Date bars are a classic that never go out of style! This updated version is made just a touch healthier!
I never met my husband’s Grandma Langhoff (aka Viola), but she had to be a pretty special lady. Any woman whose hubby (after they’ve been married for close to a lifetime) hugs her so tightly that her glasses get pushed up has got to be a goddess. (See next photo…..I’m told Grandpa Louie was quite the pistol, too.)
The first time I had Grandma Langhoff’s date bars, my husband was baking a bunch of things to give to his employees at Christmas.
You did read that right….. “My husband was baking……” He’s very good at baking which I’m grateful for because I’m not a big baker. Baking and dessert recipes have to be foolproof and easy for me.
Louie and Viola Langhoff
When my hubby was making the date bars, my quiet (well, maybe not-so-quiet) response was: Eww.
I’ve never been a fan of dried fruit. Raisins, prunes and even sun-dried tomatoes give me pause. Fruit cake? Don’t even. Somehow, though I’ve fallen in love with dates. There were a few pieces of the date bars left after my hubby’s baking extravaganza and I couldn’t stop eating them! I later tried Medjool dates and they tasted like candy to me!
For someone who is not into baking or dessert-making, I love something sweet at the end of a meal. With dates, I can satisfy the craving and think I’m doing something good for myself!
On a recent trip to Costco, I spotted 3-pound bags of organic dried, pitted dates. Time to make Grandma Langhoff’s delicious and chewy date bars!
I can never leave a recipe alone as written. I wanted to update Viola’s date bars and make them more healthful. Instead of the regular white sugar Viola used in the date filling, I used coconut sugar which is not as sweet as white sugar and is lower on the glycemic index. I kept the brown sugar used in the crust and topping but substituted a cup of whole wheat flour for a cup of white flour.
These bars are not a total health overhaul, but little changes to your everyday diet go a long way!
Grandma Langhoff chopped the dates by hand because food processors probably weren’t around when she was alive. Chopping the dates is a sticky exercise but a worthwhile one. Whenever a package states “pitted,” don’t believe it. Be sure to check each one!
Hope you enjoy!
Grandma Langhoff's Date Bars Updated
Date bars are a classic that never go out of style! This updated version is made just a touch healthier!
Ingredients
- INGREDIENTS
- 2 pounds unsulfured pitted dates (5 1/2 to 6 cups), finely chopped
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup coconut sugar
- 2 1/2 cups quick oatmeal
- 2 sticks salted butter (room temperature but not soft)
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup whole wheat flour
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
Directions
- INSTRUCTIONS
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Using the wrappers from the butter, lightly butter a 15 x 11 rimmed baking sheet. Set aside.
- Combine dates, water and coconut sugar in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low and simmer 5-7 minutes or until it turns a soft spreadable consistency. Let cool to room temperature.
- Combine oatmeal, butter, flours, brown sugar and baking soda in a large bowl. Mix together with your hands until crumbly.
- Press half the crust mixture firmly into the prepared baking sheet. Carefully spread date filling evenly over the bottom crust. Sprinkle the remaining crust mixture over the top and lightly press filling on top of the date mixture so it sticks to the filling.
- Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until a light golden color.
Hi Carol, thanks for the recipe , my family and friends loved it ! Love the picture as well, such a cute adorable couple!
I have a doubt.. can the butter in the recipe be subbed with olive oil? if not fully, can I try replacing half the amount of butter with oil?
Thanks again !
Hi, Apoorva, I am really not sure. Coconut oil may work. I may have to whip up a batch and test it! Thanks so much and glad you enjoyed.
Can unchopped dates be cooked down with the water & sugar, THEN pureed down in the food processor? (hand chopping gooey dates is the pits).
Hi Marti, Thanks for your question. My husband tells me that he doesn’t chop them before cooking them down. I do because I want to make sure there are no pits hiding. My husband also thought you could purchase chopped dates. Boy, I sm craving these date bars now! Thanks got reading, let me know how it goes and please stay in touch!
We eat dates like candy in my house, so these bars would definitely go over well! They sound delicious and I love the addition of oats too. Next time I’m at Costco, I will be looking for dates!
My mom made lots of dessert bars when I was growing up. This reminds me a lot of those.
What a wonderful recipe to share – they look delicious and love the history behind them!
So sweet, I love family stories and recipes that are handed down are always the best because of the personal and meaningful connection. These date bars sound wonderful!
Costco is an amazing source for affordable, good-quality dates! I get them often there to make healthy snack bites. I need to give these bars a try!
Those sound yummy! Love the story!
I am making these date bars ASAP! I can sub nondairy butter in this with no problem and have a vegan treat. Thanks so much. Love your husband’s grandma and grandpa!
What a sweet picture and memories!
These look wonderful!
Old family recipes are the best! And I love that your husband was baking. Mine (and my daughter) does most of the baking around here. It’s not my favorite thing to do, so I am glad the two of them like it! These date bars sound yummy!
Christmas time sounds like a perfect time of year to enjoy these – but I could see these for breakfast any day! 🙂
These look fabulous Carol, and I’m so jealous that your husband bakes! It is hard to beat brown sugar in crumb, but I have used coconut sugar in the crumb and base of bars, and it works pretty nicely, too.
That’s great to know, Alisa! Thank you!
LOVE date bars and this oaty crumble topping looks like an amazing contrast to the gorgeous sticky sweetness of the date filling – definitely saving your healthy(er) recipe to make!
Thanks, Claudia!
The beautiful picture is of my wonderful parents! Always lots of hugs and many good memories made. Just wanted to comment regarding the recipe – Mom/grandma would use the same crust and would do the filling with apples or cherries. They were equally delicious. She liked to use the cherry filling more for a dessert rather than bars and served with a dollop of Cool Whip on top or small scoop of vanilla ice cream. My mother was a fabulous cook – ask any or her children, son-in-laws or grandkids. Happy cooking ladies!
Hello Carol. My first time here. You have got a beautiful space and the bars look awesome.and i believe can be adjusted to make them as healthy as we like. Lovely picture of the couple, they look angelic and so much in love…:)
Hi, Remya, Thanks for stopping by! I know….how cute are those two? Such a loving example for generations to follow.