Maple-Date Bars
I absolutely, positively adore dates. When I was a kid, I loved when my mom was baking something with dates; I’d always sneak a handful of those sugar-covered chopped dates out of the bag. Since then, I’ve come to enjoy them not only in baked goods, but in meals, as well. I love adding them to oatmeal and when I did a sugar elimination last December, I would eat two or three in the evening as a sweet treat. I cannot pass up a recipe featuring dates, and this one is no exception. From the oat crumble crust and topping to the date jam that is sandwiched in the middle, there is a lot to love about these bars.
While my great Zia Lena’s Date Bar recipe remains my favorite to this day, these bars are quite different and may have just worked their way into #1A territory. The chopped dates are simmered with water and maple syrup until a thick jam forms. Once it’s cooled, it’s spread between layers of an oat-crumb crust.
Between the sweet date filling with a hint of flavor and the crunchy, crumbly bottom and top crusts, these bars make a fantastic treat. If you cut them smaller, they would be a great addition to any holiday cookie tray. Yes, I already have Christmas on the brain!
I’m thrilled to have found another delicious way to feed into my date obsession!
[This recipe was cut out of a magazine and in a stack of clippings from my grandma. Only the recipe was clipped, not an entire page, so I have absolutely no idea where it originated. If you recognize it, let me know what the source is, and I’ll add the credit below!]
One year ago: Praline Waffles and Hot Apple Cider Rum Punch
Two years ago: Oatmeal Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Scones and Mushroom Lasagna
Three years ago: Cumin and Fennel-Crusted Roast Lamb
Four years ago: Beer and Pretzel Soft Caramel Candies
Six years ago: Brownie Mosaic Cheesecake
Seven years ago: Sweet Dinner Rolls
Maple-Date Bars
Ingredients
For the Filling:
- 12 ounces (340.2 g) pitted dates, finely chopped (about 1¾ cups chopped)
- ¾ cup (187.5 ml) water
- ⅓ cup (0.02 ml) maple syrup
For the Crust & Topping:
- 1 cup (125 g) all-purpose flour
- 1 cup (81 g) old-fashioned rolled oats
- ¼ teaspoon (0.25 teaspoon) baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon (0.25 teaspoon) salt
- ½ cup (113.5 g) unsalted butter, at room temperature
- ⅔ cup (133.33 g) granulated sugar
Instructions
- Combine the dates, water and maple syrup in a small saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil and cook for 12 minutes, or until most of the liquid is absorbed, stirring frequently (the mixture will look like jam); cool completely.
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Grease a 9x13-inch baking pan; set aside.
- In a small bowl, stir together the flour, oats, baking soda and salt.
- With an electric mixer, beat the butter and sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Reduce the mixer speed to low and add the dry ingredients, beat only until all dry ingredients have been moistened (the mixture will be crumbly).
- Measure out 2 cups of the crust mixture and press evenly into the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Spread the date mixture evenly over top, then sprinkle with the remaining crust mixture.
- Bake for 20 minutes, or until golden brown. Cool completely before serving. Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
Notes
Did you make this recipe?
Leave a review below, then snap a picture and tag @thebrowneyedbaker on Instagram so I can see it!
Just made these for first time / found in my old pile of recipes – it’s from Best of Cooking Light magazine. Not enough topping. I would put in 8 x 8 pan. Delicious!
Hi Michelle, these look great!! Just wondering if quick oats can be used instead of old-fashioned rolled? Or will it completely compromise the crunchiness of the crust?
Hi Sam, I would stick with the old-fashioned rolled oats. Enjoy!
I love dates too! These bars sounds like a great treat!
Hi Michelle, Thanks so much for sharing this recipe! I made these the other night, but tweeked it a little for me and hubby who are trying to reduce sugar/lose weight. I added 1/2 C bran to the crust mix, used Stevia In The Raw (instead of granulated sugar) and added sliced almonds to the top (protein!) They turned out GREAT and don’t feel so guilty as it’s a ‘nutritional’ dessert. I may add 1 C bran next time. Thanks again!
This sounds perfect! I’ve got some dates in the back of my fridge that I wasn’t quite sure what to do with…but I’m definitely going to make this with them. These sound like the perfect snack to take to work! Healthy and sweet…what could be better!
I couldn’t wait to get home and make these! LIke so many of your other readers, this takes me back to my grandma’s house. The only thing I had a problem with was having enough date filling to cover the 9 x 13 pan. Was I supposed to pack down the dates while measuring because I just dumped them in the measuring cup? It ended up making a 8×8 square pan. But they still tasted great!!
I was wondering about the pan size, too. I have another recipe for date bars that uses more dates for the filling and more crumbs for crust/topping and is baked in a 13×9 pan. I decided I would use a smaller pan.
I love dates too!! They give a flavour reminiscent of brown sugar in certain dishes.
The slice looks great
So lovely. Bar cookies are the best fall dessert!
These look amazing! Do you think they’d freeze ok? My husband hates dates and I don’t think I could polish off the lot in 5 days!
I think they would freeze just fine. Enjoy!
Love, love dates! Greetings to commenter “Linda “- I, also have tried making the date loaf – candy or whatever sweet. It was delicious the one time I remember eating it.
I cannot make it! The one I ate was made with sweetened condensed milk, lots of nuts, dates and maybe coconut? The last time I tried, it was over baked and went to the trash! Michelle, or anyone else- help please with this date loaf!
If hooked me at dates and reeled me in with the fact that these delicious bars have maple syrup in them too. I’m a huge fan of dates and date squares in particular. I love this recipe and will definitely be making a batch of these.
brings back memories of my grandmother’s date-nut pinwheels, which I make every Christmas – will def try this
My mother in law made the best Date Loaf candy that I have ever tasted. Miss her so much. The only luck I have ever had making it was in the microwave and don’t remember how I did it.
Yum. Looks like she probably clipped it from Cooking Light…
http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/maple-date-bars-10000001120394/
Awesome, thank you! :)
I’ll be adding this to my repertoire. Have you tried Date Balls made with Rice Krispies & coconut? Fabulous! I’ll share the recipe if you want it.
My mom has a date ball recipe with coconut, but I don’t think it has Rice Krispies. Definitely send it over!
Is this the date ball recipe?
https://www.cookscountry.com/recipes/5837-coconut-date-rice-krispies-balls
I like dates, too. Since you are pregnant, you might want to google “dates and late pregnancy”. They are very beneficial. I ate six a day from 34 weeks during my last pregnancy.
Hi Amy, Thanks for the tip, I just googled… It looks like I’m going to be eating a lot of dating during December! :)
I am a date fan and these look like a must try for me.
My grandmother always had date nut balls at her house and they are a favorite of mine. Partially because they are so delicious, but also because they remind me of my grandma. There’s nothing like them. :)
This recipe looks like a keeper for sure. When I was young, my mother would occasionaly used a packaged mix to make a date/crumb bar similar to these. They were my most favorite dessert and I was so happy thet my brothers really had no interest in them. I will be making your version very soon and probaby will not be sharing!
I have some lovely dates brought back last week from Egypt and will be using them to make these. Think I’ll add a layer of pistachios too.
These sound great! I love date bars and the maple addition is stellar :)
what a gorgeous recipe. Love the dates I eat them right out of the freezer. So sweet and caramel-esq. I’m just imagining the filling yum! Thanks for sharing and great pictures!