Apple Date Cookie Bars
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.
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.