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A date square on a plate

Date Squares

Print Recipe
A delicious and portable dessert treat!
Course Dessert
Cuisine Canadian
Keyword date squares, dates, dessert, squares
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes

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.
    Date square mixture
  • Take off the burner and add the vanilla and lemon juice. Let cool at least 10 minutes before adding to the oatmeal base.
    Date square mixture

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.
    Date square with topping

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.
    Baked date squares