Its been rainy and dreary all day but sometimes a little cloudy weather isn’t so bad. It just means you have a legitimate excuse to bum around the house, watch movies and bake fantastic desserts.
This afternoon I decided to do some baking.
I wanted today’s kitchen creation to be extra delicious because they are going to be sent to a friend of mine who is currently battling some serious health issues.
Baking for others makes baking so much more fun.
When I am baking for myself, I don’t really care about the finished product and rarely measure ingredients. Cookies can fall apart and I’ll still eat them, but I’d like the cookies I make for other people to actually stay together.
A small request, right? 
These bars stay together, taste fantastic and make the entire house smell mouthwateringly wonderful.
Waiting for them to cool was painful, but that first bite was worth the wait. Okay, let’s be honest, I definitely cut right into them, burnt the roof of my mouth on the first bite and then decided it was a good idea to wait for them to cool. Happens every time.
Muesli Almond Date Bars
Recipe adapted from Martha Stewart’s Oatmeal Bars with Dates and Walnuts from Martha Stewart’s Cookies Cookbook
Makes approximately four dozen bars
Ingredients:
- 2 3/4 cups muesli (old-fashioned oats may also be used)
- 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
- 1/4 cup flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 3 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 3/4 cup slivered almonds
- 1 cup dates (5 ounces), pitted and coarsely chopped
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees
- Finely grind 1 1/4 cup muesli (or oats) in a food processor. Stir together ground muesli, 1 cup whole muesli (or oats), both flours, baking powder, salt and cinnamon in a large bowl. Set aside.
- With an electric mixer, beat butter and sugars on a medium speed until fluffy, approximately five minutes. Mix in eggs and vanilla. Reduce speed to low and mix in dry muesli mixture until just combined. Fold in almonds and dates.
- Spray a 9 x 13-inch baking dish with cooking spray. Spread batter evenly into dish and top with remaining muesli (or oats). Bake for approximately 35 minutes, turning halfway through. Bars are done when a knife inserted into the center of the bars comes out clean.
- Let cool completely and cut into bars.
Enjoy!
I always burn the roof of my mouth too! Sometimes ya never learn…
Catherine
It’s so hard to wait hehe.
Amber @ Busy, Bold, Blessed
I can never wait for baked goods to cool. Hot out of the oven is when they taste best!
These look great & I love the ingredient list — I have most of what you need to make them on-hand!
Erica @ For the Sake of Cake
The “burning my mouth on the first bite” happens to me all the time, too. The funny thing is … they always taste so much better if I just give them a couple of minutes to cool down! So why am I always SO impatient??
Kristen @ notsodomesticated
Those look so dang good! Thanks for sharing.
Serena
These look great! I think you’ve inspired me to find someone in my life and make something yummy for them. I definitely tend to show my love with food!
Amy @ In The Mixing Bowl
Icky weather where I am too today – my skydiving was cancelled. Hoping the sun shines tomorrow! Those look good, though I’m weary of the dates.
Caroline @ After Dinner Dance
Mmm I love date bars
Such a nice gesture, Julie! I hope your friend is ok or feels ok soon <3
Paige @ Running Around Normal
Those look great! I wonder if they could be made with less sugar?
Brenda
Awesome recipe! I’m the same way… I’ll eat anything I bake myself even if it’s a disaster (which it often is) but when I’m baking for others I’m much more precise!
Alyssa @ fit and fun in third
Those look SO good! I’d love to try making a vegan version
I have no plans for this weekend, so I might just give it a go! Thanks for sharing 
Carley
These look delicious! I actually have some muesli in my pantry that I haven’t used in ages!
Lauren
Dreary weather always puts me in the mood to bake! I baked some cookies this afternoon for my cheerleaders, and of course sampled one right out of the oven and scorched my mouth!
natalie @ southern fit foodie
i dont think ive ever baked something where i didnt burn part of myself trying to eat it too soon (fingers, mouth, etc). it just wouldnt be normal
those look great!
Mallory @ Have your cake And Eat It
Those look absolutely declicious! We had yucky weather today to and did the bum around the house thing!
Lauren @ Fun, Fit and Fabulous!
Yummmy!!!! I love home-baked goods too
Annette @ EnjoyYourHealthyLife
Uh oh LOL!!! These look so good Julie! I’m gonna have to try these
Kanoe
Wow, those look amazing. Thanks for sharing!
Julia
Mmm these look really good! And they look like they could be a pretty good homemade granola bar-esque recipe, yes? Or are they a little more like a cookie?
Katie @ Talk Less, Say More
They look great! I’m always burning the roof of my mouth, too. Its just too hard to wait. And baked goods are so good straight from the oven.
Christine @ Oatmeal in my Bowl
So yummy! these look delicious~I can almost smell it through the screen
And I think the same way too–baking for others is SUCH a great joy!
Ellie@Fit for the Soul
My best for your friend; praying for recovery.
Diane
Same goes for cooking for others- I’m so much more meticulous!
Khushboo
These look delicious, I’ll have to try them soon. I’m pretty meticulous when I bake anyways, but when I know I’m making something for others, usually I’ll weigh my ingredients instead of going by volume measurements…and I love it.
Emilia
I hope your friend gets well soon! These look delicious, and I’m sure he/she will appreciate it.
Have you seen the episode of The Cosby Show where Theo burns his mouth eating hot pizza, but doesn’t learn his lesson? I feel like that’s always me with stuff straight out of the oven!
Claire @ Un Bello Aperitivo
I hope your friend feels better soon! These bars look delicious!
Hope @ With A Side Of Hope
yummi, it look deliciou, i must make it tomorrow. Thank you very much for this tip
Miroslava
Yum they look absolutely delicious!!!
Gen
Wait are their people who are actually patient enough to wait for things to cool? I must meet them so they can teach me their secrets.
Amber K
These date bars look fantastic ! Oh – what is it that I just can’t eat enough of, well umm it’s oatmeal, the old fashioned type. I make a breakfast pancake with oatmeal that I ground down to a flour like consistency, mixed with mashed ripe banana and one egg. This is my breakfast, made in a non-stick pan. Yummy, delicious and keeps me going until lunch time.
Jay
Mhmm! These look delicious!
Healthiful Balance