Friday, March 19, 2010

Oatmeal Struesel Date Bars

I am rediscovering the date ~ no not the one where Ole Sweetie-Pi and I go out to a restaurant and make goo-goo eyes at each, though that's nice too.  I am talking about that Middle Eastern fruit the Medjool date that is grown on palm trees and eaten whole or dried.  I am talking about that plump, sweet, chewy  little jewel that that can be eaten out of hand or used in cooking. The date is nature's own candy.

My grandmother always often had a package stashed in her tiny white pantry.  At the end of the school day when I'd go and visit her, she'd take the rectangular package from its place, and she'd take out two dates, one for each of us, and we  would savor just the one and she'd put the package away again. She could make a package last a long time, smiles.

So, here's a simple little bar cookie.  And like the dates I used to share with my sainted Grandmother, you can only eat one very sweet little square at a time, preferably with a large cup of tea or coffee.

Date Bars

3/4 cup water
1 1/2 cups pitted dates, chopped **
1 teaspoon vanilla


1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 cup (packed) dark brown sugar
1 cup old fashioned oats **
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks)  butter, diced, room temperature

Preheat oven to 350°F. Line 9x9-inch baking pan with foil, first in one direction, and then crossing over in the opposite direction with a section piece.  Butter sides and bottom of tin foil..

Bring 3/4 cup water to simmer in medium saucepan. Add dates; simmer until very soft and thick, stirring occasionally. Cool to room temperature. Stir in vanilla.baking pan

Combine flour, sugar, oats, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt in large bowl; stir to blend. Add butter using fingertips or a pastry cutter, and rub in until moist clumps form. Press half of oat mixture evenly over bottom of baking dish. Spread date mixture over. Sprinkle with remaining oat mixture; press gently to adhere.

Bake until golden brown and set in center, about 20 minutes, taking care not to overbake. Cool completely in pan on rack.

Using the edges of the foil, lift out the cookies. Peel down the foil from the edges and cut into bars and serve.

**Buy the whole dates, not the kind that are prechopped and presweetened.
**I used One Minute oatmeal, and it worked just fine.

    61 comments:

    1. That definitely is an easy recipe. Thanks Katy. Looks really good to eat. Can I have one please, coffee with cream and sugar too. Thank you very much. :DD Have a great weekend.

      ReplyDelete
    2. What great memories of time spent with your grandmother. My grandma always had lemon drops in a jar. But we only got to see her a few times a year.

      The bars look moist and delicious!

      ReplyDelete
    3. I just bought (well a week ago) a bag of dates from the health food store and I have been eating them a few a day....now I want to make this recipe and I am going to have to go back and get some more...grins! they look so good...and I will have mine with a cup of coffee too...blessings, K

      ReplyDelete
    4. I so agree with u ,nature own Candy that sure rocks,i have to pic up some dates too,for a cake :-)))))
      Oh i do dream of those ''dates'' too but aint have anybody in my life so :-(((((
      ha ha...
      have a fantastic weekend and enjoy nibbling on this super bars...

      ReplyDelete
    5. Mmmm, I bet these are delicious! Hope you have a nice weekend Katy :-)

      ReplyDelete
    6. I was a goner when I read oatmeal and dates..yummers that is one good lookin' dessert! Love your g'ma story. For me it was G'pa handing out peppermint candy..oh yeah only one each visit.
      Katy??..you and Ole Sweetie-Pi still making goo-goo eyes at each other..aww how sweet is that:)

      ReplyDelete
    7. Dates and oats r always a nice pair,yummy n healthy bar Katy,nice presentation...

      ReplyDelete
    8. Katy, nice date recipe for sure. Wow, they are so nice and 'thick' and tall. Love that. My boys will like that this weekend and I have the ingredients. Thanks mucho for sharing. Love your story too. My you had a healthy grandma...Loved the baking my grandma did but I must admit...no dates in that household..unless for baking. Happy Friday my southern belle.

      ReplyDelete
    9. I think dates are a severely underrated fruit. These bars look so good!

