Vegan Gluten-Free Date Squares (2024)

Vegan Gluten-Free Date Squares

Many of you already know that I’m currently studying naturopathic nutrition. It’s crazy the amount of things I’m learning and I’m gaining so muchvaluable information about food, nutrition and the power it has to change your life! It shows in the waymy diet has changed since I started the course in 2014 and how it keeps changing the more I learn!

If you’ve been following my blog from the beginning, you’ll probably notice my recipes changing. I used to make a lot of high protein treats using whey protein and dairy products like yoghurt. Now, I’ve cut out all dairy andgluten from my diet and I’m focusing on incorporating the goodness of whole plant foods and turning them into tasty nutritious treats.

I’m also trying to use dates as much as possible in recipes to sweeten. Using the whole fruit with its naturally high fibre content means it won’t have the same effect on insulin and blood glucose levels. It also means you’ll benefit from the nutrients this delicious fruithas to offer!

At the same time as trying to use natural sweeteners, I’m consciously trying to lower the amount of saturated fat I add to my treats. Even though coconut oil is being hailed as a magic potion that can prevent things like Alzheimer’s, there’s actually little evidence to support itsnutritional benefits and can still cause inflammation and contribute to heart disease. But when it comes to cooking, I still think it fares better when compared to other types ofoil.

This is yet another recipe influenced by my Middle Eastern upbringing. Dates are a staple in Middle Eastern kitchens and is heavily used in desserts and for very good reasons, mainly becomes they taste so damn good! I’ve added in some cinnamon and cardamom because I think those 2 flavours complement dates so well and make them taste even more irresistible!

The main ingredients in these vegan gluten-free date squares is oats, dates, coconut oil and almond butter. You have the option of adding some sweetener like xylitol into the crumble part of the recipe although I feel the date centre is sweet enough, butthe option is there if you have a super sweet tooth.

Vegan Gluten-free Date Squares

2016-02-22 18:25:37

Serves 16

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For the date filling

1.5 cups (220g) dates
1 cup (200ml) water
1/2 tsp vanilla extract (optional)
Pinch of salt (optional)

For the crumble

1 cup (110g) oat flour (use gluten-free oats if you have a gluten allergy)
1 cup (90g) oats (use gluten-free oats if you have a gluten allergy)
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp cardamom
1/4 cup (4 tbsp) coconut oil
1/4 cup (4 tbsp) almond butter
2 tbsp granulated sweetener like Xylitol (optional)

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 180*C (160*C fan assisted)/ 350*F
First make the date filling - add the dates to a pan and start off by adding 1/2 a cup (100ml) of water. Cook on high until the water starts to boil then turn the heat to low. Start mashing the the dates using the back of a wooden spoon. Add more water as needed until you have a smooth, thick, but spreadable date paste. Leave to cool.
In a large bowl, mix together the oat flour, oats, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, cardamom and sweetener if using any.
Place the oat mixture in a food processor along with the coconut oil and almond butter.
Pulse until everything is well combined and you have a crumble like mixture.
Transfer 2/3 of the oat mixture into an 8" cake tin lined with parchment paper. Press the mixture down firmly into an even layer.
Spread the date mixture on top, then crumble the remaining 1/3 of the oat mixture on top.
Bake for 20-25 minutes.
Leave to cool completely, then slice.
Enjoy!

Notes

Nutritional information (estimated per serving)
Calories: 140 kcal
Protein: 2.8g
Carbs: 19.7g
Fat: 6.5g
Fibre: 2.9g

Nadia's Healthy Kitchen http://nadiashealthykitchen.com/

قطع الشوفان و التمر – لذيذ جدا و صحي بنسبة عالية من الأياف و خالي من السكر المضاف

١ كوب ونصف تمر
١ كوب ماء
١/٢ ملعقة صغيرة فانيليا
رشة ملح
١ كوب دقيق الشوفان – شوفان كامل مطحون في الخلاط
١ كوب شوفان كامل (استخدم شوفان خالي من الغلوتين اذا عندك حساسية)
١ ملعقة صغيرة بيكنك بودر
١/٤ ملعقة صغيرة ملح
١ ملعقة صغيرة قرفة
١/٤ ملعقة صغيرة هيل
١/٤ كوب زيت جوز الهند مذابة
١/٤ كوب زبدة اللوز
اختياري -٢ ملعقة كبيرة ستيفيا أو سكر

