of life with Dignity motionand one in every of her ultimate needs was that I share this publicly with you all to extend consciousness. She felt at peace with this selection.

KK was all the time making mates, and she or he can be missed by so many individuals, particularly Mazen and me.