      ReplyDelete
    10. Your grandma sounds like a sweet, special lady Katy. What great memories to have. :)
      The date bars sound perfect; I've not had them before, but I know I'd love them since I do enjoy dates. Thanks!
      Have a wonderful weekend!

      ReplyDelete
    11. That's such a sweet memory dear. I remember my granny making Kachoris a famous Indian savory for us when we visited her.
      The bar is absolutely healthy and a good way to introduce dates in our diet.Thanks for sharing.

      ReplyDelete
    12. We both love date bars, but I haven't made them in years. Thanks for sharing this recipe...I think I'll make them for this weekend.

      By the way, I made your chicken and posted it here: http://coleensrecipes.blogspot.com/2010/03/katys-chicken.html check out the comments after the recipe, you certainly have a loyal following!!

      ReplyDelete
    13. aren't Grannies special. i just read a blog about pork krackle that made me flood with memories of mine

      great recipe

      ReplyDelete
    14. Grand mothers can make the smallest thing be the largest event that could occur in your world.
      I love oatmeal and dates, these bars will be a welcome edition to my table. Thanks

      ReplyDelete
    15. These bars look perfectly thick and chewy! Thanks for sharing the recipe. :)

      ReplyDelete
    16. Oh I adore dates...and oatmeal.....these bars look SO yummy, Katy. Oh look....cereal and fruit.....can we call them breakfast? :)

      ReplyDelete
    17. Oh my goodness Katy these look delicous! I wish I had some dates so I could make these right now. I guess I'll have to wait until grocery day next week :(

      ReplyDelete
    18. I haven't made date bars for a long time. Think I'll try these soon. Thanks again.

      ReplyDelete
    19. What delicious looking date bars Katy! So moist and rich. And such a sweet story about your Grandma!

      ReplyDelete
    20. Mmmm. I've had a major sweet tooth lately and this looks like it'd be perfect.

      ReplyDelete
    21. Ha! I actually just bought dates for the first time about a week ago and I love bars. I'm fated to make these! YUM!
      ~ingrid

      ReplyDelete
    22. Hey katy,they are absolute incredible bars to look at.You know what ,i have a pack of dates in the pantry which my fil brought from middle east,i was wondering what to do with that,i think this is the best way to incorporate them.Such a healthy bar rich in iron.Thanks for sharing the recipe and thanks for your lovely comments.Try the plantain chips if you find time n lemme know how it turned up.

      ReplyDelete
    23. One of these with a cup of tea would be awesome Katy. I love date bars!

      BTW, Grumpy and I DO have a date night! Every Wednesday. ;) LOL, We don't make goo goo eyes at each other. Never did and wouldn't that be funny if Grumpy DID! lol

      ReplyDelete
    24. Sounds wonderful and comforting. And maybe a little healthy too :)

      ReplyDelete
    25. my sad admission is that i don't even think i know what a date tastes like! i'm going to have to make these and find out, they're lovely!

      ReplyDelete
    26. What lovely souvenirs you had with your grandmother! You can't imagine how much I love dates. They are all the time on my shopping list. Those bars sound geat and healthy,
      Cheers

      ReplyDelete
    27. I love your little stories you share with us. They are so sweet. These look very good. I haven't had dates in a very long time. Too long. What a great recipe to try with them.

      ReplyDelete
    28. Katy, I so love date bars and lucky for me I have some plump dates that are calling out to have something wonderful done with them. I am going to make these tomorrow.
      Thank you for the lovely stories you share with all of us. They touch my heart.
      Amanda :-)

      ReplyDelete
    29. My sweetheart LOVES dates! I may just have to make these for him -- but only if he's nice. Wait, he's always nice...:)

      ReplyDelete
    30. Happy Spring Katy! My grandmother always had dates stashed in the cupboard too. (that sounds funny too:) Anyway, I really should rediscover them also. They are just so darn good for you.

      Thanks for sharing the memories and for this really simple recipe. I may just give it a try!

      ReplyDelete
    31. I love grandmother memories, they have a special place in our hearts. I love this date recipe. Always my favorite!

      ReplyDelete
    32. I love dates, and I too, have some in my cupboard. AND...I just bought oats.
      Yay.
      I hope my grandkids remember me as fondly as you do your grandmother.

