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This is the archived version of the Milk Street website and is no longer up to date.

Please visit 177milkstreet.com to see the current website with all of the latest recipes!

Sesame and Oat Bars with Dates and Dried Apricots

Makes 16 bars

1 hour 20 minutes active, plus cooling

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In the U.K., oat bars such as these are known as “flapjacks.” They’re sturdy, chewy-crisp and unapologetically rich. We love the earthy, nutty, pleasantly resinous flavor of sesame and incorporate the ingredient two ways: toasted seeds dot the oat mixture while tahini helps hold the bars together. Lyle’s Golden Syrup, an amber-hued sweetener common in the U.K., imparts nuances of butterscotch and caramel, but if it is difficult to source, honey works nicely, though it adds floral notes. We also toss in dates and dried apricots for a satisfying chew; the latter also offers tartness to balance the bars’ sweetness. Stored in an airtight container at room temperature, the bars keep well for up to five days.

Makes

16 bars

Tip

Don’t use quick-cooking or instant oats in this recipe. These have a finer texture than old-fashioned oats and absorb moisture differently; bars made with them will be too soft and lack chewiness. After baking, make sure the oat slab has cooled completely before cutting it into bars. If it’s at all warm, it may not hold together as you cut.

1 hour

20 minutes active, plus cooling

Ingredients

  • 37

    grams (¼ cup) whole almonds, chopped

  • 20

    grams (2 tablespoons) sesame seeds

Directions

Reviews
Vanessa J.
July 14, 2025
WOW
I am not supposed to eat half the ingredients in this recipe, but I am so tempted to plow through the batch! They are very easy to make - don't be intimidated by the steps and you will be heavily rewarded when these are cooled and ready to eat. Absolutely delicious.
Brett L.
February 8, 2025
Loved it
Like a super tasty protein bar. The tahini makes for a very delicious bar.
ROBYN R.
December 21, 2025
Love all of these ingredients!
I only used the 1/2 cup of honey and found it to be plenty sweet, plus I’m wondering if the tahini flavor comes through more. One question, they crumbled when I cut them, is this due to not using the brown sugar?
Tom B.
June 25, 2025
Everything I love in one package!
I am very excited to try this out. Does anyone know if margarine will work as well as butter? I'm trying to keep the bars vegan/vegetarian. Also is it just me? The fractions in the ingredients are very hard to read. The font is just not a good choice for small sized numerals. Milk Street please consider using a different font for the ingredients.

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