Easy Homemade Breakfast Date and Oat Bars - Date Squares - This is the perfect treat for an on the go breakfast/snack. They are also great for the holidays or for Ramadan/Eid. These date bars are made up of a crumbly shortbread like crust with a jammy date mixture middle. They have a wonderful chewy texture and are seriously addictive.
Date, Honey and Oat Bars
The main ingredients in the oaty layer are rolled oats, flour, sugar and butter. The main ingredients in the date layer are dates, honey, lemon juice and butter. I like to use Medjool dates because they’re treacly soft and have a fudge like texture.
What takes these bars to the next level is the addition of Cardamom and Fennel in the Date mixture. Even my husband who hates anything flavoured with Dates (other then Sticky Toffee Pudding, obvs), loves these bars.
These bars are truly scrumptious and you will love them! Especially if you have a sweet tooth. You have to give these bars a go!
If you love easy bars recipes, try my Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars recipe.
Why you will love them
- They are easy to make
- They make the perfect sweet treat. These bars are sweetened with dates and spices which is encased in a buttery oaty shortbread. It makes for a dreamy combination.
- A good source of fibre
- So delicious!
What you need to make these Date Squares
Dates
The type of date I recommend is Medjool date or any soft chewy dates will work well because essentially you will be using the whole dates to make a date paste. Not all regular dates will work especially not a drier variety.
Sesame Seeds
These add a sweet nutty taste.
Honey
This works well with Dates to create a sweet and fudgy date paste.
Lemon Juice and Water
Lemon adds some zing and lifts the flavour of the date paste. Lemon also works beautifully with the Spices in these bars.
Oats
I use standard oats rather then old-fashioned oats or rolled oats.
Flour
Plain or All Purpose Flour is used in both the Date paste to thicken it and in the Oat Crumb.
Sugar
You can use White (caster sugar or granulated sugar) or light brown sugar.
Butter
I use salted Butter which is melted to create a shortbread like bar.
Salt
A pinch of Salt brings everything together.
Baking Powder
Just a little to create some lift to make it flaky and delicate
Spices
I use Fennel Seeds and Cardamom. These work so well with Dates. You can skip them but I would highly recommend adding them.
How to make them
The full recipe with ingredient measurements can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of the page.
Preheat the oven to Gas Mark 5, 190 C/375 F.
Place Dates and the rest of the ingredients for the Date paste (Honey, Lemon Juice, Water, Fennel, Cardamom, Sesame Seeds and Flour) to a pot over medium heat. Use a wooden spoon to stir occasionally to create a paste.
Cook for 5 minutes then remove from the pot and set aside to cool.
To make the Oat Crumble Shortbread layer, combine Oats, Plain Flour, Sugar, Baking Powder, Melted Butter and Salt in a bowl and mix together in a large bowl to create a Dough. You can also add all the ingredients to a food processor.
Place ⅔rds of the mixture into a 20cm tin lined with baking paper/parchment paper.
Bake for 5 minutes. Then remove from the Oven.
Spread the Date layer on top of the Oat mixture.
Crumble over the remaining shortbread crumb.
Place the tin in the oven for 25 - 30 minutes and cook till golden brown.
Leave to cool for 1 hour before removing to a wire rack.
Tips for making Date Bars
Use a larger piece of baking paper
This makes it easier to lift the date bars out of the tin once done.
Press the crumb into the bottom of the tin
You want to make sure that everything is uniform and that the bars won’t fall apart.
Let the bars cool completely before cutting them
Leave the bars to cool for 1 hour before cutting.
Variations for homemade date bars
Add your favourite seeds/spices to the date mixture - Great options are Coconuts - shredded or Coconut Flakes and chopped Nuts such as Walnuts or Pecans.
Add Vanilla Extract - Or vanilla bean paste. This tastes lovely in the delicious date filling.
Add mini Chocolate Chips - I would recommend milk chocolate chips.
