Gluten-free Chewy Date Bars
Gluten-free Chewy Date Bars
What I love about Gluten-free Chewy Date Bars
I can’t believe that it is November 1st! We are heading towards the holidays faster than we realize and I’m ready for it! I’ve had these date bars on my list to make for months now and I finally got around to trying them. They turned out SO good! Like, really delicious. The recipe is pretty simple and you only need a few ingredients to make them. They are the perfect dessert squares to bring and share at all of your autumn and winter gatherings this season.
These sweet and chewy date bars are totally gluten-free, dairy-free and refined sugar-free, using only natural ingredients. I tried to make the healthiest, most wholesome version of these classic date bars. The crumb base and topping is made from whole-grain sprouted oats, almond flour, tapioca flour, maple syrup and cold, hardened coconut oil. I found it was easiest to mix these ingredients using a food processor, but you can also use a pastry cutter or even just your hands.
What you will need to make Gluten-free Chewy Date Bars
Here’s a list of ingredients that you will need:
Oats - I love the addition of rolled oats to the crumb portion of the recipe. Rolled, old-fashioned or large flake oats work for this recipe. Quick oats are really the only ones that I don’t recommend as they are more flour-like.
Flours - We are using a mix of two gluten-free flours that I love: almond flour and tapioca flour. Both of these are naturally gluten-free and grain-free!
Cinnamon - Cinnamon and oats are such a good combination that I had to add a little into these bars. It’s the perfect addition.
Maple syrup - Maple syrup is the only sweetener we are using in this recipe other than the dates themselves. I recommend pure maple syrup with no added sugars.
Coconut oil - We are using cold, hardened coconut oil in place of cold butter for our crumb mixture. It works great and is the perfect substitution!
Vanilla - Vanilla is always necessary when baking! Try to use pure vanilla extract if you can.
Dates - Make sure your dates are pitted to make your life so much easier! You can use Medjool or Deglet Noor dates for this recipe.
Water - You need a little water to help soften the dates while they cook down.
Lemon juice - Adding a little lemon juice helps balance the sweetness of the dates. You just need about 1 tsp!
Gluten-free Chewy Date Bars
Ingredients
- 1 3/4 cup rolled oats
- 1 cup almond flour
- 3/4 cup tapioca flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup maple syrup, divided
- 1/2 cup coconut oil, hardened
- 2 tsp vanilla extract, divided
- 2 1/2 cups pitted dates
- 1 cup water
- 1 tsp lemon juice
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350F and line an 8"x8" pan with parchment paper.
- *Add the oats, almond flour, tapioca flour, cinnamon, baking soda and salt to a food processor and pulse until combined.
- Add 1/4 cup maple syrup, the cold coconut oil and 1 tsp vanilla extract to the food processor. Process until it is fully combined and you have a moist crumb, scraping down the sides when necessary.
- Layer half of the crumb mixture in the bottom of the prepared pan and press down with your hands until it is compacted. Set aside.
- Dice the dates and add them to a medium-sized saucepan. Add the water, remaining 1/4 cup maple syrup, remaining 1 tsp vanilla extract and the lemon juice.
- Heat the saucepan over medium heat and cook the dates, stirring every few minutes until they are jam-like and all of the liquid has been absorbed, about 10 minutes.
- Spread the date mixture on top of the bottom crumb layer in the prepared pan.
- Sprinkle the top with the remaining crumb mixture, compressing lightly and transfer to the oven to bake for 20-22 minutes or until just browning on top.
- Remove from the oven and let cool completely before cutting into squares. Enjoy!
Notes
*If you don't have a food processor, you can use a pastry cutter instead or just your fingers!