November 13, 2007

DATE AND OATS CRUMBLE BARS


Date and Oatmeal Crumble bars is my contribution to "A Fruit A Month", which is the brainchild of Maheswari of "Beyond the Usual"blog. Chandrika of "akshayapatra" is guest hosting this month for AFAM and her fruit of choice is "Dates". Thanks for hosting Chandrika!:)


About Dates:
"Dates, as fruits have been a staple food of the Middle East for thousands of years. They are believed to have originated around the Persian Gulf, and have been cultivated since ancient times from Mesopotamia to prehistoric Egypt, possibly as early as 6000 BC.Dates have a high tannin content and are used medicinally in poder form as well and as astringent for intestinal problems" More information of Dates is here.

Date bars:
Basic Date bars recipe is everywhere in the Internet World. Most recipes I liked but none sounded good enough for me, so I thought of combining most ingredients and make one of my own with some changes. I found that I needed little more Oatmeal to make the crust than suggested in many recipes and I added orange juice for flavor and a tsp of Cornstarch to the filling to make it thicker so they don't slide off the Oat crust, came out delicious.I made a small batch. Double and triple the recipe if you want more bars. It's hearty dessert with lot less sugar and more of natural sweetness from the Dates. Enjoy!:)

Date and Oats crumble bars:



This is how I made Date bars:

Make filling first: Mix 1 cup chopped Dates,1 tbsp Orange juice, 1/2 tbsp Butter, 1 tsp Cornstarch, 1/4 cup water, microwave for 1-2 mins. Take it out and mash with a fork until smooth, let it cool.
Now make the crust: Mix 1/2 cup quick cooking Oats, 1/3 cup+1 1/2 tbsp plain flour, 1/3 cup packed Brown sugar, 1 tsp Cinnamin powder, 1/8 tsp salt,1/3 cup melted butter well. Divide into two portions.
To bake these:
Preheat the Oven at 350F.
Spray a small 7x5 baking pan with no-stick oil or line with parchment paper on the bottom. Press in half the Oat mix on the bottom of the pan, add cooled Date mix and smoothen on top evenly. Finally, add the rest of Oat mix to cover the Date mix, do not press too hard. Put in the oven to bake for 30-35 mins or until the top gets slightly golden.
Let it cool for 10 mins on the cooling rack, release the sides with a flat spatula, cut into 6 big bars. When completely cooled, gently lift one bar and rest will be easy to take out.

Happy healthy eating!!:))

60 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi Asha,
Delicious entry, love it. So easy, yummy and healthy too my kind of sweet.

FH said...

Hi Madhu, you are first today!:)
Yes, this is a easy dessert to make. I don't like too much sugar in anything, this was perfect and naturally sweet. Hope you try!

Meeta K. Wolff said...

Looks simply delish Asha! Perfect for Soeren's lunchboxes!

Finla said...

It must be tasting delicious. Seeing the pic i want to have a huge bit from it. Just imagine bitting into the filling with the dates yummy.
Mostly i am the last one to comment this time i am fast here. Actually i never come so late in the PC but today thgt i will check it here fast
Enjoy the Crumble bars

Anonymous said...

Wow, that is a neat idea Asha. I never thought of combining figs and oats. Very healthy too!

Saju said...

The bars look sooooo good. Healthy too. I have to make some for my breakfast!

FH said...

You are right Meeta. My son loved it ! Usually if there is not a hint of chocolate in some form, he won't eat any dessert! ENJOY!:))

F, make it for Sha, bet she will love it! It doesn't take much time except baking time. It's really delicious. This recipe is perfect 3 people too, two pieces per person!:)
I am wondering if I can make this with Mango pulp (thinner than Date pulp), that would be Heavenly!!
Don't you use food Blog Desam like most? Posts pops quickly there. I use reader which takes a little time. Have fun, see you tomorrow at FH.

FH said...

