Make Ahead

Date Bars

by:
February 11, 2011
5
1 Ratings
Date Bars
  • Makes 1 8x8 pan
Author Notes

I like to pretend these are like energy bars instead of dessert. Please don't crash my worldview.

The sugar in this can be adjusted to taste, and depending on the dates you use, you may want to scale it back. Some chopped dates are coated in sugar, so with those I cut the sugar back by 1/4 cup. Chopped dates also seem to melt better than whole, but I've used both and no one complained either way.

You can also roll these into balls when cool and coat them with powdered sugar. But that looks like dessert so I do bars to keep the dream alive. —PeachyCallahan

What You'll Need
Ingredients
  • 1 8 oz. box chopped dates
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 6 tablespoons butter
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1 1/4 cups chopped toasted pecans
  • 1 1/2 cups crisped rice
Directions
  1. Toast your pecans on a cookie sheet in a 350 degree oven, about 5-8 minutes, just until they start to smell nutty.
  2. Melt dates, butter, and sugar in a saucepan over medium low heat. When it's all mushed together semi-coherently and a nice brown, remove from the heat.
  3. Stir in vanilla, pecans, and crisped rice. Spread into a lightly greased 8x8 pan and allow to cool before cutting into bars.
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1 Review

chezjenne
chezjenne August 1, 2021
These are GRRREAT! I made as directed the first time and loved them! Last night I cut the sugar to 1/2 and used brown sugar. I also substituted lightly crushed corn flakes for the Rice Krispies and loved em again soooo much. I’m pondering dried apricots and almonds next time! What a great, simple recipe, thank you SO MUCH Peachy!