Oatmeal Date Bars Recipe

Reviewed on Feb. 27, 2013 by raziya522

cooked too long and next time add whole egg and less flour

Reviewed on May. 28, 2012 by MrsKase

Whole family loved!

Reviewed on Feb. 15, 2012 by sandcarp

these bars are so delicious I could eat the whole pan myself

Reviewed on Nov. 08, 2011 by carolynstowers

I don't purchase deserts, I make everything from scratch.Most of my recipes comes from Taste of Home on line cooking. I purchased a box of dates a few months back and didn't have a recipe to use them in untill I came across this recipe. The only thing I did different was add a 1/2 cup of coconut and some medium chopped walnuts to the brown sugar mixture. The Bars came out delicious. I will be keeping this recipe.

Reviewed on Sep. 09, 2010 by sechizar

We loved the texture and that fact it wasn't overly sweet. Next time I would add 1/4 c. of toasted pecans or walnuts to give it a little more crunch.

Reviewed on Sep. 08, 2010 by bettybooop

I prepared this recipe using Smart Balance, making them even healthier My husband & I both loved them! Easy & fast to prepare & delicious.

Reviewed on Sep. 03, 2010 by marjorie25

I made these bars with equal amounts of craisins instead of dates. They were delicious and the grandkids loved them.

Reviewed on Sep. 03, 2010 by TheVans

Delicious

Reviewed on Sep. 03, 2010 by merlinsmom

These were excellent I used Splenda Brown Sugar and half Splenda for the granulated sugar. They were a hit I will make them again.

Reviewed on Sep. 02, 2010 by BeverlyGood

They reminded my husband of ones his mom used to make him.

Reviewed on Sep. 02, 2010 by jdnewcomb

I made the bars using Smart Balance in the stick form. It is just a little healthier than using butter. My husband and I agree that the next time we make them we would add about 1/3 more filling to the recipe. This is a keeper recipe for us.

Reviewed on Sep. 02, 2010 by helen1953

We really liked this recipe friends also liked it when we had them try this. We added a little vanilla to the filling and the dough which gave it a little added flavor. My husband is waiting for the next batch.

Reviewed on Sep. 02, 2010 by alleulia3x

Found this excellent. Did not have enough dates, so also used apricots for 1 cup. Used 1/2 n 1/2 sugar/splenda and about 1/3 less brown sugar. Found it very easy to do. These are delicious and I look forward to sharing with my bridge group.

Reviewed on Sep. 02, 2010 by hereandnowthenandnow@yahoo.com

This bar was very tasty and satisfied our love of dates. It was a little dry, but see the hints listed here, and will try it again with them in mind.

Reviewed on Sep. 02, 2010 by grammafletch

It was quite good-but definitely needs more filling.

Reviewed on Sep. 02, 2010 by olddutch

made this BUT omitted the sugar in the dates- not needed - dates are SWEET !!!-

no egg white- used 1/2 cup margerene instead of 1/3 --- just the right size 4 2

Reviewed on Sep. 02, 2010 by Marie Holcomb

My husband feels it needs more date filling

Reviewed on Sep. 01, 2010 by carawil8

I added some chopped walnuts to the date mixture and this was extremely good. My husband has been telling everyone he talks with about this great desert. Have lots of requests for the receipe.

Reviewed on Aug. 30, 2010 by kountrygal

I just made this recipe with a few additional healthier changes--I used plain lowfat yogurt in place of the melted butter. I also cut the sugar in both parts of the recipe by half. Thought I would experiment. It turned out good. My sister always made these date bars from the original full-fledged recipe and I loved them!! The adjustments I made still resulted in a good bar cookie, but if you are comparing to the original with all the goodies (or "baddies", depending on your point of view) there is a difference.

For those of you who are used to more sugar in your diet, you probably will not want to cut the sugar as much as I did--they are not overly sweet with the cuts. However, I would make them again according to the changes I incorporated.

As lscatena stated in their review, experiment a little to come up with a recipe that fits your taste and health standards.

Reviewed on Aug. 30, 2010 by bmeiring

They are good, but I'm with sawpainter. People take a basically fattening dessert, cut it into smaller pieces and call it a low-cal dessert. Almost 200 calories for a small piece is not low cal. It might take a little experimentation, but one way to cut the calories in addition to the other suggestions is to try substituting applesauce for the butter. You would have to cut down on the amount of water, but that would cut a few calories out. Also, read the labels on the margarine sticks, like Fleischmann's. Those things still have trans fats in them which are more unhealthy than butter.

