Healthy Date Squares

Date squares are a delicious treat. They are wholesome, rich, and sweet-tooth approved. These healthy date bars contain nutritious oats, but skip the unrefined sugar and unrefined flour.

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Keyword date bars, date squares, healthy date bars

Prep Time 25

Cook Time 45

Total Time 1 10

Servings

Calories 434kcal

Author Lisa Bass

Ingredients

2 1/4 cups pitted dates 400 grams
1 cup unsweetened apple cider
Juice from one orange
2 tablespoons lemon juice
Zest from one orange or lemon
Pinch of sea salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda

Crisp Base and Topping

1 3/4 cups rolled oats
1 cup spelt flour or unbleached all-purpose
1/3 cup tightly packed coconut sugar or brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
1 cup butter softened

Optional:

1 tablespoon ground flaxseed
1 large egg white
Zest from one orange or lemon for extra citrus flavor

Instructions

With the rack in the middle position, preheat the oven to 350. Line an 8 inch square baking dish with parchment paper or grease the baking dish with a bit of butter.
In a pot, bring the dates, apple cider, lemon juice, orange juice, citrus zest, and salt to a boil.
Add the baking soda and simmer for five minutes, stirring constantly until the dates have fallen apart.
Let cool.
In a bowl, combine the oats, flour, sugar, salt, and cinnamon.
Add the butter and break the butter up into small clumps to incorporate into the mixture until butter pieces are approximately pea-sized. (Optional: add the ground flaxseed and one egg white for extra protein.)
Spread half the crisp in the baking dish and press firmly.
Spread the date mixture evenly.
Cover with the remaining crisp and press lightly.
Bake for 45-50 minutes or until the crisp is golden brown.
Allow to cool completely before cutting into them.

Notes

If you don’t have apple cider, you can substitute it with orange juice.
Ground flaxseed and egg white in the streusel topping is optional, but they add some extra protein.

Nutrition