RC, they are Dates. I have never used Figs in cooking yet, got to try one day!
Oats Crumble can be used on any fruit, try it. They are delicious on Melons too for breakfast. No baking necessary, just MW!:))

Saju, great for breakfast too as I was telling RC. I used lot less sugar so we can taste the real fruit. Enjoy!)

Richa said...

they look d-lish, asha! so quick to make and nutritious to boot!love everything dates :) make a lot many date dishes, will post soon!

Anonymous said...

I dint know about the AFAM this month. The bars are looking yummy asha. Good work and great entry.

Pravs said...

This looks like a delicious treat. Looks like a easy sweet to make.

Rajitha said...

yum! asha these are healthy and would be really filling...great snack when the afternoon hunger strikes!!

FH said...

Richa, I have eaten dates as they are before, first time I made any dessert with these.Came out really well, looking forward to your's!:))

Thanks Hima. I almost missed it too about AFAM-Dates!
Check my sidebar for event update. Create something with Dates!:))

FH said...

Very easy Pravs, preparation doesn't take time , just baking. Give it a try!:)

YUP!! Rajitha, 4pm everyday and all the snacks and dessert keep calling us, huh?;D
Enjoy.

Shweta said...

Yum yum yum! Dates and oats, love them both :) This looks like a perfect 3 pm snack for me!

Anonymous said...

Hi Asha,
a delicious and a healthy snack.

shalini

bee said...

yum yum yum yum yum

Kalva said...

wo you look like a pro making these! Very nice recipe.. never made anything with dates though!!

Sig said...

Oh yummy! Dates... I can have these as breakfast bars... I eat the storebought ones now, and no brand I know of make date bars for breakfast, so guess I have to do the work :)...

musical said...

Ashakka, now i can do with a box full of these :-D. When do i drop by for an evening coffee, i'd get atleast three-four of these, na :).

Love,
musical.

Neelam said...

Hi Asha, this is really a very healthy snack.It surely goes on my to-do list. Thanks for sharing. Nice entry.

Sana said...

looks good Asha.
I have been looking for a healthy recipe to use up my oats. I guess , I will go ahead and try this. Will let you know how it goes - your measurements haven't failed me yet :)

TBC said...

Hmmm... dates and oats - two things I don't care for at all.
Still love you though, Asha;-) :)

Anh said...

Yuum! I love dates. I can munch on them the whole day :)

Anonymous said...

yumm..how I wish I could grab them from pics directly. :D Lovely Entry Ashakka.

Srivalli said...

They look so good Asha...

Padmaja said...

hey asha!!!
those bars look delicious!!!

sunita said...

Asha, I'm addicted to dates...and those bars of yours are what's making me droool now.

Anonymous said...

Those date bars look delicious, and almost too healthy to be real, Asha! ;) Around xmas we used to get date and coconut balls, going to try and find that recipe for Chandrika's AFAM. Cooking with dates is new to me. Have a wonderful Wednesday!

sra said...

I've bought two packets just for this event, must check the deadline first! Yours look tasty!

FH said...

Shweta, perfect snack indeed , give it try!:))

Thanks Shalini, they really are!:)

Thank you Bee, lot less sugar too!:)

FH said...

Kalva, this is my first try too. Easy recipe, can't go wrong!:)

Sig, make the double the portion and use a bigger pan for thinner bars. Makes perfect breakfast thingies!:))

FH said...

Musie, stop at two girl! Can't have more than that!:D

You are welcome Neelam. They are healthy, you can even add less sugar!:)

Sana, these are very easy to make. Even if you don't get it perfect, they are still edible, try it!:)

FH said...

Hahaha!! Tbc, I love you too darling. Skip this post!;D

Anh, me too. Usually, I eat the whole fruit. First time for me to try making bars with Dates!:))

FH said...

Thank you Lakshmi. Hope you try. It's good for kids too!:))

Thank you Sri. Give it a try. Dates are easily available in India , right?:)

FH said...

Thank you Padmaja. They do taste great!:))

Sunita, thanks. Your turn to make something now!:)

FH said...

