Turkish Coffee-Spiced Date and Walnut Bars

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-07-12 · Updated 2026-07-12

Chewy date and walnut bars infused with the deep, aromatic flavor of Turkish coffee and a sprinkle of cinnamon for a unique dessert bar. This Middle Eastern-inspired recipe, ready in about 50 minutes, layers pitted dates, boiling water, instant Turkish coffee granules into a dessert worth slowing down for — great for weekend baking, holiday tables, or any time you want a sweet payoff at the end of a meal. Each serving lands at about 220 calories and feeds 12, so it slots into a weekend bake or a special-occasion dessert tray. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 2 cups, chopped pitted dates
• 1/2 cup boiling water
• 1 tbsp instant Turkish coffee granules
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/2 cup, melted unsalted butter
• 3/4 cup, packed brown sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 cup chopped walnuts
• for dusting, optional powdered sugar

The coffee makers we’d brew this with → Best Coffee Makers in 2026: Top Picks + Buying Guide

Instructions

1. Step 1: Preheat oven to 350°F and line an 8-inch square baking pan with parchment paper.
2. Step 2: Place 2 cups chopped pitted dates in a bowl, and pour 1/2 cup boiling water over them. Stir in 1 tbsp instant Turkish coffee granules until dissolved. Let sit for 10 minutes until dates soften.
3. Step 3: In a separate bowl, whisk together 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, 1/2 tsp baking soda, and 1 tsp ground cinnamon.
4. Step 4: In a large bowl, mix 1/2 cup melted unsalted butter with 3/4 cup packed brown sugar until smooth.
5. Step 5: Beat in 1 large egg and 1 tsp vanilla extract into the butter and sugar mixture until combined.
6. Step 6: Gradually add the dry flour mixture to the wet ingredients, stirring until just combined.
7. Step 7: Fold softened date and coffee mixture and 1 cup chopped walnuts into the batter gently.
8. Step 8: Spread the batter evenly into the prepared pan and bake for 30-35 minutes until the top is golden and a toothpick inserted comes out with moist crumbs.
9. Step 9: Let bars cool completely in the pan before lifting out with parchment. Dust with powdered sugar before slicing into squares, if desired.