These Pecan Date Syrup Bars are on of the best recipes using date syrup you'll ever find. They're influenced by a classic Pecan Pie recipe, but Nermine brought both Parisian and Egyptian influences to this elevated recipe. Her genius move was the addition of date syrup. Date molasses is fruitier and not quite as sweet as dark corn syrup, the staple of Southern Pecan Pie.
Another thing I love about Nermine's recipe is her thick crumbly shortbread crust. Nermine's proportion of pastry to filling is about 1:1 and the pastry is delicately spiced with cloves and cinnamon.
Finally, each bar contains one toasted, nutty, rich pecan. Perfection!!
Questions About Pecan Date Bar Recipe
How are these Pecan Date Bars different from Pecan Pie?
The fundamental difference between Pecan Pie and these Pecan Date bars is the use of date syrup instead of corn syrup or molasses.
How do you make date syrup?
If you'd prefer to make your own, it's not difficult. The process is detailed in this recipe from www.indianhealthyrecipes.com. Simply put, you'll boil dates until they're soft, mash and strain them, then boil the liquid until it thickens into syrup.
Also, you can buy it from lots of places - that's what I did.
What are good substitutes for date syrup?
You can also use pomegranate molasses for a similar outcome.
Alternatively, you could also use honey or maple syrup, but you would lose the floral notes and the outcome would be sweeter.
Are date syrup and date molasses the same?
Yep, sure are!!
Is date syrup healthy?
Date syrup is full of the vitamins and minerals naturally occurring in dates - iron, potassium magnesium, zinc, and phosphorous.
On the other hand, date syrup is also high in fructose, so if sugars are something you seek to avoid, know that those are still in this.
About Nermine, Developer of this Date Syrup Recipe
At the age of 22, Nermine, who was born, raised, and educated in both Alexandria and Cairo, achieved the rare honor of being appointed a female Egyptian diplomat. 10 years into her service, she fell in love with an American diplomat. When she chose to marry him, she gave up her post, but not her position in the diplomatic corp. Rather, Nermine now travels the world with her husband and two daughters perfecting and practicing the art of forging bonds, in large part through “culinary diplomacy”.
ALSO! In a bonus episode, Nermine shares how she leveraged her Arabic, knowledge of Middle Eastern culture, diplomatic skills, and empathy as a woman to embark on an incredible project of empowerment for Syrian refuge women. This project brought Nermine a profound appreciation for the power of food stories and reconnected her personally to her Egyptian roots. Listen here: Leveraging the Power of Food Stories to Start a New Life
What this Pecan Date Bar recipe means to Nermine
She’s sharing with us her recipe for Pecan Date Molasses bars, which she created “to declare a state of harmony and self-reconciliation that [she] reached as an immigrant and citizen of the world.”
Listen To Nermine's Story
Episode 031, The Art of Forging Bonds Through Culinary Diplomacy
Pecan Date Bars
Cuisine: Egyptian, Middle EasternDifficulty: Easy36
servings15
minutes45
minutes1
hourA tastier, healthier alternative to Pecan Pie, this Pecan Date bar recipes pulls from Middle Eastern, Parisian, and American influences.
Keep the screen of your device on
Ingredients
- Crust
125 grams 125 butter, softened
55 grams 55 sugar powder
184 grams 184 all-purpose flour, sifted
¼ teaspoon ¼ baking powder
½ teaspoon ½ cinnamon
¼ teaspoon ¼ ground cloves or allspice
Pinch salt
- Filling
2 2 eggs
175 grams 175 date molasses
75 grams 75 light brown sugar
60 grams 60 butter, melted
2 teaspoons 2 all-purpose flour, sifted
250 grams 250 toasted pecans
Directions
- Crust
- Preheat the oven to 200°.
- Butter a 20×30 cm baking pan. Cut a length of parchment paper long enough to line the bottom of the pan with extra hanging over the sides.
- Using a stand or hand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, cream the butter and the sugar until it becomes airy, light and creamy.
- Fold in the flour in two portions.
- Gently mix with a spatula or the paddle attachment until all ingredients are incorporated.
- Press the crust mixture evenly onto the bottom of the baking pan.
- Bake it for 10 minutes.
- Let it cool for 10 minutes.
- Lower the temperature to 180°
- Filling
- In a heat resistant pan, melt the butter, then add the molasses, the sugar, and the flour. Mix well until it reaches a homogenous consistency.
- Add the molasses mixture to the mold and arrange the pecans on top in one layer.
- Bake it for 25 minutes or until the molasses layer is set.
- Let it cool completely, place in the fridge for a couple of hours before cutting in small bites.
Notes
- Listen to Nermine's episode "The Art of Forging Bonds Through Culinary Diplomacy" while you make her Egyptian-American Pecan Date Bars.
- These bites could be served at tea time, or as cocktail finger food, or dessert if sliced in squares instead of bites.
- Date Molasses is available at Middle Eastern grocery store and online. It makes a healthier and tastier substitute for regular molasses and dark corn syrup.
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Sara says
Can these be made vegan?
admin says
Hi Sara! Sure, just substitute your favorite non-dairy 100% fat product where the recipe calls for butter. In fact, Crisco or something similar will produce an even flakier crust than butter (because it has less moisture).