You will be surprised to see the healthy ingredient list for these Crispy Oatmeal Date Caramel Bars – very low in sugar and whole grain! These taste like a rice crispy treat collided with a Twix bar.
It’a amazing watching a baby turn into a toddler. This experience, being a mom, watching a tiny, fragile human grow and gain strength and learn, has completely blown me away. Everyone says it goes fast, but the changes I see day to day still surprise me.
Xander now remembers everything. His only words are mama, dada, dog dog, and bye bye, but he communicates with babbles, facial expressions, and pointing. He has started sharing our cookies, and he makes it perfectly clear he would rather eat those than breakfast (like mama, like son).
In the morning, every day of his life, we have gone out to the kitchen in the wee hours of the morning (which thankfully, is more like 7:30 these days rather than 5:30 when he was tiny). I make myself coffee, and since we live in a hot climate, I prefer to drink it iced.
A few weeks back, when I opened the freezer to grab the ice, Xander pointed to the container I keep in our freezer full of cookies and started babbling excitedly- then cried, frustrated, when he realized I wasn’t going to hand him a cookie at 7 AM.
Last week, I made these cookies, but added M&Ms on top to resemble a monster cookie to take into my husband’s office for Halloween. While Xander and I were making the cookies, he discovered the magic of M&Ms, and I had to take him out of the kitchen to stop him from shoving fist fulls of the candies into his mouth.
Ever since that day. . . if he hears the word “chocolate,” he runs into the kitchen and grabs the freezer door handle and cries. We are getting to the age where I am going to have to start spelling out c-o-o-k-i-e and c-h-o-c-o-l-a-t-e.
Xander loves these cookies, but the date caramel is pretty sticky and he doesn’t like messy hands 🙂 The crispy rice oatmeal cookie layer is so delicious on it’s own, I baked him a batch of these without the date or chocolate layers, and he is now eating them on their own instead of the bars. Cleaner hands = cleaner house + cleaner shirt for mama.
Contents
Tips for Crispy Oatmeal Date Caramel Bars
- Make this Gluten Free: Be sure to use certified gluten free oats and brown rice cereal.
- Make this Dairy Free: Be sure to use a dark chocolate with no dairy. I use an 85% bar, which never has any dairy products in it. For the date caramel layer, either use all coconut oil, or use a vegan dairy free butter spread.
- Make this Vegan: Use the substitutions recommended above to make these dairy free. Also, use brown rice syrup in place of the honey. It is less sweet than honey, so I recommend using 1/4 cup instead of 3 tablespoons.
- For the Family: My toddler loves to share healthy treats with us, but the date caramel layer on these is pretty messy in his hands. The crispy oatmeal cookie layer in this recipe is delicious on its own, so I bake those and cut them into small squares for him.
Other Date Sweetened Treats:
- Healthy Samoa Cookies, by The Pretty Bee
- Snickers Ice Cream Bars, by Feeding your Beauty
- Pumpkin Chocolate Bars, by My Whole Food Life
- Oatmeal Walnut Date Bars, by Sunkissed Kitchen
- Sticky Date Pudding with Date Caramel Topping, by Sunkissed Kitchen
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Crispy Oatmeal Date Bars
Ingredients
Crispy Oatmeal Layer
- 3/4 cup oatmeal
- 3/4 cup oat flour *grind whole oats in blender
- 3/4 cup crisp brown rice cereal
- 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/4 cup virgin coconut oil
- 3 tablespoons date syrup or honey, or 4 tablespoons brown rice syrup
Date Layer
- 4-5 ounces dates
- 1 tablespoon salted butter or coconut oil
- 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1/8 teaspoon sea salt
Dark Chocolate Drizzle
- 50 grams 85% dark chocolate
- 1/2 tablespoon virgin coconut oil
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees fahrenheit.Preheat oven to 350 degrees fahrenheit.
- In a bowl, combine oatmeal, oat flour, crispy rice cereal, baking powder and sea salt.In a bowl, combine oatmeal, oat flour, crispy rice cereal, baking powder and sea salt.
- In a smaller bowl, combine coconut oil and honey or brown rice syrup. Gently heat the mixture in the microwave for 10-20 seconds if necessary.In a smaller bowl, combine coconut oil and honey or brown rice syrup. Gently heat the mixture in the microwave for 10-20 seconds if necessary.
- Pour the coconut oil mixture over the dry ingredients, and stir gently just until all the dry ingredients are wet.Pour the coconut oil mixture over the dry ingredients, and stir gently just until all the dry ingredients are wet.
- Line an 8x8 baking pan with baking paper or grease with coconut oil.Line an 8x8 baking pan with baking paper or grease with coconut oil.
- Using wet hands or a pastry roller, roll out oatmeal dough in a smooth, even layer.Using wet hands or a pastry roller, roll out oatmeal dough in a smooth, even layer.
