Kids are hard, and I don’t mean literally.
Truth be told, they’re rather squishy and malleable. It’s a good thing too or else my baby would never be clothed. Have you ever tried to manipulate a chubby little hand and the attached appendage through a long sleeve onesie, while said human is moving and sometimes even howling? It requires flexibility and dexterity on the child’s side and patience on the parent’s part. Thankfully my kid is extra bendable because patience is not my forte.
Suffice to say, raising a tiny human has tested my limits and challenged me in ways not even a Tough Mudder or this year’s presidential election could. I can’t even speak of the latter without seeing red, or should I say orange, and yet it’s nothing compared to parenting twenty-four seven.
And my baby is only six months old.
Send help or better yet, send chocolate; copious amounts of chocolate.
Preferably in bar form, specifically these.
Treasure Bars. Magic Bars. Hello Dolly Bars. Seven Layer Bars (minus a layer or three). Better than Sex Bars (from what I can remember, that is).
Call them what you will, these bars are amazing; like come to Jesus amazing.
They’re sweet, they’re sticky and these days, they are my sanity.
They’re based on a classic dessert from my youth with some healthy twists and tweaks, and not the kind that sacrifices flavor. Case in point, the base layer is made with butter (organic, happy cow butter, to be sure), dates and my favorite rolled oats from Farmer Direct Co-op because balance.
The top layer is a combination of ingredients, with the real stars being crushed walnuts, picture perfect chocolate chips, and shredded coconut. Did I mention the chocolate? All of these lovely components combine to form an ooey gooey, rich, and rewarding magical mouth moment.
Also, these babies are key to my survival. The Boss agrees.
- 1 cup Rolled Oats (gluten free if needed)
- 1/4 cup Dates, packed
- 1/4 cup Butter
- 1 Egg
- 1/3 cup Maple Syrup
- 1 tsp. Vanilla
- 1/8 tsp. Salt
- 1 Tbsp. Flour OR 1 Tbsp. Tapioca Starch (if you need these to be gluten free)
- 1/2 tsp. Baking Powder
- 1/2 cup Walnuts, chopped
- 1/2 cup Unsweetened Shredded Coconut
- 1/4 cup semi-sweet Chocolate Chips
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Pulse oats and dates in a food processor until mixture is crumbly. Cut butter into oats and dates with a pastry cutter or a fork until mixture resembles coarse crumbles. Press mixture into a square eight by eight baking pan lined with parchment paper. Bake for 10 minutes at 350 degrees. Remove from oven.
- While the crust is baking, use a hand mixer to blend the egg, the syrup and the vanilla. Blend until fully incorporated and mixture is slightly frothy. Add in the salt, the flour and the baking powder and mix for another minute. Using a spoon or a flat spatula, stir in the walnuts, the coconut and the chocolate chips. Spread this mixture over the cooked crust.
- Bake the entire thing for another 16 to 18 minutes at 350 until the top starts to become golden brown.
- Let cool completely before storing in the refrigerator, which will help them firm up even more.
This post is sponsored by my beloved peeps over at Farmer Direct Co-op, who made my day by teaming up with Equal Exchange, another organic and fair trade cooperative. Be still my hippie loving heart. Ingredients matter, and I like to put my money where my mouth is, followed shortly thereafter by these bars.
Do yourself a favor and pick up some Farmer Direct and Equal Exchange products at Whole Foods today. Then make yourself a double batch of these Magic Layer Bars. On second thought, you’re going to want to make it a triple, especially if you have kids.
What would you call these bars? Have you tried the Farmer Direct products yet? They’re the cats pajamas, and they’re having a giveaway on Instagram this month. Check it out.
Okay. This has to happen ASAP! I have been drooling over your teaser pictures multiple times already! We go on a road trip this weekend and we have no snacks for that yet!
By the way copious amounts of chocolate in multiple forms is on the way to you. Let’s pray it gets through customs!
Juli@1000lovelythings recently posted…Week in Review – The Social Edition
I can’t wait to hear what you think about the bars. I hope you have a great road trip and you’re going somewhere fun.
Also customs better let that chocolate through or there will be hell to pay. Alright fine, I’ll probably just go cry in a corner.
