Date Bar Cookies

Recipe courtesy Kathleen Daelemans, Cooking Thin with Chef Kathleen, Houghton Mifflin Company, 2002

Rated: 4 stars out of 5Rate itRead users' reviews (16)

RECIPE
COMMENTS & REVIEWS(16)

Cook Time:
35 min
Level:
Easy
Yield:
30 (2-inch) bars

Times:

Prep: 25 min
Inactive Prep: --
Cook: 35 min
Total:: 1 hr 0 min

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Ingredients

For the filling:

3 cups coarsely chopped dates
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 1/2 cups water

For the crust and topping:

1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 3/4 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) very cold butter, cut into small cubes

Directions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

In a nonreactive medium saucepan over low heat, combine dates, granulated sugar, and water. Cook, stirring constantly, until thickened, about 15 minutes. Cool completely. In a large bowl or bowl of an electric mixer, place brown sugar, flour, baking soda, salt, and oats. Mix on low speed until combined. While mixer is running, add butter, 1 piece or 2 at a time. Mix until crumb like, with some lumps of butter no larger than pea size.

Using your hands, press and flatten half of crumb mixture into a greased 9 by 13-inch pan. Spread cooled filling over crust. Cover with remaining crumb mixture, patting lightly. Bake until lightly browned, 25 to 35 minutes. Cool slightly and cut into bars while still in the pan. Gently remove cut bars from pan. Serve warm or at room temperature. Date bars, stored in an airtight container, refrigerate and freeze well.

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Comments & Reviews

recipe Date Bar Cookies
Natalie Dallas, TX 06-20-2009
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Just made, well worth it
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

My mom told me my dad used to always ask for Date Bars but she never made them. It has been at least 20 years since he has... had them. I made these for Fathers Day and they are DELICIOUS and exactly what he was wanting all those years!! (I only had 2 cups chopped dates which worked fine). I made exactly according to the recipe otherwise. I baked for 26 minutes and cut with a pizza cutter 10 minutes after taking out of the oven.Read more
recipe Date Bar Cookies
NORMA GLENDALE, AZ 11-29-2008
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DATE BARS
Rated: 4 stars out of 5

Missing one ingredient from mom's recipe, Add 1 cup coconut flakes to bar recipe.Try it, you'll love it! Norma Glendale,Az.
recipe Date Bar Cookies
Brenda Huntsville, AL 01-05-2008
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My Grandmother would be proud
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

My Grandmother would make a bar like this when I was a child. She called them date crumbles...her recipe was lost in a move... we made over 15 years ago. I've been trying different versions since then with no but none of them ever lived up to my memories. Finally I came across this and my grandmother would be proud to serve these. I loved them then and still now that I've finally found this recipe. Thanks for posting it.Read more
recipe Date Bar Cookies
Marne Zimmerman, MN 03-13-2007
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Worth trying!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

I made these when I made Christmas cookies and included them with cookie trays and baskets that I gave as gifts. Lots of... people gave rave reviews of these bars and I think they're great! I followed the recipe exactly as its written and they are so good!Read more
recipe Date Bar Cookies
Erika Toronto 01-01-2007
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Yummy and crumby
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

I would not call these cookies, they are more like date crumb bars. they are so good and i have recieved great reviews about... them! A must try for the date lover!!!!! Also, if you dont like things too sweet or the dates you are using have a sugary-ish coating, the quarter cup of sugar in the filling can be omitted!Read more
recipe Date Bar Cookies
Anonymous 12-11-2006
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YUMMY FOR OUR TUMMIES
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

WE USE TO BUY A DATE BAR COOKIE BOX MIX BUT I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO FIND IT FOR YEARS. THIS RECIPE IS SIMPLE TO MAKE AND HAS... THE SAME GREAT FAVOR AS I REMEMBERED. MY FAMILY GIVES THIS A BIG THUMBS UP - WE'LL BE MAKING THIS AGAIN AND AGAIN, JUST LIKE YEARS AGO. THANK YOU FOR SHARING.Read more