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Sometimes you just want a simple sweet treat, and these date bars are the ultimate easy to make fix for those cravings! The crisp and buttery topping combined with the sweet filling makes these absolutely scrumptious.
I love this classic date bars recipe and I’ve been making it for the family ever since it was passed down to me from my Grandmother.
These bars are also the reason Mr Magpie married me, he claims, for a lifetime supply of date bars. So I taught him how to make them himself 😉 and he now has mastered this recipe, and has become the official date bars baker in the house.
If you’re looking for the perfect sweet snack, you’ve found it. These date bars are naturally low in sugar and they go down just as well with a nice cup of tea after a long day too.Let’s just say if you don’t have a date with these date bars at least once a month, you’re missing out!
Of course, this is a recipe for the date lovers out there, but I’m definitely one of them! I’m always looking for great ways to incorporate dates into my recipes, whether they’re desserts or snacks.
A Date Bar By Any Other Name is Still a Date Bar!
(….annnnd Shakespeare is definitely rolling in his grave right now.) Think you’ve never heard of date bars? You might be wrong. These tasty treats are sometimes referred to as matrimonial bars or date squares – but they’re literally the same thing, and still my favorite thing!
Dates Are a Healthier Snack
Dates are a really healthy sweet snack and a much better option when you’re tempted to reach for the chocolate! They’re packed with fiber, full of energy, and a bit high in sugar and calories – but that’s not always a bad thing if you’re dealing with young picky eaters in your house!
Oh and if you’re a fan of healthy date recipes you absolutely have to try my healthy banana date oatmeal breakfast cookies too!
You can replace the sugar with sweeteners that are a 1:1 replacement, and Splenda even has a brown sugar mix now! That would make these lower in sugar and a great treat!
How to Make Date Bars
- Combine the filling ingredients in a pot and start simmering, stirring often until you have a smooth mixture.
- Combine the sugar and butter to start the base and topping.
- Add in the oats, flour, salt, and baking soda.
- Press most of the crust mix into the bottom of a 9×9 pan but save some for the topping.
- Pour the filling and spread it evenly.
- Crumble the topping evenly across the filling.
- Bake at 350 F until well browned on top, then cool and cut into pieces to make your date bars!
Which Dates Should You Use to Make Date Bars?
You can really use any dates for making these date bars but I tend to use dates that are chopped up and in a block form the most because they’re the most affordable, easy to find in pretty much any store, and they have that delicious caramel taste that I love.
Going Gluten-Free? Check Your Oats
Date bars tend to be gluten-free but you’ll need to check that the oats you’re using aren’t processed in a cross-contamination facility. If you want a gluten-free version of these bars, make sure that you specifically look for gluten-free oats.
Happy baking!
Love,
Karlynn
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Date Bars
- Prep Time
- 10 minutes
- Cook Time
- 20 minutes
- Total Time
- 30 minutes
- Course
- Dessert
- Cuisine
- American
- Servings
- 25
- Calories
- 155
- Author
- Karlynn Johnston
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter softened
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 1/2 cups rolled oats
- 1 1/4 cups flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
Filling Ingredients
- one 375 gram package dates chopped up
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 2/3 cup water
Instructions
- Combine the ingredients for the filling into a small pot and start simmering over medium heat,, stirring often. You want to dissolve the dates and cook until it's a smooth mixture with very few lumps. Once this is finished remove from the heat and set aside.
- Start the base and topping. Combine the sugar and butter together until creamy and combined thoroughly.
- Add in the oats, flour, salt and baking soda. Mix together completely.
- Press 2/3 of the crust mix into the bottom of a 9x9 pan, saving some for the topping.
- Pour the filling on top of the bottom crust and spread it around evenly.
- Crumble the remaining oatmeal mixture as a topping evenly across the filling.
- Bake at 350 degrees until it's beautifully browned on top.
- Cool it and then cut into pieces.