Meghan recently posted…Ooey Gooey Good Magic Layer Bars
yum! I remember how hard it was to dress those little babies! I learned the hard way that the Relph Lauren stretchies with the snaps in the back were not ok nor were the stretchies that went over the head rather than just have the snaps down the front. And it took me while to figure out how to do the snaps at the bottom that went by the leg – tricky pattern lol
meredith @ cookie chrunicles recently posted…What I Ate Wednesday 10.12.16
We have one sleeper where I cannot figure out the legs snaps. Crazy stuff baby clothes.
Meghan recently posted…Ooey Gooey Good Magic Layer Bars
Haha – AT first I thought you were talking about the bars being malleable and squishy! I don’t even have a 6 month year old to blame for my lack of with-it-ness!
By the way, your bars (no matter what you call them) sound irresistible! Butter is totally okay when dates and chocolate are involved – at least in ma books!
Shashi at RunninSrilankan recently posted…Salsa Hummus Dip & Picante Falafel Bites Snack Platter
Butter makes everything better.
Meghan recently posted…Ooey Gooey Good Magic Layer Bars
These look delicious! Good luck raising your little one; I am sure you are a great mom!
Thanks Kat. I’d like to think so too. Chocolate always helps.
Meghan recently posted…Ooey Gooey Good Magic Layer Bars
Please adopt me. This is the only thing that’s making me even a teeny bit excited to come home.
Farmer Direct + Equal Exchange chocolate is the JAM. A good way to distract me from the orange anger I feel too. 😛
P.S. Your boss is adorable.
Laura @ Sprint 2 the Table recently posted…A Day of Eats & a Donkey Race in Alba, Italy
The Boss says we can totally adopt you; in fact the sooner, the better. She wants to go for more runs and bake cookies with you.
Meghan recently posted…Ooey Gooey Good Magic Layer Bars
Deal. But we’re buying a better running stroller.
Laura @ Sprint 2 the Table recently posted…A Day of Eats & a Donkey Race in Alba, Italy
Sold.
These bars have my name written all over them. I can’t wait to try them!
Sara @ Oats & Rows recently posted…Friday Favorites! 10/7
I hope you make them and love them as much as me.
Meghan recently posted…Ooey Gooey Good Magic Layer Bars
Oooooooh baby. Magic or Hello Dolly squares are how I know them, I think. But I’m loving your addition of dates. They’d make everything so much more gooeeeyy.
Keep these going. We don’t want you losing your sanity now.
Cora recently posted…Current Feels and Comfort Meals (What I Ate Wednesday)
So long as I have a constant supply of these, life is good. Truth be told, it’s pretty good anyway, although these bars definitely help.
Meghan recently posted…Ooey Gooey Good Magic Layer Bars
These look heavenly! I must make them!!!
Yes, they’re the bomb.com.
Meghan recently posted…Ooey Gooey Good Magic Layer Bars
These layers look so good. Sadly, I’m allergic to walnuts, but I can’t wait to make these!
You could easily substitute other nuts, like pecans or cashews if you’re allergy allows it.
Meghan recently posted…Ooey Gooey Good Magic Layer Bars
DAYAMN. These look good. And I’m tickled pink to see that the chocolate chips are in fact chocolate chips and not raisins.
Suzy recently posted…Take the First Stall
But of course. I only sneak raisins in muffins. Oh and cookies too. My bad.
Meghan recently posted…Ooey Gooey Good Magic Layer Bars
These sound and look amazing! Apparently I need to add a few things to my list and run to Whole Foods stat so I can make these… and then hide them from my little gremlins. 😉
Heather Shoberg recently posted…Huzzah and other things you say at a Ren Fest…
Oh yes, you definitely want to hide these and hoard them all for yourself. Your secret is safe with me.
Meghan recently posted…Ooey Gooey Good Magic Layer Bars
Very funny. Cleary, there’s no Whole Foods in Switzerland. Maybe in 2057 there will be one and I will shouting at them through the casket.
Anyway, these look delicious and I am jealous I wasn’t there to play with Ave while you were baking and then we would eat bars while Ave is watching. Perfect.
Send me a wishlist for chocolate and I am going to send you a humongous package.
Luce@FitSwissChick recently posted…When the lungs fail – currently in October.
Just come back to Cleveland and I will make you these bars.
I want all the Swiss chocolate especially the kind with the little crispy bits in them..so much goodness.