      ReplyDelete
    33. I love this recipe Katy! really lovely and seems simple! I will make it and let you know how they turn out! thanks for sharing it..buona domenica! Anna

      ReplyDelete
    34. I love reading about your memories with your grandmother - makes this recipe even better. Thank you for sharing it.
      Susan

      ReplyDelete
    35. I didn't have dates, but I had lots of dried figs so that's what I used. These were really, really good! Next time I'll use the dates.

      ReplyDelete
    36. such precious memories. I lvoe sweet memories with my Nan, Katy! and I don't think I have ever had a date; is that terrible? Maybe I should go get some and give these a try :) xx

      ReplyDelete
    37. Oh how I love dates. I really must make these lovely bars. So yummy! You are so right, tea or coffee would be great with these.

      ReplyDelete
    38. Hello

      I found my way here via Mad Chemist. Do you know these are traditionally called Matrimonial Squares on the Prairie?

      Every Canadian cookbook of a certain era has a recipe for Matrimonial Squares. All the church cookbooks, the Co-op cookbooks, the women's institute cookbooks: Matrimonial Squares at every fundraiser. I have no idea why they were called that. I still call them that. Thanks for your recipe.

      Are you Native American?

      ReplyDelete
    39. I never heard of these but am oh so glad you posted them Katy. They look positively yummy.

      ReplyDelete
    40. My mom made these when we were children. I love the brown sugar dates and oatmeal, very homey and comforting.
      Mimi

      ReplyDelete
    41. Katy, another great recipe. I really like dates. I think they add a subtle sweetness to baked goods, that I really enjoy.

      ReplyDelete
    42. I was just thinking about dates this week! I would love these. Chewy in the middle, crisp on the top...perfection!

      ReplyDelete
    43. These bars look so healthy and yummy!

      ReplyDelete
    44. what a healthy and quick recipe !!

      I just love anything that is not elaborate.. U have a wonderful space here dear .

      ReplyDelete
    45. The bars with dates sound so delicious! I need to try these for sure!

      ReplyDelete
    46. I really want to try your baking! These date bars look scrumptious!

      ReplyDelete
    47. Usually when I make oatmeal bars they're so dry and not at all good but I think the addition of the dates will change that :) thanks for posting!

      ReplyDelete
    48. Oatmeat and dates are my favorites.This looks so tempting ..

      ReplyDelete
    49. sweet memories of granny, and the combo is very much inviting :)

      ReplyDelete
    50. I love dates and i bet these bars are killer. Thumbs up!

      ReplyDelete
    51. Katy, these look truly scrumptious. My mother-in-law use to make a cookie much like your bars and they were delicious. I've bookmarked this.
      Have a great day...Mary

      ReplyDelete
    52. I love dates. This bar cookie sounds perfect. Yum

      ReplyDelete
    53. Sounds like an energy bar! Hmm..mm.. I can chew on them a whole day!

      ReplyDelete
    54. Felicitari pentru minunatul tau blog!

      ReplyDelete
    55. Thats definitely a healthy recipe..loved the sandwich part..looks very neat too..

      ReplyDelete
    56. I almost bought dates, the other day, and for some reason, did not. Can't make these until the holidays are over but this would make a nice treat for me, then.

      ReplyDelete
    57. Katy, I just noticed the picture at the bottom of your blog.... the BEAUTIFUL red house with the kitty. Is that your house?! I LOVE the colors, and flowers, and flag... and sweet cat ,-)

      I bet it's nice to sit out on your porch and snack on these struesel bars, sounds perfect to me!

      ReplyDelete
    58. Yes, that's my teeny little "poor man's Victorian" as it's described in real estate terms, grins. The cat is "The Squeak" who passed away a couple of years ago perhaps it is now; crabby old thing was 16 years old, grins.

      ReplyDelete
    59. Katy, I'm trying to convince Hubby he likes dates (which I like) better than raisins (which I don't like), and this recipe might be what finally convinces him. ;)

      ReplyDelete
    60. A wonderful looking bar... I will be trying these.. :)

      ReplyDelete

    Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.