Reviewed on Aug. 28, 2010 by randt

Haven't made this yet, but plan to, to compare it to regular Date Squares (a rose by any other name would still be a rose). I try to adhere to the healthy eating plan, but hubby will still eat half the pan (in one sitting) and shoot the healthy thing all to heck!!!!!

Reviewed on Aug. 27, 2010 by marlysz

I made this last night-scrumpdillyishus! We ate it warm out of the oven with ice cream on top. Extra calories? Lighten up and don't worry about it so much. It gave my husband and I a good excuse to go walking our two dogs after supper and if you can walk away the calories with someone you love, it's worth the calories. Enjoy everyday to the fullest because each day we are alive is a gift from God. Great recipe Mrs C! Thanks for submitting it. You can come to my house for coffee anytime. : ) (And yes, they are bars, not cake.)

Reviewed on Aug. 26, 2010 by Maxine Miller

But dates are naturally very sweet. Try dried apricots that you have soaked in some hot water. Drain them. A lot less calories.

Reviewed on Aug. 26, 2010 by lscatena

People forget that you can always change a recipe to fit your needs. If you don't like it, then change it! Sub whatever you want! Use fat-free cream cheese, fat-free ricotta or cottage cheese for butter; use real maple syrup or honey for the sugar. Caution on the use of Splenda; try natural Stevia or some other non-chemically produced sweetener. Be creative!

Reviewed on Aug. 26, 2010 by caydensmamaw

I haven't tried it yet....but it sounds yummy! I've never made anything with dates, do you have any suggestions for substitutions? Maybe raisens?

Reviewed on Aug. 26, 2010 by friendforyou

I have read your posts Linda and would love to correspond re: low fat solutions. I can tell you're up on it! My husband has had a heart attack and the low fat, low sodium cooking has become a way of life now. I prided myself for 35 years on my recipes and meals. Now it all has to change. I would love tips on keeping the flavour and loosing the fat!

Reviewed on Aug. 26, 2010 by IAMBuck

I have not make THIS particular recipe, but why don't you call it what it is? This is essentially our mother's Date Squares (aka Matrimonial Cake). Why change the name??

Reviewed on Aug. 26, 2010 by lindajoynes

I have not made these yet, but the person who gave the ideas about using Splenda Brown Sugar Blend for baking and Regular Splenda White Sugar when cooking the dates is a good idea; also use Old Fashioned Oats for more fiber; and I found that Fleischmann's Original stick 65% Vegetable Oil Spread has 70% less Saturated Fat and 100% less Cholesterol per serving than BUTTER and less Calories; it is also great for baking and cooking; and also use White Whole Wheat Flour for part of the flour along with Unbleached White Flour; maybe 3/4 cup to 1/4 cup ratio; that should cut down on the Fat and Calories and make these very HEALTHY!

Reviewed on Aug. 26, 2010 by msboop

I made this because it sounds good and tasty, I agree with labloveralways, if you (sawpainter1) think its too high in calories, or isn't your cup of tea, just DON'T make it, don't complain!!!Just say NO...you are missing out on something good tho...

Reviewed on Aug. 26, 2010 by LabLoverAlways

This is to sawpainter1: I too get frustrated with these types of receipes, but why not offer up some suggestions to lighten it up rather than complain.

Reviewed on Aug. 26, 2010 by mrsgreinke

For those who poo-poo the small size of the bars, and I admit I am very watchful for recipes that are deemed "healthy" only to find out they are loaded in fat and sugar simply because they are tiny - try making some healthy substitutions such as using Splenda instead of the sugar when simmering the dates. You may also use 3/4 C. all-purpose flour and 1/4 C. whole wheat flour. Another idea would be to substitute Splenda Brown Sugar Blend. Give it a try, you might be surprised.

Reviewed on Aug. 26, 2010 by sawpainter1

I did not try the recipe, and I won't make it. The new thing these days is cut a dessert in 16- 2"X2" piece and call it healthy. Cheesecake cut that small is healthy! I have personally boycotted any recipe made in a 8"X8" pan. Really there is a cup of brown sugar at 836 calories and 1/4 cup of white sugar at 190 calories in this recipe, and lets not forget the 500 calories of melted butter. Healthy, I don't think so... Sorry to sound negative but I'm tired of wasting my time looking at so called healthy recipes that are really a 2 inch piece of a fat and sugar.

Reviewed on May. 30, 2008 by kbabe

Looks good- can't wait to make them