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Both hearty and healthy, these Canadian date bars with oatmeal crumble topping are certainly delicious. They’re packed with tasty ingredients like dates, oats, coconut, and cinnamon. Enjoy homemade date bars for breakfast, as part of brunch, or even as an unusual dessert.
Anyone with a sweet tooth will love this easy recipe with dates. The Canadian date squares boast different flavors and textures in each bite.
Also try mini cone cupcakes, peanut butter and chocolate cupcakes, white chocolate hearts, or this oatmeal breakfast bowl.
Canadian Date Bars Ingredients
Do you recall Pillsbury’s date bar mix that was discontinued years back? These date bars are the closest I’ve found to those!
Dates are of course the main ingredients in these date crumble bites. You will also need sugar, oats, flour, coconut, cinnamon, butter, and salt.
You can tweak any of the ingredients you want, such as swapping the dates for dried figs. Another kind of dried fruit would work such as apricots or mixed fruits.
Sub half or all the water for orange juice if you like. You can use just white sugar or just brown instead of using some of each. Maple syrup (another Canadian favourite!) also works in place of the sugar. And the cinnamon can be swapped for allspice or nutmeg. Throw in some chocolate chips too if you want.
Use Bob Red Mills’ all-purpose gluten-free flour if you want to make these bars gluten free. Coconut oil can be used in place of the butter too. Almond extract and orange zest are also nice, complementary flavours if you want to try adding one or both of those as well.
How to Make Homemade Date Bars
I bet you can’t wait to get started on this recipe. Have you tried these before? If you’re from Vancouver Island you might actually know them as matrimonial squares or matrimonial cake.
The first step in making Canadian date bars (or matrimonial squares!) is to add the white sugar and dates to a pan with some water. Once the mixture reaches a boil, turn the heat down and let it simmer for half an hour or so, or until thickened.
Process the oats, flour, coconut, cinnamon, salt, and brown sugar in a food processor. You will want this date crumble mixture to look like coarse breadcrumbs.
Next grease a baking dish and then press some of the crumb mixture into it. After spreading the date mixture on top you can add the rest of the crumbs, pressing it down a little.
Finally you can bake the Canadian date squares for half an hour or until slightly golden, then cool, cut into squares, and enjoy.
Which Type of Dates to Use
There are different kinds of dates to choose from and it’s important to know that some are much sweeter than others. If you’re using very sweet dates you’re going to want to reduce the amount of sugar you use.
Medjool dates are large in size and very sweet. Deglet dates, on the other hand, are smaller and not so sweet. So if you’re using Deglet you can follow the recipe exactly. If you’re using Medjool, I recommend you decrease the amount of sugar between a third and half. You can always taste the mixture and add more sugar if needed.
Canadian Date Crumble Bars FAQs
These Canadian date bars with oatmeal crumble topping should be fine for 3 or maybe 4 days in an airtight container on the countertop. They will keep for a week if you refrigerate them.
Another option is to freeze the homemade date bars but make sure they’re completely cool before you freeze them.
Dates are chewy, sweet and delicious. They also offer some nutritional benefits including fiber, potassium, magnesium, copper, manganese, vitamin B6, and iron. In addition dates are a rich source of antioxidants. Date paste, which you can make or buy, can be used in place of sugar in many recipes at a ratio of 1:1.
The great thing about this recipe with dates is how versatile the Canadian date bars are. I mean they would make a satisfying breakfast or addition to brunch. They’re portable enough for hikes, road trips, potlucks and picnics, sweet enough for dessert, and tasty enough for a snack anytime. So whether you enjoy one with your morning coffee or after your evening meal, they are sure to hit the spot!
Canadian Date Bars with Oatmeal Crumble Topping Recipe
Date Bars
Ingredients
- 1 cup water
- 1 1/4 cup dates, chopped
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 3/4 cup old fashioned oats
- 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
- 1 cup shredded coconut, unsweetened
- 1 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1 Teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 Teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter, cold, cubed
Instructions
- In a small saucepan, combine water, sugar, and dates. Bring to a boil and then reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, for 30-35 minutes, stirring occasionally. Sauce will be slightly thickened. Set aside.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9×13 inch baking dish.
- With a food processor, combine the oats, flour, coconut, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Add butter and process until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
- Press 3 cups of the crumb mixture evenly into baking dish. Spread date mixture evenly on top. Sprinkle remaining crumb mixture evenly into dates. Press down into dates slightly.
- Bake 25 to 30 minutes, until edges are lightly brown. Cool before cutting into squares.
Nutrition
Canadian date bars are easy to make and everything from the sweet filling to the oatmeal crumble topping is bursting with flavour. If you fondly remember Canadian date squares, now you can make your own version at home. These really are good!
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Bella Bucchiotti
Bella Bucchiotti is a Canadian-based syndicated food, travel, and lifestyle writer, photographer, and creator at xoxoBella. She founded xoxoBella in 2015, where she shares her love for food, dogs, sustainability, fitness, crafts, outdoor adventures, travel, and philanthropy to encourage others to run the extra mile, try new recipes, visit unfamiliar places, and stand for a cause. Bella creates stress-free and family-friendly recipes for weeknight dinners and festive feasts.
These are delicious and an amazing throw back to my childhood.
Right!!! I had them lots as a kid too