Maple-Date Bars

With their tasty homemade date and maple jam filling sandwiched between a crumb crust and topping, these Maple-Date Bars are loaded with fabulous flavor. They're a perfect simple sweet treat dessert, breakfast bite, or afternoon snack.

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Having grown up in Vermont, I'm a lover of all things maple. And these tasty little Maple-Date Bars are certainly no exception.

The bars' filling is an easy homemade date and maple jam that's made by simply simmering these two ingredients together on the stovetop. The result is maple-date deliciousness whose flavor far surpasses what one would expect from such a quick and simple preparation.  

The filling is then sandwiched between a basic crumb crust and topping. But believe me, though these Maple-Date Bars are truly simple in their ingredients and prep, they're absolutely packed with fabulous flavor. 

Maple-Date Bars are a perfect simple sweet treat dessert, breakfast bite, or afternoon snack.

Now, let's talk maple for a second. -- Because for a Vermonter, maple is some serious business. When preparing the filling, use only 100% pure maple syrup. -- There truly is no substitute for the real stuff. 

Using artificial syrup just won't bring the same depth of maple flavor to the bars.  And when it comes to that 100% pure maple syrup? -- The bolder and darker the better, in my opinion. I'm absolutely a fan of dark color and robust taste (formerly known as "Grade B") in maple syrup.

We think these Maple-Date Bars make for a perfect simple sweet treat dessert, breakfast bite, or afternoon snack. Yep, we enjoy them any time of day! -- And we think you sure will, too.

Maple-Date Bar Ingredients:

Maple-Date Bars are pretty simple in their make-up, consisting of a homemade maple-date filling and basic crumb crust and topping.

For the filling, you'll need:

• Chopped dates - Dates are the sweet fruit of the date palm tree that we typically see and eat dried. Look for packages of dried whole dates or chopped dates alongside other dried fruits at the grocery store. Or, sometimes they can be found in the produce section.

• Pure maple syrup - Use 100% pure maple syrup in this recipe. -- There truly is just no substitute for the real stuff!

For the crumb crust & topping, you'll need:

• Flour - Serves as the main base of the crumb.

• Old-fashioned oats - Adds wonderful texture to the crust and topping.

• Granulated sugar - Provides the crumb's sweetness.

• Butter - Serves as the fat that binds the crust and topping together.

• Baking soda - Gives a small touch of rise to the crumb crust and topping.

• Salt - Enhances the crumb's flavor.

How to Make Maple-Date Bars:

There are 3 basic steps to making a batch of Maple-Date Bars.  They are:

1. Make the filling
2. Prepare the crumb crust & topping mixture
3. Assemble & bake the bars

Start by making the filling.  To do so, place chopped dates, pure maple syrup, and a little water in a small saucepan. Bring this mixture to a boil over medium heat, then reduce the heat and simmer it together for about 12 minutes until most of the liquid has been absorbed.  Be sure to stir the mixture frequently so it doesn't scorch on the bottom of the pan. 

Once cooked, the date mixture will look like jam. Set it aside to cool completely.

To make the crumb crust and topping, first beat together some butter and granulated sugar with an electric mixer until smooth.

Then combine together some all-purpose flour, old-fashioned oats, baking soda, and a bit of salt. Stir this into the butter/sugar mixture. -- It will be crumbly.

To assemble the Maple-Date Bars, press 3 cups of the crumb mixture into the bottom of a greased 9x13-inch baking pan. Then gently spread the cooled date mixture evenly over the crumb crust.

Sprinkle the remaining crumb mixture evenly over the date layer. Gently press this top layer of crumb mixture down into the date mixture a bit with the palm of your hand.

Pop the pan in the oven and bake the bars for 20 minutes until the top is golden brown.

Once baked, let the pan cool completely. Then, cut into small bars.

So for a wonderful maple treat, grab that 100% pure maple syrup and whip up a pan of these super tasty bars. With their homemade date and maple filling sandwiched between a crumb crust and topping, these Maple-Date Bars are loaded with fabulous flavor. 

We love to enjoy them all day long -- as a simple sweet treat dessert, breakfast bite, or afternoon snack. And we think you will, too!

Check out these other super tasty dessert bar recipes:

• Blueberry-Almond Bars
• Raspberry-Almond Bars
• Lemon Bars
• Toffee Bars
• Crescent Pecan Pie Squares
• Caramel-Walnut Bars
• 7-Layer Cookies
• Butterscotch Toffee Blondies
• More cookies & bars

Thank you for stopping by The Kitchen is My Playground. We'd love to have you back soon!

date bars, date squares, maple date bars, maple date squares, date bars with maple syrup

Cookies & Bars

American

Yield: about 20 bars

Author: Tracey | The Kitchen is My Playground

Maple-Date Bars

With their tasty homemade date and maple jam filling sandwiched between a crumb crust and topping, these Maple-Date Bars are loaded with fabulous flavor. They're a perfect simple sweet treat dessert, breakfast bite, or afternoon snack.

Prep time: 30 MinCook time: 32 MinTotal time: 1 H & 2 M

Ingredients

Filling:

• 2 c. chopped dates
• 3/4 c. water
• 1/3 c. pure maple syrup

Crumb Mixture:

• 12 T. butter, softened
• 2/3 c. granulated sugar
• 1 1/2 c. all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 c. old-fashioned oats
• 1/4 tsp. baking soda
• 1/4 tsp. salt

Instructions

Prepare the Filling:

1. Place chopped dates, water, and maple syrup in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Reduce heat and simmer for 12 minutes, or until most of the liquid has been absorbed, stirring frequently. The mixture will look like jam.
2. Cool completely.

Prepare Crumb Mixture & Bake Bars:

1. In a large mixing bowl, beat together butter and sugar with an electric mixer until smooth.
2. Combine flour, oats, baking soda, and salt. Stir into butter/sugar mixture (it will be crumbly).
3. Press 3 cups of crumb mixture into the bottom of a greased 9x13-inch baking pan.
4. Gently spread the cooled date mixture evenly over the crumb crust.
5. Sprinkle remaining crumb mixture evenly over the date layer. Gently press crumb mixture down into the date mixture a bit with the palm of your hand.
6. Bake at 400℉ for 20 minutes, or until golden brown.
7. Cool completely. Then, cut into bars.

TRACEY'S NOTES:

1. Be generous with the 2-cups measure of chopped dates and 1/3-cup measure of maple syrup for the filling. -- It's okay (and delicious!) for them to be a little smidge over.
2. This recipe can easily be halved and baked in a 9x9-inch pan.

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Raspberry-Almond Bars

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