Oatmeal date crumb bars have a buttery brown sugar oat crust and crumble topping layered around a thick filling of chopped dates simmered with sugar and water until jammy. They take fifteen minutes to prepare, bake in thirty, and cut into twelve old fashioned bars.
The filling is cooked on the stove first, which turns the dates into a smooth, sticky paste that holds its shape when the bars are cut. The oat mixture bakes into a crisp, golden top and bottom, and the brown sugar adds a mild molasses flavor that suits the dates, making a classic bar for lunchboxes and potlucks.
Table of Contents
What Makes Oatmeal Date Crumb Bars Special
The stovetop filling turns the dates into a smooth, spreadable jam.
One oat mixture makes both the crust and the crumble.
The bars keep well, so they are good for making ahead.
What Goes into Oatmeal Date Crumb Bars
- The crust is one cup of softened butter, one cup of light brown sugar, two cups of all purpose flour, one cup of rolled oats, one teaspoon of baking soda, and half a teaspoon of salt.
- The filling is two cups of chopped pitted dates, half a cup of sugar, and one cup of water.
Butter and brown sugar. They make a rich, caramel crumb.
Oats. They add chew and crunch.
Dates. They make a sweet, jammy filling.
Baking soda. It lightens the crumb.
Water and sugar. They cook the dates into a paste.
How to Bake Oatmeal Date Crumb Bars
1. Heat the oven. Heat the oven to 350 degrees F and grease a nine by thirteen inch pan.
2. Make the crumb. Mix the butter, brown sugar, flour, oats, baking soda, and salt until crumbly.
3. Press the base. Press half of the crumb into the pan.
4. Cook the filling. Simmer the dates, sugar, and water for eight minutes, stirring often, until thick, then cool for a few minutes.
5. Assemble and bake. Spread the filling over the base, sprinkle on the remaining crumb, and bake for twenty five to thirty minutes until golden.
Stir the filling often while it cooks. Dates are sticky and can scorch on the bottom of the pan, so keep the heat at medium and use a heavy saucepan. When the mixture looks like a thick jam and the spoon leaves a trail, take it off the heat. It thickens more as it cools.
Press the base firmly and keep the topping loose. A packed base holds the bars together when you cut them, while a loose topping gives the crunchy, crumbly texture. If the crumb feels too dry to hold together, add a tablespoon of melted butter and mix it in with your fingertips.
Storing and Freezing Oatmeal Date Crumb Bars
Store the cooled bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to five days. Freeze individual bars wrapped in parchment for up to three months, and thaw at room temperature for an hour. The bars soften as they sit, because the filling releases moisture into the crumb, which many people prefer on day two.
Pro Tips for Oatmeal Date Crumb Bars
Flag the allergens. These bars contain wheat and milk, and oats may be processed with other grains, so check every label.
Taste the filling. Use a spoon to taste a little of the cooked filling and add a splash of lemon juice if it seems too sweet.
Check the doneness. The top should be golden and the edges slightly crisp.
Chop the dates fine. Small pieces cook down faster.
Cool completely. Warm bars crumble.
Use old fashioned oats. They hold their chew.
Line the pan. Parchment lifts the bars out.
Check trusted guidance. Read the University of Wisconsin Extension leftovers guidance for safe storage of baked goods.
For a nuttier bar, add half a cup of chopped pecans or walnuts to the crumb mixture. For a more complex flavor, add a teaspoon of cinnamon to the crumb and a teaspoon of vanilla to the date filling after cooking. Both changes keep the same baking time and complement the dates.
You can use other dried fruit for the filling, such as figs, apricots, or prunes, with the same amounts of sugar and water. Dried figs make a seedy, rustic filling, while apricots are tart and bright. Cook each until thick, and cool the filling before spreading it on the base.
What to Serve with Oatmeal Date Crumb Bars
Serve the bars with coffee or a glass of cold milk, or warm a bar and top it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. For more date bakes, try whole wheat date bars, easy old fashioned date nut bread, apple crumble bars, or soft chewy oatmeal raisin cookies.
Common Questions About Oatmeal Date Crumb Bars
How do you keep oatmeal date crumb bars from falling apart?
Press the base firmly and cool the bars fully before cutting.
Can you make oatmeal date crumb bars ahead of time?
Yes. They keep for five days at room temperature.
Can you freeze oatmeal date crumb bars?
Yes, for up to three months.
Can I use quick oats?
Yes, but the texture will be softer.
Can I use packaged chopped dates?
Yes, but check that they are not coated in sugar.
Oatmeal Date Crumb Bars
Equipment
- 9×13-inch baking pan
- Saucepan
- Parchment paper
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1 cup butter softened
- 1 cup light brown sugar
- 2 cup all purpose flour
- 1 cup rolled oats
- 1 tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
- 2 cup chopped pitted dates
- ½ cup sugar
- 1 cup water
Instructions
Cooking
- Heat. Heat the oven to 350 F and grease a pan.
- Crumb. Mix the butter, sugar, flour, oats, soda, and salt.
- Press. Press half of the crumb into the pan.
- Filling. Simmer the dates, sugar, and water until thick.
- Bake. Top with the filling and remaining crumb and bake 25 to 30 minutes.
