Coconutty Oat Bars
Coconutty Oat Bars are fabulous cookies that are delightfully chewy. These scrumptious cookie bars are filled with oatmeal, coconut, dates and pecans. While I make them frequently for the Christmas holidays, they can be made any time of year. We love the chewy texture of these bars. The coconut and dates keep them sweet, while the oatmeal and pecans keep them slightly crunchy.
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I’m one of those folks who loves dates. The first time I ever had dates was Thanksgiving dinner 1978. My mother-in-law baked her delicious Skillet Cookies (Coconut Date Balls). My mom never used dates in any cookie or cake recipe that I can remember eating. I have several recipes using dates on this blog. My favorite Date Squares are irresistible. I have another oatmeal cookie with dates that’s terrific. My favorite Bran Muffins include dates as well. Yes, I love eating dates. I even like them plain.
I’ve made these bars a lot of times over the years. I will offer a couple of suggestions. Be careful not to overbake the cookies. It’s a little hard to tell when they are done. If you overbake them, they become so crumbly they will fall apart when cutting. It’s actually a little better to take them out of the oven early rather than late. That way the cookies retain their chewiness rather than become hard and too crunchy. They will also finish baking in the pans.
I made these delectable jewels for our mini Christmas Cookie Extravaganza this year. I made several platters of cookies for John’s office. Each platter contained my favorite Potato Chip Cookies, Rocky Road S’Mores Bars, Best Sugar Cookies, Pumpkin Toffee Cookies, Coconut Date Balls, Oreo Cookie Meltaways, and Oreo Nutter Butter Cookies. I always try to mix and match flavors so I don’t have all chocolate or all lemon or all cranberry stuff. This year, I tried to make up cookies with stuff I had on hand rather than doing a lot of extra grocery store runs. The cookies and bars were a hit with everyone, including these goodies.
If you enjoy the flavors of oatmeal, dates, coconut and pecans, then Coconutty Oat Bars are for you! If you don’t over-bake them, they are absolutely mouthwatering. We’ve always enjoyed these lovely cookies and hope you will too.
Coconutty Oat Bars are a family favorite.
I’ve made these cookies frequently for our Christmas Cookie Extravaganzas over the years.
Coconutty Oat Bars are irresistible.
Here’s what I did.
I used these ingredients.
Soften butter. Add brown sugar, egg, vanilla, baking powder and salt.
Cream with an electric mixer until ingredients are smooth.
Add UNBLEACHED all-purpose flour. Bleached flour toughens baked goods. Add oatmeal, dates, coconut and pecans.
Stir ingredients well with a wooden spoon to combine.
Grease a 12×17″ cookie sheet. Press ingredients into prepared cookie sheet. (I had to keep my hands moist to do this).
Bake at 350 about 20-30 minutes or until set.
These delicious bar-type cookies are chewy, scrumptious and addictive!
If you enjoy dates, oatmeal, coconut and pecans, you’ll love Coconutty Oat Bars.
Here’s the recipe.
COCONUTTY OAT BARS
(Adapted from a magazine, circa early 1980s)
Coconutty Oat Bars
Equipment
- 1 11x17" jelly roll pan
- 1 large mixing bowl
- 1 electric mixer
- 1 wooden spoon
- 1 nut chopper if nuts are not previously chopped
- measuring cups
- measuring spoons
- 1 spatula
- 1 sharp knife to chop dates if not previously chopped
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter softened
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- 2/3 cup UNBLEACHED all-purpose flour (bleached flour toughens baked goods)
- 1/2 tsp. baking powder
- 1/2 tsp. sea salt
- 2/3 cup brown sugar packed
- 1 1/2 cups dates chopped
- 1/2 cup pecans chopped, or walnuts
- 1/2 cup coconut
- 2 cups old-fashioned oatmeal (can also use quick oatmeal)
Instructions
- Beat butter, brown sugar, egg, vanilla, baking powder and salt with an electric mixer in a large mixing bowl until light and fluffy.
- Add flour, dates, coconut, pecans or walnuts and oatmeal.
- Stir with a wooden spoon until very well combined; this may take 4-5 minutes.
- Spread into well-greased 11x17” jelly roll pan.
- Bake at 350° for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown.
- Cool; cut into bars.
Notes
© Can’t Stay Out of the Kitchen
Nutrition
Coconutty Oat Bars are great for tailgating parties, too.
The dates provide a real pop in flavor.
Coconutty Oat Bars are terrific for Christmas Cookie Exchanges. But you can make these jewels all year round. Yay!
You may also enjoy these delicious recipes!
Double Date Delight Oatmeal Cookies
Coconutty Oat Bars
Equipment
- 1 11×17" jelly roll pan
- 1 large mixing bowl
- 1 electric mixer
- 1 wooden spoon
- 1 nut chopper if nuts are not previously chopped
- measuring cups
- measuring spoons
- 1 spatula
- 1 sharp knife to chop dates if not previously chopped
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter softened
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- 2/3 cup UNBLEACHED all-purpose flour (bleached flour toughens baked goods)
- 1/2 tsp. baking powder
- 1/2 tsp. sea salt
- 2/3 cup brown sugar packed
- 1 1/2 cups dates chopped
- 1/2 cup pecans chopped, or walnuts
- 1/2 cup coconut
- 2 cups old-fashioned oatmeal (can also use quick oatmeal)
Instructions
- Beat butter, brown sugar, egg, vanilla, baking powder and salt with an electric mixer in a large mixing bowl until light and fluffy.
- Add flour, dates, coconut, pecans or walnuts and oatmeal.
- Stir with a wooden spoon until very well combined; this may take 4-5 minutes.
- Spread into well-greased 11×17” jelly roll pan.
- Bake at 350° for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown.
- Cool; cut into bars.
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Coconutty Oat Bars — Can’t Stay Out of the Kitchen | My Meals are on Wheels
January 11, 2019 at 12:25 am
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