Known in the Western Canadian provinces as Matrimonial Cake, these Date Squares have a moist and luscious date filling with a crumbly oatmeal mixture on the top and bottom.
I remember my Mom serving dainty squares for afternoon bridge parties, but larger ones when we had them for dessert.
The key to good Date Squares is to continue to add a little bit of water until the date filling is soft and thickened. You may have to use a little extra water, if your cooking dates are a little dry.
Date Squares
A delicious and portable dessert treat!
Ingredients
Oatmeal Mixture
- 1 1/2 cup rolled oats
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup soft butter
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/4 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp salt
Date Mixture
- 750 g dates - pitted and quartered
- 1 1/4 cup water
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp lemon juice
Instructions
Date Mixture
- Put the dates and water in a sauce pan (will look very watery) and cook until it forms a soft paste. If the dates are quite dry, you may have to keep adding water (about ¼ cup at a time) until it forms a soft paste.
- Take off the burner and add the vanilla and lemon juice. Let cool at least 10 minutes before adding to the oatmeal base.
Oatmeal Mixture
- Blend all the ingredients in the oatmeal mixture to a coarse meal and put 1 ¼ cups of mixture aside for the top. Put the rest in a greased 9"x12" Pyrex baking dish; pat lightly.
Making the Date Square
- Spread with the Date Mixture which has been cooked and slightly cooled (spread carefully with the back of a dessert spoon or you will pull up the oatmeal mixture) onto the Oatmeal Mixture in the pan. Then add the reserved oatmeal mixture on top of the dates and pat lightly.
- Cook in a 350F (175C) oven for about 30 minutes, until the top is lightly browned at the edges. Cut into squares when cool.