Make it Vegan - Use Vegan Butter or Coconut Oil instead of Butter and replace the Honey with Maple Syrup to make them Vegan. I have't actually tried this myself but it should work. Do let me know if you give it a go!
Serving Suggestions
These Date bars are best eaten as they are.
You could perhaps try them with a drizzle of seed butter such as Tahini or Nut butter such as Peanut Butter.
Storage
How long do Date Bars keep?
These bars keep well in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 7 days.
Date bars also freeze really well, for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature before serving.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
WHAT ARE THE BEST DATES TO USE FOR THESE DATE BARS?
I would recommend a softer fudgy variety such as Medjool Dates.
Other Bar Recipes you will enjoy:
Cherry and Raspberry Crumble Breakfast Bars
3 Ingredient Peanut Butter Bars
Fudgy in the middle chocolate, oats and date bars
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Easy Homemade Breakfast Date and Oat Bars - Date Squares
Ingredients
Date Paste
- 200 g Medjool Dates Pitted
- 50 g Honey
- 30 ml Lemon Juice
- 120 ml Water
- 15 g Plain Flour
- Pinch Fennel Seeds
- ¼ teaspoon Ground Cardamom
- 1 teaspoon Sesame Seeds
Oat Crumble
- 150 g Oats
- 180 g Plain Flour All Purpose Flour
- ½ teaspoon Baking Powder
- ¼ teaspoon Salt
- 200 g Light Brown Sugar
- 180 g Butter Melted
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to Gas Mark 5, 190 C/375 F.
Date Paste
- Place Dates and the rest of the ingredients for the DAte paste (Honey, Lemon Juice, Water, Fennel, Cardamom, Sesame Seeds and Flour) to a pot over medium heat. Use a wooden spoon to stir occasionally to create a paste.
- Cook for 5 minutes then remove from the pot and set aside to cool.
Oat Crumble
- To make the Oat Crumble Shortbread layer, combine Oats, Plain Flour, Sugar, Baking Powder, Melted Butter and Salt in a bowl and mix together in a large bowl to create a Dough. You can also add all the ingredients to a food processor.
- Place ⅔rds of the mixture into a 20cm tin lined with baking paper/parchment paper. Bake for 5 minutes. Then remove from the Oven.
- Spread the Date layer on top of the Oat mixture.
- Crumble over the remaining shortbread crumb.
- Place the tin in the oven for 25 - 30 minutes and cook till golden brown.
- Leave to cool for 1 hour before removing to a wire rack to cool completely. Although you can eat them at this stage too if you prefer!
Notes
Tips for making Date Bars
Use a larger piece of baking paper This makes it easier to lift the date bars out of the tin once done. Press the crumb into the bottom of the tin You want to make sure that everything is uniform and that the bars won’t fall apart. Let the bars cool completely before cutting them Leave the bars to cool for 1 hour before cutting.Variations for homemade date bars
Add your favourite seeds/spices to the date mixture - Great options are Coconuts - shredded or Coconut Flakes and chopped Nuts such as Walnuts or Pecans. Add Vanilla Extract - Or vanilla bean paste. This tastes lovely in the delicious date filling. Add mini Chocolate Chips - I would recommend milk chocolate chips. Make it Vegan - Use Vegan Butter or Coconut Oil instead of Butter and replace the Honey with Maple Syrup to make them Vegan. I have't actually tried this myself but it should work. Do let me know if you give it a go!Serving Suggestions
These Date bars are best eaten as they are. You could perhaps try them with a drizzle of seed butter such as Tahini or Nut butter such as Peanut Butter.Storage
How long do Date Bars keep? These bars keep well in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 7 days.Date bars also freeze really well, for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature before serving.
Nutrition
Islam says
The sunnah mentions to the way the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) lived his life, his sayings and teachings. We learn this through the hadith which is a record of these sayings and teachings. Muslims try to implement the sunnah or ways of the prophet into our lives.