Meghan recently posted…Ooey Gooey Good Magic Layer Bars
These are so good looking they are inspiring me to get back to baking! I took a hiatus from cooking but after this week I should be able to get back again. These may be my first move. Love everything about them can’t wait!! Ave is just too precious, I can’t wait to have our monkeys see each other in person. Squishy monkey party!
Danielle recently posted…WIR sleep less play more
Squishy monkey party needs to happen. You bring the baby and I’ll make the bars.
Meghan recently posted…Ooey Gooey Good Magic Layer Bars
We are so on the same wavelength today! Magic and ooey goeey!! Not so much the kid part for me, unless you count my husband. LOL!
Love farmers direct!! They are awesome!
You and me both. Farmer Direct is amazing, and I love working with them.
Husbands totally count.
Meghan recently posted…Ooey Gooey Good Magic Layer Bars
woahhh this looks like one amazing treat!!!
Thanks, they’re delicious.
Meghan recently posted…Ooey Gooey Good Magic Layer Bars
Better than sex, you say *insert thinking emoji here* I’ll have to test that out. And I would call these MAGIC BARS, like I told you from the very beginning but you didn’t want to listen 😛 I love that these have dates and oats, though, because those two things are MY cats pyjamas. Or they would be if I had cats. You know what i mean.
Amanda @ .running with spoons. recently posted…one bowl chocolate pumpkin bread
I did ultimately listen…it’s just takes me some time to get there, especially since I’ve never even heard of Magic Bars.
Also you can be a foster cat parent to Oscar. He said it’s ok.
Meghan recently posted…Ooey Gooey Good Magic Layer Bars
Ummmmm, so these look INSANELY delicious and I kinda sorta need them in my life right now.
Kristy from Southern In Law recently posted…Recipe: Caramel Latte Protein Bites (Grain Free & Vegan)
You kinda, sorta, totally need them in your life right now.
Meghan recently posted…Ooey Gooey Good Magic Layer Bars
I think it’s awesome that you’re partnering with Equal Exchange! For a project in my workshop, I started researching tea plantations, and I could not believe what I was reading. I knew things were not ideal, but I didn’t realize how bad. Just in the past couple of weeks I’ve started trying to be conscious of buying fair trade.
I still have yet to bake with dates, but I really should try it. These look so delicious!
I believe that being a parent must be really hard. Hang in there, Mama! You’ve been doing awesome so far.
Joyce @ The Hungry Caterpillar recently posted…Kabocha Squash Lentil Enchiladas (Gluten-free, low-FODMAP)
That’s great you learned about the plantations, Joyce. It makes a difference. Good for you.
YES x 1000000. I need to make these beauties- Good call on not using peanut butter, I feel like they would have been like Nene Leakes and taken over the whole shebang.
Arman @ thebigmansworld recently posted…Healthy 3 Ingredient Flourless Butternut Squash Fudge Brownies
The PB did take over and it made them less sweet due to its salty nature….wait are we still talking about PB. 🙂
Meghan recently posted…Traditions
These bars look amazing – I’m not sure what I would call them as I have never seen anything like it! So magic works perfectly!
We have some amazing chocolate here and I wish I could send you some. I really wanted to when I was sending Ave’s gift but our postal regulations are insane for sending to America. I literally can’t send you anything edible… So frustrating!!
Jen @ Chase the Red Grape recently posted…Does knowing your data make you healthier? #5TTT
I love the book you sent and I can’t wait to read it to Ave when she’s a little bit older. We’re big bookworms the two of us.
Meghan recently posted…WIR: Babies and Food (Not To Be Confused with Food Babies) (#53)
I kind of waffle between what I call these bars – but whatever you call them, they are DELICIOUS! We do a potluck every Christmas with friends and these would be a perfect dessert to bring.
Chelsea A recently posted…Small Batch Stovetop Baked Beans
Oh yes, I hope you bring them and love them as much as I do. So. Much. Delicious.
Meghan recently posted…WIR: Babies and Food (Not To Be Confused with Food Babies) (#53)
What do you mean by “cut butter into oats and dates”?
Hi Molly. Great question. You can cut butter with a pastry cutter or even a fork. It really means to sort of smash and grate the ingredients together until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. I hope that helps. If you have any other questions, please let me know.