Old-Fashioned Date Bars Recipe

4.35 from 26 votes

When you make these date bars, you will feel like you've stepped back in time as you stir together dates, water and sugar for the filling and then pop them into the oven.

Prep Time25

Cook Time35

Total Time1

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: date squares, fruit bars, fruit squares

Servings:

Author: Martha McKinnon | Simple Nourished Living

Equipment

Ingredients

For the Date Filling:

2 cups chopped pitted dates (about 10 ounces)
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 cup water

For the Oat Crust:

1-3/4 cups old-fashioned or quick cooking oats (not instant)
1-1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 cup butter, melted

Instructions

Position an oven rack in the center and preheat your oven to 350F degrees. Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking pan with non-stick cooking spray.
Make the filling by combining the dates, sugar and water in a medium saucepan and cooking over medium-low to medium heat until it's thick. Remove pan from the heat.
To prepare the crumb crust, combine the oats, flour, brown sugar, baking soda in a medium bowl with a fork or whisk. Add the butter and combine until the mixture is crumbly.
Press half of the oat crumb mixture into the prepared pan. Spread the prepared date filling on top of the oat crumb mixture to within 1/4-inch of the edge of the pan.
Top with the remaining oat crumb mixture, patting it down lightly.
Bake the date squares for 25 to 35 minutes, or until lightly golden brown.
Remove from the oven and cool completely on a wire rack before cutting into 24 squares, bars, or triangles.

Notes

Serving size: 1 date bar (1/24th recipe)

WW Points: 7

Check the WW Points for this recipe and track it in the WW app.
(Must be logged into WW on a smartphone or tablet.)

8 SmartPoints (Green plan)

8 SmartPoints (Blue plan)

8 SmartPoints (Purple plan)

5 PointsPlus (Old plan)

Nutrition