Scrumptious healthy date bars
Calling all dates fans! Truly, when it comes to dates, isn’t everyone a fan?! OK, maybe not. They just may be a little too sickly for some, but I—especially since I started eschewing refined sugar rather strictly—love, love them. And if you’re not a fan, these scrumptious, vegan, gluten free, easy to make and play with, purely date-sweetened bars may just convert you. (Full disclosure, there’s actually some orange juice adding sweet tanginess as well, but you can swap it out for water.)
As if it weren’t already clear enough, I geek out quite a bit on dates. A soft to bursting Medjool with a roasted pecan— it's like a heavenly slice of pecan pie. This past Christmas, I just discovered a variety of dates called Khidri that are AMAZING. Pure caramel and delightfully fancy. Dave got them for me as a Christmas present, because they are way too expensive as dates go for anything more than annual consumption.
Why am I waffling along about dates rather than the details of these bars? Maybe it’s somewhat confessional. A month or so ago, when brainstorming some potential dates recipes for Organic India, I sent an effusive email about them that sounded much like the preceding paragraph. In fact, maybe it was verbatim. I honestly don’t know, because I deleted the message thread after it came to my attention that it was forwarded (for practical purposes, as it included a list) to an entire team! When that fact innocently came to light, I blushed beet red even from the safe distance of our living room. Or, if we want to keep the dates theme going, I flushed the way one might when prematurely outing oneself as a bona fide weirdo on a blind date.
Good news, I didn’t reel from embarrassment for long, unlike the way I still cringe recalling other old gaffes, no matter how insignificant, understandable, or forgivable. In this instance, I was being authentic. When that’s the case there should be no regrets, right? I like to think my extreme enthusiasm was overall appreciated, even if it did render some chuckles. Recognizing the difference in emotional response coming from blunders, missteps, or just general over-the-top behavior that are heartfelt as opposed to the feelings generated from trying too hard to squeeze into a mold that isn’t a fit… felt good.
That feeling—that quick rebound back to being ok thanks to authenticity—was so freeing. What’s a little momentary embarrassment when it comes linked with awareness of being simply, wholeheartedly, good-naturedly and unabashedly oneself? Nothing to apologize for. It took awhile to get here, but this is a good place. I think I’ll stay. xo
Vegan Date Bars
Yield: 16 squares
2 cups chopped, pitted Medjool dates, divided
2-3 Tablespoons water
1/3 cup orange juice (or use extra water)
1 teaspoon orange zest
1 1/2 cup rolled oats
1 cup quinoa or gluten-free flour blend
1/3 cup chopped walnuts
pinch sea salt
¼ teaspoon baking soda
1 Tablespoon psyllium husk powder (optional)
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 cup olive oil
¼ cup unsweetened applesauce
Combine 1 1/2 cups of the dates, water or orange juice, and orange zest in a saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil; cook, stirring regularly, 10- 12 minutes, or until achieving a jam-like consistency. Remove from burner.
Preheat oven to 350°. Prepare an 8-inch baking pan with parchment paper.
In a food processor, combine remaining dates, oats, flour, salt, baking soda, psyllium and cinnamon. Pulse to combine. Pulse in oil and applesauce stir to form a crumbly mixture.
Press half of the crumble mixture into the bottom of your prepared pan. Use a spatula to spread date paste evenly over base. Top with remaining crumble mixture.
Bake for 25 minutes or until topping is golden brown. Cool completely before cutting and serving.