Oatmeal Date Bars (No Sugar Added, Dairy Free, Gluten Free)

Oatmeal date bars are an easy and tasty dessert with no added sugar, gluten free, dairy free, and vegan friendly! 

I guess it’s safe to say that recently I have had an obsession with dates! I used them to make no bake date bars, fudgy date brownies, and brownie truffles

If you haven’t had a chance to experiment with these in the kitchen, I highly recommend you do so! They are great for adding natural sweetness without having to add a ton of additional sugar, maple syrup, and honey. 

Not to mention they are a healthy option for kids too! Little ones won’t even be able to tell and they can replace some of the other snacks with processed ingredients. We won’t be mad even if you serve these up as a snack or breakfast! 

Ingredients Needed 

  • rolled oats – grab a gluten free variety if needed
  • almond flour
  • pitted medjool dates – be sure to pack them down when measuring
  • natural almond butter – feel free to use another nut butter or seed butter if desired
  • coconut oil – melted and cooled
  • vanilla extract
  • ground cinnamon
  • salt
  • Optional: chocolate chips,  slivered almonds, and sea salt for topping

How to Make Oatmeal Date Bars 

Blend the dates in a food processor or high speed blender. 

Add all of the remaining ingredients and pulse until the dough forms. Now is the time to taste a little bit and adjust the seasonings. 

Press the mixture into a loaf pan and chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes. 

Drizzled with melted chocolate, slivered almonds, and a dash of sea salt before serving! 

Tips for Making Oatmeal Date Bars

  • Don’t skip the chilling time. These oat bars can be fragile until they have fully set. 
  • Use your favorite variety of chocolate for the drizzle. 
  • If you like a little bit of extra crunch you can add nuts to the batter and on top. 
  • Medjool dates are the best to use for this recipe. Other varieties are a little hard to use. If you do go without another type of date, let them soft first to soften. 
  • Keep leftover bars in the fridge for several days. 
  • These freeze really well, so be sure to make an extra batch! 
  • Do not substitute quick cooking oats or steel cut oats. These will not hold up as well and will change the texture of date bars. 
  • The texture of these bars can vary greatly depending on the type of nut butter you use. Some nut butter brands are very runny, while others are thick and globby. If your bars are too dry and having trouble sticking together it is likely from the brand used. Add more coconut oil to help the bars stick.
  • These bars have no sugar added and will taste as so. If you like your bars a little sweeter, I recommend adding honey or maple syrup 1 tbsp at a time. You may need to add more oats to balance out the additional liquid sweetener to keep them firm.

Common FAQs About Dates

What Is The White Stuff On Medjool Dates?

Don’t be alarmed! This is just sugar that is crystallizing and working its way out of the dates.

Why Do My Dates Smell Like Alcohol?

Your dates should never smell like alcohol! If this is the case that means that they are old and fermented. This happens because of the high sugar content. 

Do Dates Ever Expire?

Like other fruits, yes dates can go bad. However, they do usually last a month or two at room temperature, longer if they are refrigerated. 

More Tasty and Healthy Bars: 

Healthy Oatmeal Date Bars

Oatmeal date bars are an easy and tasty dessert with no added sugar, gluten free, dairy free, and vegan friendly!
5 from 2 votes

Ingredients
  

  • 3/4 cups rolled oats
  • 1/3 cup almond flour
  • 1 1/2 cup medjool dates tightly packed
  • 3/4 cup almond butter*
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1-2 tbsp coconut oil* melted and cooled
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • Optional: chocolate chips slivered almonds, and sea salt for topping

Instructions
 

  • Add your dates to a blender or food processor and blend until a thick paste forms.
  • Next, add all of your remaining ingredients to the food processor and mix until dough forms. Taste and adjust salt and spices.
  • Press into a loaf pan and allow to cool in the fridge for 30 minutes.
  • Optional: Drizzle with melted chocolate and top with slivered almonds and sea salt.
  • Serve and enjoy!

Notes

*The texture of these bars can vary greatly depending on the type of nut butter you use. Some nut butter brands are very runny, while others are thick and globby. If your bars are having trouble sticking together it is likely from the brand used. Add more oil to help the bars stick.
These bars have no sugar added and will taste as so. If you like your bars a little sweeter, I recommend adding honey or maple syrup 1 tbsp at a time. If bars are not holding together, add more oats to balance out the liquid sweetener to keep them firm.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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