Apple Date Cookie Bars are a healthy apple oatmeal cookie bars, sweetened with dates for a tasty after school treat without loads of added sugar.

These healthy low sugar Apple Date Cookie Bars are great to pack in lunch boxes, serve as an after school snack, or even enjoy for breakfast.

oatmeal bars on a plate with text overlay "apple date cookie bars"

Every month the Fill the Cookie Jar Bloggers make cookies based on a theme and share them on the same day. We are getting the jump on Back to School with our theme this month. Be sure to scroll to the bottom of the page to see what the others have made.

These Apple Date Bars are so simple to make and quick to bake. Which is nice when it is still 95 plus degrees outside. We won't cool off here until late October.

The bars were not very sweet. If you want them a bit sweeter, you can substitute all or some of the dates with brown sugar or your favorite sugar substitute (some extra maple syrup would be good).

Recipe

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Ingredients

FILLING

1 ½ cup apples (peeled, cored and thinly sliced)
¼ cup chopped nuts (pecans or walnuts)
¼ cup coconut or brown sugar
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla
½ teaspoon ground nutmeg (optional)

BASE

2 cups oats (quick cooking or old fashioned)
¾ cups all purpose flour
1 cup dates (pureed with water to make a thick paste)
½ cup butter or coconut oil (melted)
½ teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9" square baking pan.
In a small bowl, combine filling ingredients and set aside for 5-10 minutes to become syrupy.
In a large bowl, mix all base ingredients together with a wooden spoon.
Spread half of the base in the prepared 9" pan. Cover with filling. Crumble the remaining base ingredients over the top.
Bake at 350 degrees until the top is turning light brown, about 25 minutes.

Notes

These are not overly sweet. If you want them slightly sweeter, substitute half of the pureed dates with brown sugar or desired substitute.

Other Back to School Cookie Recipes

Giant Milk Chocolate Chip Cookies by Family Around the Table

No Bake Brownie Energy Bites by Join Us, Pull up a Chair

Peanut Butter & Jelly Cookies by Jolene's Recipe Journal

Teachers Rule Cookies By Palatable Pastime

Clean the Cupboard Cookie Bars by A Day In The Life On The Farm

Monster Reese's Pieces Cookie Bars by Cookaholic Wife

Oatmeal Blueberry Cookies by Organized 31

Apple Date Cookie Bars by That Recipe

Cherry Pie Tassies by Cindy's Recipes and Writings

Comments

Cynthia

July 06, 2017 at 4:06 pm

We have 5 apples trees on our property, so I am always on the lookout for recipes that use apples. This is one that I will be adding to my list of recipes to make when the apples are ready. I love the sweetness from the dates. Thanks so much for being a part of the Fill The Cookie Jar group!

- Audrey
  
  July 06, 2017 at 5:53 pm
  
  Wow. Full grown fruit trees, so jealous.
Susan

July 06, 2017 at 5:14 pm

I adore dates in baked goods. Can't wait to try your apple date cookie bars this weekend.

- Audrey
  
  July 06, 2017 at 5:51 pm
  
  I enjoy it too, but I thought these could have used a little more sweetness.
Wendy Klik

July 06, 2017 at 5:15 pm

Guilt free cookies...yes, please.

- Audrey
  
  July 06, 2017 at 5:52 pm
  
  I like to pretend to be healthy every once in awhile 😉
Jolene

July 08, 2017 at 4:23 am

Love the idea of the dates in this one- great healthy treat!

- Audrey
  
  July 08, 2017 at 7:46 pm
  
  I don't use dates as much as I should.

Send them Back to School with Apple Date Cookie Bars