تعليمات

سخن الفرن ١٨٠ درجة مئوية
ضف التمر لمقلاة مع ١/٢ كوب ماء و اطهي على نار عالية حتى يغلي الماء ثم اخفض الحرارة و اهرس التمر باستخدام ملعقة. إضف المزيد من الماء حسب الحاجة حتى يكون لديك خليط تمر سميك. اترك ليبرد تماما
ضف دقيق الشوفان ،الشوفان الكامل، البيكنك بودر، الملح، القرفة، الهيل والستيفيا في خلاط وأخلط حتى يتناسق
انشر ٢/٣ من خليط الشوفان في قالب كيك ٢٠ سم
ثم انشر خليط التمر فوقة ثم الثلث الباقي من خليط الشوفان
اخبز لمدة ٢٠-٢٥ دقيقة.
اترك ليبرد تماما قبل التقطيع
الف عافية

If you liked this vegan gluten-free date squares recipe you may also like these Date Cookies

More healthy date recipes

Healthier Chocolate Bars – by My Fussy Eater
Oat, Date and Sultana Energy Balls – by Planet Veggie

Nadia2022-08-05T11:34:57+01:00February 23, 2016|Bars, Dairy Free, Desserts, Gluten Free, Sugar Free, Vegan, Vegetarian|36 Comments