Recipe Notes
Nutrition Information
All calories and info are based on a third party calculator and are only an estimate. Actual nutritional info will vary with brands used, your measuring methods, portion sizes and more.
Made this recipe?
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Please rate this recipe in the comments below to help out your fellow cooks!
Ana Maria Rios says
All I have in my pantry is the oats that cooks in one minute. Is that okay to use on these dates bars?
Ana Maria Rios says
Can I use a bag of chopped dates from the store? They seem to be already sweetened so I would just have to cut back on the sugar or just omit it! Please let me know! Thank you!
Myron Bobzien says
dry mixture was a little too dry had to add another 1/2 stick of butter. now it looks alot better to me. kind of holds together better. But other to that turn out dam good.
Peggy says
I made these fabulous buttery date bars yesterday. My husband and I were amazed by the flavor. Not like the date bars I have made before. These are more like dessert!
Patricia Smith says
So good. I made them yesterday for a luncheon card party. Took a taste last night….then took another. Luckily there will only be 4 of us.
Bryan says
For the filling – boil the dates in day old coffee. Takes the sweetness out and add another flavor dimension. When they’re soft, puree in a blender. If there are any stones – and there’s always one at least – the blades of the blender will pick them up. Better than your teeth!
Mike Jones says
If you say it’s gluten free, why the flour?
Ronna Wagar says
I used spiced rum instead of water and added 1/2 cup chopped pecans. I tasted the filling and it was great. Can’t taste the crusty parts as I used wheat flour as gift for husband. Next time I might make gluten free. My husband is hard to shop for so I make some of his grandmother’s recipes and things he hankers for. This was perfect for him.
Angela says
Hi, tried it yesterday. They came out very soft and don’t hold their shape when cut.
Yhanks
Joanne Waddell says
Sounds really good!
Arden Grant says
The coffee additive sounds super I always add vanilla o mixture and cut back on sugar..EXCELLENT Where is Butter tart rec?
Sonia Olivier says
Have tried them, I am from Canada.
Melanie Harmsma says
When I first glanced at it I thought it was a key chain and I thought “she’s turning baked goods into accessories… She’s finally lost it!” 😉
Tara Zieminek says
Whoa…hold on there. It’s just a date – let’s not go overboard.
Ann Titel says
Enjoyed this date recipe. But too much oat mixture I only covered the top. I added 1/2 c homemade applesauce as I didn’t have enough dates. I added 1 tsp cinnamon& 1/4 tsp allspice.
Joy Leeb says
One of my favourites, too.
Susan Fisher Westervelt says
YUM wrote the date squares down! haven’t had those for years will have to make and see if it is the same as what my mom made us while I was growing up!
The Kitchen Magpie says
Let me know what you think!!!
Erika Boyer says
i have made your date square and your butter tarts and both are RIDICULOUSY delicious (I am picky about both) and get rave reviews!
The Kitchen Magpie says
That’s music to my ears!!!!
Erika Boyer says
from now on, if you say a recipe is amazing, I will not question, I will make it!
The Kitchen Magpie says
Erika Boyer Now if only my kids would
listen to me like that!! \U0001f60d\U0001f60d
Sonia Olivier says
Date squares and butter tarts, you don’t hear of either one down here.
The Kitchen Magpie says
You have to try them!! They are the best!
Erika Boyer says
you seriously have to make both!
Linda Cunliffe says
Made date squares as and butter tarts not too long ago…..two of my favorite treats\U0001f604\U0001f604
Sonia Olivier says
Have tried them, I am from Canada.
Julie O'Hagan says
No sugar needed with date mixture. I add coffee and later lemon and vanilla.
Mary P Hoffman says
Those sound like great additions.
Julie O'Hagan says
They are. I tend to find other recipes too sweet for me.
Jo Mar says
How much coffee, and lemon juice please. Sounds so good.
Julie O'Hagan says
Will get back to you later.
Julie O'Hagan says
About 2 cups chopped dates or more, 1 cup cold coffee, 1 TBSP lemon juice.