Sweet, soft, and full of flavor - these Date Oatmeal Bars are the perfect snack when you need a little energy boost. Made with oatmeal, whole wheat flour, honey, and lemon - no refined sugar, just natural goodness.
A Quick Look at the Recipe
Recipe name: Date Oatmeal Bars (Lemon Date Bars)
🕒 Ready in: 45 minutes
⏲️ Prep time: 15 minutes
🔥 Cook time: 30 minutes
👪 Servings: 6 bars
🍋 Main ingredients: Dates, oatmeal, honey, lemon, whole wheat flour
⭐ Difficulty: Easy - quick prep and simple baking
🍽️ Perfect for: Snack, coffee break, lunchbox, or afternoon treat
Jump to:
Easy Date Squares With Honey And Oats
These Date Oatmeal Bars are one of my favorite "better-for-you" bakes. They're naturally sweet from the dates and honey, with a hint of lemon that keeps them bright and fresh.
Perfect for that mid-morning craving or as a snack before heading out the door.
I first made them after a busy week when I needed something sweet but still nourishing. And oh - that chewy texture with the soft lemon-date layer in the middle? So good.
They're full of fiber thanks to the oatmeal and whole wheat flour, and you don't need any refined sugar to make them delicious.
If you've never baked with dates before, this is the recipe to start with. Easy, simple, and ready in under an hour.
What Do You Need?
(See recipe card for exact measurements.)
- Dates: Naturally sweet and rich; Medjool dates work best for soft texture.
- Water: To soften and blend the dates into a smooth paste.
- Lemon juice: Adds a fresh, tangy note that balances the sweetness.
- Sea salt: Just a pinch enhances all the flavors.
- Oatmeal: Old-fashioned rolled oats give great texture and chew.
- Whole wheat flour: Adds structure and extra fiber.
- Baking powder: Helps the bars rise slightly.
- Honey: Natural sweetness that keeps everything moist.
- Sunflower oil: Makes the bars tender without butter.
- Vanilla extract: Adds a lovely warm note to the crumble.
How to Make It
(Step-by-step instructions below.)
- Step 1: Cook the dates with lemon juice and water until soft and thick. Blend into a smooth puree and let it cool.
- Step 2: Mix oats, flour, honey, oil, and vanilla into a crumbly dough.
- Step 3: Layer dough and date filling.
- Step 4: Bake until golden, cool, and cut into bars.
Top Tips
- Want more crunch? Add chopped nuts like almonds or walnuts.
- Use orange juice instead of lemon for a sweeter citrus twist.
- Double the recipe and freeze a batch for grab-and-go snacks.
Did you make this delicious recipe? Tag #byandreajanssen via Instagram! I love to see what your creation looks like and regularly share the most beautiful photos of you! Did you like this recipe? Then leave a rating on the recipe card! Your feedback helps other home cooks and me enormously.
Need more inspiration?
- You can find video recipes on my YouTube channel.
- And don't forget to save the recipes on Pinterest, so you can easily find them again next time!
📖 Recipe
RECIPE CARD
Ingredients
- 4 ounces dried dates
- 6 tablespoons water
- 1 lemon juice
- ⅛ teaspoon sea salt
- 1¼ cup oatmeal
- ⅔ cup whole wheat flour
- ¼ teaspoon baking powder
- 4 tablespoons honey
- 4 tablespoons sunflower oil
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
All my recipes are written both in Metric (gram / ml) and US Customary (cups / pounds). Here you can select which type of amount you would like to see.
Instructions
- Preheat oven to
390 °F or 350 °F - Line an 6 x 3-inch baking pan with parchment paper.
- Combine dates, water, lemon juice, and salt in a saucepan and bring to a boil.4 ounces dried dates, 6 tablespoons water, 1 lemon juice, ⅛ teaspoon sea salt
- Simmer for 10 minutes until the dates are soft.
- Blend into a smooth puree and let cool.
- Mix oats, flour, baking powder, honey, oil, and vanilla in a bowl until crumbly.1¼ cup oatmeal, ⅔ cup whole wheat flour, ¼ teaspoon baking powder, 4 tablespoons honey, 4 tablespoons sunflower oil, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Press two-thirds of the mixture into the pan.
- Spread the date puree over the crust.
- Sprinkle the remaining oat mixture on top and press gently.
- Bake for 30 minutes or until golden brown.
- Let cool completely before cutting into bars.
Notes
- Add a teaspoon of cinnamon or nutmeg to the oat mix for warmth.
- Replace honey with maple syrup for a vegan version.
- Mix in chopped dried apricots or figs for extra texture.
- Room temperature: Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
- Refrigerator: Keeps up to 1 week.
- Freezer: Freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight before serving.
Nutrition
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