We have incorporated cooking into our homeschool curriculum.  Cooking is great for teaching fractions, life skills, healthy eating, etc.  On our first day of homeschool last week, my daughter made organic oat date bars, a recipe I have not made for almost a decade.  I forgot how delicious they are!

This recipe is easily made vegan, sugar-free, or gluten-free (options below in parentheses).

Naturally Sweet Organic Oat & Spelt Date Bars

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Prepare filling. Cook until very soft and water evaporated, stirring often:

• 3 cups organic dates (date pieces work well but if gluten-free, be sure they are not dusted with flour)
• 2 cups water
• 1/8 teaspoon salt

Let cool.

To prepare crust, combine:

• 3 cups rolled oats (certified gluten-free)
• 1/2 cup organic spelt flour (if sugar-free, increase to one cup; if gluten-free, use quinoa flour)
• 1/2 cup organic sucanat or other sugar (omit if sugar-free and substitute with flour)
• 1/2 cup melted butter (oil if vegan)
• 1 teaspoon organic vanilla (be sure gluten-free)
• 3 Tablespoons soymilk, nutmilk, or water

Press half of the oat mixture into the bottom of a large glass pan (about 9″ x 13″).  Place date mixture filling on top, then press the other half the oat mixture on top.  Bake 35 minutes.  Let cool before serving.

This recipe was adapted from [amazon_link id=”B0051ZK40A” target=”_blank” ]Ecological Cooking[/amazon_link]