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36 Comments

Anu - My Ginger Garlic KitchenFebruary 23, 2016 at 3:58 pm - Reply
These Date Squares look divine, Nadia. Love how easy is to make these beauties and also they are vegan and gluten-free too. Can’t wait to give them a try!
- NadiaFebruary 24, 2016 at 1:16 am - Reply
  Thank you 😀 They really are so easy to make 🙂 You’ll love them!
Rebecca @ Strength and SunshineFebruary 23, 2016 at 5:24 pm - Reply
When I saw these on IG this morning…o I knew there was goodness here! These look so delicious and biteable <3 haha! I'm not a total "date" person though, I like figs more, but anything is good a a perfect sweet bar treat!
- NadiaFebruary 24, 2016 at 1:17 am - Reply
  You could make a fig version, don’t see why it wouldn’t work! The date centre actually tastes like caramel! 😀
Harriet EmilyFebruary 23, 2016 at 6:03 pm - Reply
These date squares are beautiful Nadia! My mouth is seriously watering over that gooey date filling. Yummmmm!!!
- NadiaFebruary 24, 2016 at 1:18 am - Reply
  Thank you Harriet 😀
Natalie | Feasting on FruitFebruary 23, 2016 at 9:20 pm - Reply
Yes yes yes! Give me all the sweet date crumble-topped magic!! You have combined two of my favorite things in the whole sweets world: dates and crumbles/streusels <3 And I love that you are moving towards more date sweetened things, that just means I will get to drool and obsess over your recipes even more!
- NadiaFebruary 24, 2016 at 1:20 am - Reply
  Haha 😀 your comments always make me smile! 🙂 I’m sorry, but I’m afraid you have a lot of drooling to look forward to as I’ve just bought a 3 kg bag of dates 😛
Michele @ Two RaspberriesFebruary 23, 2016 at 11:20 pm - Reply
YUMMM these sounds delicious! crunchy and gooey is like the perfect combo! 😉
- NadiaFebruary 24, 2016 at 1:25 am - Reply
  Thank you Michele 😀
Angie@Angie's RecipesFebruary 24, 2016 at 7:17 am - Reply
Healthy and delicious…too good to be true!!
Dannii @ Hungry Healthy HappyFebruary 24, 2016 at 11:40 am - Reply
These look so delicious, and like something you could get at 8th Day. Which reminds me, I need to go there and stock up on their chocolate cherry slices.
See Also
Top Vegan-Friendly Cities of 2013 | PETA
CassieFebruary 24, 2016 at 5:25 pm - Reply
Uh oh, I don’t think I’d stop at one of these! <3 Looks absolutely delicious Nadia!!
Jacqueline MeldrumFebruary 25, 2016 at 10:59 am - Reply
These look delicious Nadia, you have a real touch with sweet treats.
Kerry at Kerry CooksFebruary 25, 2016 at 2:38 pm - Reply
These look delicious Nadia! Great to hear that the dates are still so healthy despite being cooked
Claire @foodiequineFebruary 28, 2016 at 12:09 pm - Reply
YUM! I’m really getting into dates at the moment so will definitely give these a go. I suspect they will be very moreish.
HannahFebruary 8, 2017 at 3:19 am - Reply
Can you use a high speed blender and then just pulse it instead of using a food processor?
- NadiaFebruary 8, 2017 at 6:18 pm - Reply
  I don’t see why that shouldn’t work 🙂
Le RaMarch 15, 2017 at 3:03 pm - Reply
Can I substitute the almond butter with something else?
- NadiaMarch 18, 2017 at 9:14 pm - Reply
  Any nut butter will work, otherwise try substituting it with more coconut oil.
VickyAugust 27, 2017 at 5:52 pm - Reply
Thank you. I plan to make these soon as I remember my late Aunt making date bars, she called romance or matrimony bars as they were called in the 1950’s. She used brawn sugar from a health food store. With dates though as naturally sweet, I won’t add any sweetener.
DoreenNovember 15, 2017 at 9:57 pm - Reply
So yummy!! Texture was really nice, I added extra oats since the crumble was very moist. Was happy to find a vegan recipe that was just as good as I remember the standard recipe being.
They were addictive though :O
KahliJanuary 2, 2018 at 4:09 am - Reply
My every time go to recipe! So so SO GOOD!!! I make it time and time again 🙂 as I write this I’m making it with a homemade blueberry chia jam in the middle instead of date paste, I’ll let you know how it turns out ?
KahliJanuary 2, 2018 at 10:02 am - Reply
Always my go to recipe! So so so GOOD!!! Today I made it with a homemade blueberry chia jam instead of date paste…. I was a bit apprehensive BUT it was a hit with my family! Thank you so much ?
KaliFebruary 8, 2018 at 10:18 pm - Reply
Made these this morning. OMG!
So good. For the filling, I used figs with orange zest and the crumble, I used avocado oil instead of coconut. I will definitely make again. Wonderful recipe.
Fiona mcbrideMarch 4, 2018 at 2:00 pm - Reply
Dates are lovely but mainly sugar, I hate coconut and coconut oil so better to use tahini as the fat substitue. Sorry but xylitol has a horrible artifical taste but the bars look nice and oats are healthy
- NadiaMarch 4, 2018 at 11:19 pm - Reply
  You can use something like berries if you don’t like dates. You can also try using tahini, but I haven’t tried this recipe without any oil so I don’t know whether the texture will be the same with tahini. You can replace the xylitol with your preferred sweetener 🙂
VanessaMarch 26, 2018 at 2:34 am - Reply
Amazingly delicious!!!
Denise DubéMay 26, 2018 at 6:51 pm - Reply
These are delish! ?
I love the hint of cardamom. I also added the juice and rind of an orange to the date filling. I may try not adding the oats to the food processor next time and only mix them in with my hands after the rest is mixed in the food processor to keep the oats whole, like in a cobbler recipe. I can’t wait to try more of Nadia’s creations! There are so many tempting recipes on the website!
AileenDecember 21, 2018 at 11:43 pm - Reply
I didn’t find that there was enough for the crust and topping, so I had to make more for the topping .
ChristineApril 24, 2020 at 5:46 pm - Reply
These turned out a treat! I used tahini instead of almond butter but followed the rest as written…delicious!!!!
MarieNovember 23, 2022 at 9:13 pm - Reply
Hi Nadia,
I’m having trouble finding gluten free oats? The lovely lady from Harraways said that their Organic Rolled oats do have gluten but it is different from the gluten in wheat, and 80% of celiacs can tolerate this gluten in oats.
- NadiaNovember 24, 2022 at 10:42 pm - Reply
  Hi Marie 🙂 So oats don’t actually have gluten in them, but they’re usually handled in the same mills that handle other gluten containing grains. If you’re celiac, even the smallest cross contamination will cause an immune response. That’s why I would recommend gluten-free oats because they’re handled in a gluten-free area. Where do you live if you don’t mind me asking? x
ChristineMarch 4, 2023 at 11:55 pm - Reply
These are so good!!!! I added a half cup of chopped pistachios to the date filling and used tahini instead of almond butter. The smell of the cardamom, tahini and dates cooking is insanely good too!
- NadiaMarch 6, 2023 at 6:09 pm - Reply
  So glad you enjoyed them Christine 😀 I do love dates + cardamom. I don’t know why I haven’t tried this recipe with tahini yet seeing as I’m obsessed with the stuff! Thank you for your feedback 🙂
KateSeptember 28, 2023 at 12:44 am - Reply
Hi, would applesauce or mashed banana work as a nut butter and oil replacer? Thanks!