Linda, I tried these for the first time too, came out delicious! Looking forward to your's!:))

sra, end of this month is the deadline.Plenty of time. See what can you make with 2 packs, something savoury and sweet?:)

Lissie said...

asha, the date bars are soo yummy! love to have them any time... :))

FH said...

I had a piece for breakfast today Lissie, so yummy. There is one more left. Hope you try!:))

Laavanya said...

i love this Asha and it looks so simple.

USHA said...

Hi Ashaji,

Wow!!!i loved this recipe very much...oats with dates....thats really a very healthy bars....

Rahin said...

hi asha , i love dates , the bars look very gud

FH said...

It takes few mins to prepare Laavanya, baking takes a little bit time. Try!

Thank you Usha. Great for breakfast too, try them

Thanks Rahin. You will love the taste of soft and crunchy bars!:)

Seema said...

Asha - Yummy bars, perfect & healthy ones!! Looks delicious:-)

FH said...

Thank yopu Seema, enjoy. You can make them within an hr!:))

Susan from Food Blogga said...

I can't get enough dates. Seriously. I'm addicted to them. And your bars look scrumptious. I have got to make them.

Menu Today said...

Hi Asha,

Healthy dish!!! Thanks for sharing this recipe.

FH said...

Dates are so naturally sweet, no wonder everybody likes them. Try these Susan!:))

It is healthy MT. Oats and Dates go very well together!:)

Mona said...

this sounds heavenly! I just love dates, in any form. The oatmeal bars sound really interesting and a must try!

Kribha said...

Looks good Asha dear. I just want to take the filling alone in a cup and eat it as it is. My hubby would really love this as a nice variation from his kellogs bars.
Sorry that I've not been regular in blogging and commenting. Kavin became sick after diwali. The smoke from the fireworks aggrevated his wheezing. Had to go to ER and all that. He didn't got to school this whole week. So it's hard to sit with the computer. Anyway, will resume blogging soon.

FH said...

It's really delicious Mona.I think you use Mango pulp etc as long as it is thickish. Sounds good, huh?:)

Kribha, so sorry about Kavin. Winter is coming, take care of him and yourself too. Don't worry about blogging. Hugs to you.
Try any fruit puree too Kribha, comes out tasty. Got to be thick puree though. Double the recipe to a bigger batch, great for breakfast too.I ate about two days in the morning with coffee!:)

Mansi said...

hehehe nice one Asha! you and me posting the same kind of recipe on the same day! At least mine ahd figs, pecans and ginger:)

Nice recipe! I can vouch for it because I have made it myself:)

-Mansi

FH said...

I posted this two days ago Mansi, just added Dates and nothing else for AFAM-Dates event. You can add any spices you want to add to the flavor of course!:)
Your's look great too. Makes a great breakfast, doesn't it? I made a small portion, lasted for 3 days!:D

SeeC said...

Great idea. Must be filling, tasty and healthy too.

FH said...

Makes a good breakfast SeeC. Good to see you. Hope you had a great Diwali!:))

Sona - quick picks/pick quicks said...

that is soo simple n healthy, Asha...now , runnning thru my pregnancy period, having all these nasty vomiting temptations after having fud, but just looking at ur fud, is getting me those feelings!..now, dont get me wrong, dear, i am just imagining these lovely things in front of me, and having it myself, thats y!!!...so, at heart, i have had these, bars, but never want to get those go...

Raaga said...

yummy... and so healthy :)

FH said...

Sona, congratulations darling, I didn't know you are expecting!!:)
Yeah, I understand completely about forst few months, take it easy. I used to feel queezy just looking at any kinda meat!! Take care and enjoy. Hugs to you.

Raaga, it makes a great breakfast, hope you try!:))

AnuSriram said...

Looks just wonderful asha... very nice recipe and healthier too... Thanks...

Raks said...

I think I am the last one to comment....Is there any special appreciation for that?
Have been busy with my kid ....got sick...still he is :-(
Dates and oats crumble bar looks yummy...nice entry...I can imagine how it would taste with dates and oats..have to give it a try some time...:)