Shortcut Apple Pecan Date Bars

Shortcut Apple Pecan Date Bars are an easy dessert recipe that's ready for the oven in 10 minutes!

Total Time: 40 minutes

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There’s a secret shortcut to get these Apple Pecan Date Bars ready for the oven in just 10 minutes! The ooey, gooey, chewy, and buttery treats are an easy dessert recipe that’s perfect for any fall celebration.

Not a fall goes by that I don’t bake at least one batch of these incredible date bars. They seem so simple, but they taste SO good — especially when you top them with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream and caramel syrup!

Think of these little goodies as apple cinnamon blondies!

HOW TO MAKE DATE BARS:

Sometimes you just need a quick and easy recipe that gets you in and out of the kitchen fast. These Apple Pecan Date Bars are just the solution!

My secret? They start with a box of yellow cake mix!

Throw in a few more delicious ingredients like some warm cinnamon, rich butter, brown sugar, apples, dates, and pecans and you’ve got all of the classic tastes of the season.

In a large bowl, whisk together dry cake mix, brown sugar, and apple pie spice (or cinnamon).

I like to use my fingers to break up the largest clumps of brown sugar, but you don’t need to worry about any smaller clumps.

Next, add the melted butter and eggs and beat on medium speed for 2 minutes. The batter should be light, fluffy, and thick!

Finally, stir in the apples, dates, and pecans until completely combined.

Spread the batter in a large baking dish and about 30 minutes later you’ll have these rich, decadent date bars!

They’re warm, chewy and buttery, with sweet and tender little bits of apple and dates all throughout.

Top them with a dollop of whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream and a drizzle of caramel syrup. Your friends and family will be incredibly impressed…and they’ll never guess your secret shortcut!

COOK’S TIPS:

• Use your fingers to break up any large chunks of brown sugar when combining the dry ingredients, but don’t worry about any smaller clumps.
• Pull the bars out of the oven when they’re just golden brown. They should still be a little soft in the middle, since they will firm up a bit as they cool. This yields a chewy, gooey date bar!
• Eat them like blondies with your fingers, or garnish the bars with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream for an even more decadent treat!
• This easy date bar recipe freezes really well when wrapped tightly, so they’re a great make-ahead option.

Love apple recipes as much as we do? Try these favorites:

• Mom’s Easy Apple Pie
• Mom’s Apple Walnut Cake with Caramel Glaze
• Apple Pie Protein Smoothie
• Healthy Apple Crisp Yogurt Parfait

Did you try this recipe? Don’t forget to rate it and leave me a comment below! You can follow me on Facebook, on Instagram, on Pinterest, and on Twitter!

4.84 from 25 votes

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Shortcut Apple Pecan Date Bars

Shortcut Apple Pecan Date Bars are an easy dessert recipe that's ready for the oven in 10 minutes!

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Keyword cake mix blondies, date bar recipe, date bars

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes

Cooling Time 1 hour

Total Time 40 minutes

Servings 20 bars

Calories 303 kcal

Author Blair

Ingredients

• 1 (15.25) package yellow cake mix
• ¾ c. packed brown sugar
• 1 t. cinnamon OR apple pie spice
• ¾ c. butter, melted
• 2 eggs
• 1 apple, peeled, cored and diced
• 1 c. chopped dates
• 1 c. chopped pecans

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Grease a 13-in x 9-in baking pan.
3. In large mixing bowl, whisk together cake mix, brown sugar and cinnamon.

4. Add melted butter and eggs; beat on medium speed for 2 minutes.

5. Stir in apple, dates and pecans.

6. Spread evenly in prepared pan. Bake for 30-35 minutes, or just until golden brown. Cool completely on a wire rack before cutting.

Recipe Notes

COOK'S TIPS:

• Use your fingers to break up any large chunks of brown sugar when combining the dry ingredients, but don't worry about any smaller clumps.
• Pull the bars out of the oven when they're just golden brown. They should still be a little soft in the middle, since they will firm up a bit as they cool. This yields a chewy, gooey date bar!
• Eat them like blondies with your fingers, or garnish the bars with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream for an even more decadent treat!
• This easy date bar recipe freezes really well when wrapped tightly, so they're a great make-ahead option.

Nutrition Facts

Shortcut Apple Pecan Date Bars

Amount Per Serving (1 bar)

Calories 303 Calories from Fat 144

% Daily Value*

Fat 16g25%

Saturated Fat 5g31%

Cholesterol 35mg12%

Sodium 229mg10%

Potassium 166mg5%

Carbohydrates 38g13%

Fiber 2g8%

Sugar 26g29%

Protein 2g4%

Vitamin A 255IU5%

Vitamin C 0.6mg1%

Calcium 71mg7%

Iron 1mg6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

This post was originally published in October, 2013. It was updated in October, 2018.