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    Home » What We're Eating » Shortcut Apple Pecan Date Bars

    Shortcut Apple Pecan Date Bars

    Published: Oct 13, 2018 by Blair Lonergan

    Jump to Recipe
    Long vertical collage of apple pecan date bars
    Apple Cinnamon Date Bar on a plate with whipped cream and cinnamon

    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.

    Apple Pecan Date Bar with whipped cream on a plate

    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!

    Shortcut easy date bar on a white plate with apples in background

    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.

    Ingredients for date bars

    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.

    Dry ingredients for date bars in a glass bowl with whisk

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

    Batter with electric mixer for date bars

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

    Apples pecans and dates added to date bar batter

    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.

    Baked apple cinnamon date bars in pan

    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!

    Apple Pecan Date Bar on a plate with fork

    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
    Print Pin
    4.83 from 41 votes

    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 303kcal
    Author Blair Lonergan

    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

    • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
    • Grease a 13-in x 9-in baking pan.
    • In large mixing bowl, whisk together cake mix, brown sugar and cinnamon.
    • Add melted butter and eggs; beat on medium speed for 2 minutes.
    • Stir in apple, dates and pecans.
    • Spread evenly in prepared pan. Bake for 30-35 minutes, or just until golden brown. Cool completely on a wire rack before cutting.

    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

    Serving: 1bar | Calories: 303kcal | Carbohydrates: 38g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 35mg | Sodium: 229mg | Potassium: 166mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 26g | Vitamin A: 255IU | Vitamin C: 0.6mg | Calcium: 71mg | Iron: 1mg

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

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Niki

      October 15, 2013 at 9:30 am

      I love dates SO much! I would never think to pair them with apple though. These sound incredible and I can't wait to try out this recipe!

      Thanks for linking up with us!!

      Reply
      • Blair

        October 15, 2013 at 4:53 pm

        Thanks, Niki! Try them -- you will LOVE them!!!

        Reply
    2. Karly Kim

      October 15, 2013 at 11:21 am

      All of these desserts look amazing. If you have some leftovers can I have them?

      Reply
      • Blair

        October 15, 2013 at 4:53 pm

        Sure -- package coming in the mail ASAP! 🙂

        Reply
    3. PJ @ Planned in Pencil

      October 22, 2013 at 5:01 pm

      I LOVE dates, probably the most underrated cookie ingredient, ever! Thanks so much for sharing at the Pinworthy Project Party. I'll be featuring this on Thursday morning, so stop by for a button!

      Reply
    4. RickOpp

      August 27, 2016 at 1:38 pm

      I had criticized a previous recipe of yours that I tried. But not this time. Stumbled on this recently and had to try it. Fantastic. I sprinkled some turbanado sugar on top before baking, which gave it a nice crunch without adding a lot more sweetness (it's plenty sweet). I can't say enough about how good this turned out. A perfect combination of flavors. It can work for dessert, with coffee in the morning or as a snack. Great for when family visits. I'll be making this again.

      Reply
      • Blair

        August 27, 2016 at 2:08 pm

        Rick! Thanks so much for the feedback! I'm really glad that you loved this recipe. I haven't made these bars for awhile, but they're perfect for fall (and apple season). Thanks for the reminder -- I'm adding them to my list! They're definitely easy. 🙂

        Reply
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