Cranberry Date Bars

Cranberries shine bright in these tart dessert bars and really make them irresistible. This Taste of Home recipe is an absolute favorite fall dessert in our home. Cranberry Date Bars are truly bursting with the the best flavors of fall.

From the moment I read this recipe, I knew these tart cranberry dessert bars would be a hit–and they were! The oatmeal makes them crunchy and satisfying, while the dates and cranberries make them fruity and sweet. They are simply the best!

Tips on making the cranberry filling?

• Use fresh cranberries, when possible. They are affordable and will give you the best results. Cranberries are harvested September through November, which means they are at peak color and flavor in the fall.
• Add the cranberries to a saucepan with water and allow them to cook for 10 minutes before adding the dates to the mixture. This allows them to pop open more easily. Then, mix in the dates. Cranberries and dates are such a delicious combination!
• Add a teaspoon of orange zest to the cranberry mixture to enhance the flavor. Make sure to cool this mixture slightly before layering it into the dessert bars. It will be easier to handle and easier to spread on top of the crust.
• And finally, use a metal spoon or a rubber spatula to stir your cranberry filling while cooking. If you use a wooden spoon, it will become stained from the cranberry juice.

You don’t need a lot of time to make Cranberry Date Bars. While they may look complicated, these bars are one of the easiest recipes you’ll make. The crumble that is used for the crust is also used to sprinkle over the top. One bowl for the crumble and one saucepan for the filling, easy to make and easy to clean up.

This yummy recipe for Cranberry Date Bars comes from Bonnie Nieter of Warsaw, Indiana. I make them all year, but they are even better in the fall when cranberries are in season.

Cranberry Date Bars Recipe

What’s needed?

• 12-ounce bag fresh or frozen cranberries
• 8 ounces chopped dates
• 2 tablespoons water
• 1 teaspoon orange zest
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 cups old-fashioned oats
• 1-1/2 cups packed brown sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup unsalted butter, melted

For the glaze:

• 1-1/3 cups confectioners’ sugar
• 1 to 2 tablespoons orange juice
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

How to make Cranberry Date Bars?

• Preheat oven to 350°. Place cranberries and water in a saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Reduce heat; simmer, covered, until berries pop, about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add dates and cook for 5 more minutes. Remove from heat, stir in vanilla and allow to cool slightly.
• Mix flour, oats, brown sugar, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl. Stir in melted butter and press half of the mixture into an ungreased 13×9-inch baking dish. Bake for 8 minutes.
• Spoon cranberry mixture over crust. Sprinkle with remaining oat mixture and pat down gently. Bake until golden brown, about 25 minutes longer. Cool completely on a wire rack before adding glaze.
• Mix glaze ingredients in small bowl. Drizzle over top of the dessert bars. Recipe makes 24 bars. Store remaining bars in an airtight container.

For more desserts that showcase the flavors of fall, check out these recipes:

• Cranberry Pecan Rugelach
• Apple Crisp
• Mini Pumpkin Pies
• Easy Apple Dumplings

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Cranberry Date Bars

The flavors of fall are combined to make Cranberry Date Bars, a fruity oatmeal bar that is topped with a sweet orange glaze.

Servings: 24 bars

Prep Time: 20 minutes mins

Cook Time: 35 minutes mins

Total Time: 55 minutes mins

Ingredients 

• 12 ounces cranberries, fresh or frozen
• 8 ounces dates, chopped
• 2 tablespoons water
• 1 teaspoon orange zest
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 cups old-fashioned oats
• 1-1/2 cups brown sugar, packed
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup unsalted butter, melted

For the glaze:

• 1-1/3 cups confectioners’ sugar
• 1 to 2 tablespoons orange juice
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions 

• Preheat oven to 350°. Place cranberries and water in a saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Reduce heat; simmer, covered, until berries pop, about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add dates and cook for 5 more minutes. Remove from heat, stir in vanilla and allow to cool slightly.
• Mix flour, oats, brown sugar, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl. Stir in melted butter and press half of the mixture into an ungreased 13×9-inch baking dish. Bake for 8 minutes.
  
• Spoon cranberry mixture over crust. Sprinkle with remaining oat mixture and pat down gently. Bake until golden brown, about 25 minutes longer. Cool completely on a wire rack before adding glaze.
  
• Mix glaze ingredients in small bowl. Drizzle over top of the dessert bars. Recipe makes 24 bars. Store remaining bars in an airtight container.
  

Equipment

• 1 13×9-inch baking pan

Notes

Tips on making the cranberry filling:

• Use fresh cranberries, when possible. They are affordable and will give you the best results. Cranberries are harvested September through November, which means they are at peak color and flavor in the fall.
• Add the cranberries to a saucepan with water and allow them to cook for 10 minutes before adding the dates to the mixture. This allows them to pop open more easily. Then, mix in the dates. Cranberries and dates are such a delicious combination!
• Add a teaspoon of orange zest to the cranberry mixture to enhance the flavor. Make sure to cool this mixture slightly before layering it into the dessert bars. It will be easier to handle and easier to spread on top of the crust.
• And finally, use a metal spoon or a rubber spatula to stir your cranberry filling while cooking. If you use a wooden spoon, it will become stained from the cranberry juice.

Nutrition

Calories: 183kcalCarbohydrates: 28gProtein: 2gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.5gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0.3gCholesterol: 20mgSodium: 75mgPotassium: 119mgFiber: 2gSugar: 11gVitamin A: 248IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 16mgIron: 1mg