Not Your Usual Date Bars

Break away from the ordinary with "Not Your Usual Date Bars," a decadent twist on a timeless treat. These energy-packed bars feature a luscious filling of tender, spiced Medjool dates simmered with bright bursts of orange zest and juice, creating a jam-like layer that’s undeniably irresistible. Encased in a buttery, crumbly crust and topped with crunchy sliced almonds, these bars achieve the perfect harmony of texture and flavor. With warm notes of cinnamon and nutmeg, they’re ideal as a sophisticated afternoon snack, a quick breakfast bite, or even a grab-and-go dessert. Ready in just over an hour, these easy date bars are your new go-to recipe for crowd-pleasing, wholesome indulgence.

Nutriscore Rating: 50/100

Prep Time:30 mins

Cook Time:35 mins

Total Time:65 mins

Servings: 12

Ingredients

• 400 g pitted Medjool dates
• 1 tbsp orange zest
• 120 ml orange juice
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 0.5 tsp ground nutmeg
• 200 g unsalted butter
• 150 g light brown sugar
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 200 g all-purpose flour
• 150 g rolled oats
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 0.25 tsp salt
• 50 g sliced almonds

Directions

Step 1

Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F) and line a 9x9-inch (23x23 cm) baking pan with parchment paper, leaving some overhang for easy removal.

Step 2

In a small pot over medium heat, combine the pitted dates, orange juice, orange zest, ground cinnamon, and ground nutmeg.

Step 3

Cook the mixture, stirring occasionally, for about 8-10 minutes or until the dates break down into a thick, jam-like consistency. Remove from heat and set aside to cool.

Step 4

In a large mixing bowl, cream together the unsalted butter and light brown sugar until fluffy using a hand mixer or stand mixer. Add the vanilla extract and mix until incorporated.

Step 5

In another bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, rolled oats, baking powder, and salt.

Step 6

Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture, mixing just until a crumbly dough forms. Reserve about 1/2 cup of this crumbly mixture for the topping.

Step 7

Press the remaining dough evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan to form the crust.

Step 8

Spread the cooled date filling evenly over the crust layer.

Step 9

To the reserved 1/2 cup of dough, mix in the sliced almonds and sprinkle this crumbly topping over the date filling, ensuring an even distribution.

Step 10

Bake in the preheated oven for 30-35 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown.

Step 11

Remove from the oven and let the bars cool completely in the pan before using the parchment overhang to lift them out. Slice them into 12 equal squares or bars.

Step 12

Serve and enjoy! These bars can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	1303.2 grams (1303.2g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	4822

Total Fat 210.50g	270%
Saturated Fat 103.90g	520%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.00g
Cholesterol 443mg	148%
Sodium 1116mg	49%
Total Carbohydrate 732.40g	266%
Dietary Fiber 58.20g	208%
Total Sugars 430.10g
Protein 62.20g	124%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 695mg	53%
Iron 23mg	125%
Potassium 4540mg	97%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 37.3%

Protein: 4.9%

Carbs: 57.8%