- Bake for 14 minutes, then allow to cool completely. I let mine sit on the counter to cool for about 15-20 minutes, and then put it in the freezer for 30 minutes-1 hour before I smooth on the date layer. This isn't necessary, but will help the sticky date layer go on smoothly without breaking the cookie.Bake for 14 minutes, then allow to cool completely. I let mine sit on the counter to cool for about 15-20 minutes, and then put it in the freezer for 30 minutes-1 hour before I smooth on the date layer. This isn't necessary, but will help the sticky date layer go on smoothly without breaking the cookie.
- If using Medjool dates for the date caramel, add the pitted dates to a food processor bowl. If your dates are older/drier, or if you're using a smaller variety of date, soak the dates in hot water for 1 minute, drain well, and then add them to the food processor.If using Medjool dates for the date caramel, add the pitted dates to a food processor bowl. If your dates are older/drier, or if you're using a smaller variety of date, soak the dates in hot water for 1 minute, drain well, and then add them to the food processor.
- Process the dates until the mixture is smooth and starts to lighten in color. You will need to stop the processor several times and scrape the dates off the sides. The longer you process, the smoother and more caramel-like the dates will become.Process the dates until the mixture is smooth and starts to lighten in color. You will need to stop the processor several times and scrape the dates off the sides. The longer you process, the smoother and more caramel-like the dates will become.
- Add the butter or coconut oil, lemon juice, and sea salt, and pulse to combine.Add the butter or coconut oil, lemon juice, and sea salt, and pulse to combine.
- Spread the date caramel over the cooled or frozen cookie layer using wet hands or a damp pastry roller into a smooth, even layer.Spread the date caramel over the cooled or frozen cookie layer using wet hands or a damp pastry roller into a smooth, even layer.
- I like to allow the date layer to freeze before slicing the bars and drizzling them with chocolate, but this step isn't 100% necessary. Freezing the dates will make the nicest looking bars. Place the pan in the freezer for several hours up to overnight.I like to allow the date layer to freeze before slicing the bars and drizzling them with chocolate, but this step isn't 100% necessary. Freezing the dates will make the nicest looking bars. Place the pan in the freezer for several hours up to overnight.
- Slice the cookie into 12 bars, or cut into 16 squares.Slice the cookie into 12 bars, or cut into 16 squares.
- Add the dark chocolate and coconut oil to a microwave safe bowl, and heat for 20-30 seconds at a time, checking to prevent burning and stirring each time.Add the dark chocolate and coconut oil to a microwave safe bowl, and heat for 20-30 seconds at a time, checking to prevent burning and stirring each time.
- Drizzle the chocolate over the bars, and then allow to set in the fridge or freezer.Drizzle the chocolate over the bars, and then allow to set in the fridge or freezer.
- For best results, store these bars in the freezer. I like to enjoy them right out of the freezer because the dates become chewier and more caramel-like when frozen.For best results, store these bars in the freezer. I like to enjoy them right out of the freezer because the dates become chewier and more caramel-like when frozen.
O goodness! These look amazing!!!
Yum. I think I will try these this weekend
Loved all your tips on how to make these, especially how to make it toddler approved. I saved this recipe for the future when my baby grows up a bit. Thank you for sharing
Thanks Julia! As your baby grows, you will always be thinking about how to adapt your dishes for him/her as well! Especially when it comes to sticky fingers– lol. I have gotten so used to having milk/spit up/lunch smeared across my clothes! It’s nice that he is a little older and it’s a little more contained.
Michelle When you talked about your baby wanting cookies for breakfast, it reminded me of the time my son wanted a Pepsi for breakfast and I told him not for breakfast and he said. Call it lunch.
I’m suffering this morning from the horrible election nightmare. How are you doing?
Yes Debbie, it was a nightmare! I am in a bit of shock. How did this happen?!
Your son was smart! I am realizing how powerful sugar is– my one year old already can remember M&Ms I gave him before Halloween and he thinks they are still in the freezer, so he cries whenever the freezer door opens and reaches up for the shelf I had them on. Someday he will be smart enough to know that mama never has candy in the house this long!
Now these are the sort of treats that even little ol me can try at home. 🙂
They are super easy to make Bintu! The cookie layer takes minutes to make– I love making just the cookie layer and chopping them up for my toddler.
Great recipe with a new twist! These will be on my list for Christmas, Thanks.
Great, thank you!
These look great. My kids will love these and love that there is not too much sugar. Great job.
Adults and kids love these 🙂 All of my cookie recipes are low sugar and kid approved.
I love love love this recipe! I have tried making homemade twix before with dates but it didn’t work out so well…I think you have re-inspired me! These remind me of what they call ‘caramel slices’ in the UK, can’t wait to give it a try 🙂
Great Fiona! Yes, I have had a caramel slice 🙂 These are better! Real chocolate.
You had me at Twix bar, my favorite! I can’t believe you managed to make a healthy version 🙂
The cookie layer on these turned out better than imagined. They are pretty addicting!
These date bars look delicious!! Saving to make later!!
Great Sam 🙂 I hope you enjoy!
I love making caramels out of dates, these look delicious
I think date caramel is even better than actual caramel 🙂