Date Bars with Oat Crumble (Healthy Version)
Servings: 16
These date bars with oat crumble layer a jammy Medjool date filling, made with maple syrup and almond butter, between oat and coconut crumble. They slice into 16 chewy bars that keep for a week in the fridge or three months in the freezer.
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp flaxseed meal
- 3 tbsp water
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ⅛ tsp sea salt, unrefined
- ¾ cup coconut oil, unrefined room temp (not melted)
- 1 cup coconut sugar
- 1 ½ cup gluten-free rolled oats
- ½ cup coconut flakes
Date Filling
- 1 ½ cup dates pitted and chopped (14 medjool dates)
- 2 tbsp pure maple syrup
- 2 tbsp almond butter
- 2 tbsp water
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 350 °F. Line a 9-inch square baking dish with parchment paper or grease it.
- Stir together the flaxseed meal and water in a small dish and let soak for 10 minutes.
- Pulse the flour, baking soda and salt in a food processor to mix. Add the coconut oil and pulse just until coarse clumps form. Add the coconut sugar, flax mixture, oats and coconut flakes and pulse just to combine. The mixture shouldn't be dry; if it is, add a little more coconut oil.
- Divide the crumb mixture in two. Press one portion firmly into the bottom of the pan and set the other aside in a bowl.
- Wipe out the food processor. Add the dates, maple syrup, almond butter and water and puree on high until a creamy paste forms, adding more water if needed. Spread the date filling over the crust, then sprinkle the reserved crumb mixture on top and press down lightly.
- Bake for 25 minutes. Let cool completely, then cut into squares.
Notes
- Prep Tip: If your dates are dry or firm, soak them in hot water for 10 minutes and drain before pureeing.
- Mix-Ins: Add 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon or 1 teaspoon vanilla extract to the oat mixture, or scatter chopped walnuts or dark chocolate chips over the filling.
- Gluten-Free: Use a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend in place of the all-purpose flour, along with certified gluten-free oats.
- Storing: Keep the bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or in the fridge for up to 1 week. To freeze, wrap them individually in parchment for up to 3 months and thaw at room temperature.
Nutrition
Serving: 1bar, Calories: 253kcal, Carbohydrates: 33g, Protein: 3g, Fat: 14g, Saturated Fat: 10g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 2g, Sodium: 75mg, Potassium: 165mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 17g, Vitamin A: 1IU, Vitamin C: 0.1mg, Calcium: 22mg, Iron: 1mg
