Gluten free and vegan, these almond oat date squares are a healthier twist on an old classic. With a sweet filling, hearty base and crumble topping, and buttery almonds, this recipe is a keeper.
Course Dessert
Cuisine Vegan
Prep Time 10 minutesminutes
Cook Time 20 minutesminutes
Total Time 30 minutesminutes
Servings 10squares
Ingredients
1cupoat flour*
1cuprolled oats
¼cupground flaxseed
¼cupcoconut sugar
¼cupsliced almonds
½teaspoonground cinnamon
¼teaspoonsalt
⅓cupcoconut oilmelted
2tablespoonsapplesauce
~14 datesseeded*
¼cupunsweetened almond milk
1teaspoonpure vanilla extract
1tablespoonalmond butter
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 350F and line an 8x6 baking pan with parchment paper. I was out and greasing it really well worked in a pinch, but they were definitely harder to remove.
In a large bowl, mix the oat flour, rolled oats, flax, coconut sugar, almonds, cinnamon, and salt. Add the coconut oil and applesauce. It'll seem like it won't hold together at first, but the flax will work its magic and make everything stick.
In a food processor, blend the dates until a sticky past forms. Do not throw everything in at once and turn it on - there will be an almond milk explosion. Once you get a paste, add the almond milk, vanilla, and almond butter. Blend until it's a spreadable consistency.
Take a cup of the oat mixture out and reserve it. Press the remainder into your prepared baking dish, using damp hands to make sure it's firm. Spread the dates over top, then crumble the reserved oat mixture on that.
Bake at 350F for 20-25 minutes or until it starts to turn golden. Cool completely before cutting. Store in the freezer, and eat it cold.
Notes
1. To make oat flour, just grind a scant cup of rolled oats in a food processor until a fine flour forms.
2. I used 14 dates because I only had that many.
3. If you find the date mixture to be a little too thick, add a splash of nondairy milk and blend again.
4. I know it's a weird sized pan, but I don't have a standard square pan right now. Sorry!