Date and Walnut Oatmeal Bars

I can’t control everything in my life but I certainly can control what I put in my body !!! Hmmm… I can only think..whoever said that … hasn’t eaten good food … 🙄…. just saying !!!

This recipe is the result of my friends’ who have been prodding me for a no white sugar, no white flour recipe but a sweet craving satisfier none the less.

I love this recipe as it uses the goodness of oats, whole wheat flour, dates, walnuts and jaggery to give you not only that sweet something but a spurt of energy when things get bleak.

Keep these refrigerated and in individual packets for a grab and go homemade breakfast bar. Also it makes a great addition to a food hamper !

Enjoy baking ❤️

Ingredients

Date Filling :

Pitted dried dates minced – 1 1/2 cups

Water – 3/4 plus 1/4 cup ( divided use )

Pure Vanilla extract – 1 tsp

Walnut and Oatmeal crust :

Old fashioned rolled oats – 2 cups

Whole wheat flour – 1 cup

Jaggery/ palm sugar powdered – 1/2 cup

Walnut toasted and minced – 3/4 cup

Baking soda – 1/2 tsp

Salt – 1/4 tsp

Cold butter cubed – 1 cup

Method :

Date filling –

Place pitted dates and 3/4 cup water in a sauce pan and cook for approx. 7 mins over low heat until dates are soft. Add the extra 1/4 cup water during the cooking, if needed to get a thick mushy purée. (Depending on the grade of dates, I find you need to adjust the water content )

Remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract. Cool.

Preheat oven to 175 C.

Grease a 9 inch square pan.

Oatmeal Crust–

In a bowl mix together oats, whole wheat flour, jaggery powder, baking soda, salt. Stir. Add butter and mix until crumbly.

Layering the date bar –

Evenly press down half of the Oatmeal mix onto the greased pan with the help of a spoon.

Spoon the date filling evenly onto the crust.

Sprinkle remaining Oatmeal mix and press down gently with the back of a spoon.

Bake for 40 mins until golden.

Once it cools, refrigerate for 45 minutes until firm. Cut into squares.

xoxo,

Sareeka❤️