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Date Squares

Jess found this recipe years ago, and its still the best date square recipe that we have.

Recipe for Date Squares

Date Squares

Filling

  • 2 1/2 cups (425 g) dates, pitted and chopped (lightly packed)
  • 1 C Water
  • 2 TB lemon Juice
  • 2 TB brown sugar
  • 1/2 TSP baking soda

Crisp

  • 1-3/4 C quick-oats
  • 1 C flour
  • 1/4 TSP baking powder
  • 3/4 C butter, softened to room temp
  1. Preheat oven to 350F. Line a 8in square brownie pan with parchment paper.

Date Squares - 2/3

Filling

  1. In a bring the dates, water, lemon juice and brown sugar to a boil. Stir to prevent sticking.
  2. Once to the boil add baking soda and reduce heat to a simmer for 5 min.
  3. Once the dates have fallen apart, remove from heat and let cool.

Crisp

  1. In a bowl combine all the dry ingredients.
  2. Add the butter and stir to combine. It should be a lumpy buttery mixture.

Date Squares - 3/3

Assembly

  1. Once the filling has cooled so that you can touch/taste it. You are ready.
  2. Spread half of the crisp in the baking dish, press firmly for the base.
  3. Spread out the filling on top.
  4. Cover with the remaining crisp.
  5. Bake for about 55 min, or when the top crisp is golden brown. Let cool on a wire rack, in the baking dish, for 4h or over night. Then cut into squares.

Hints and Tips

  1. When you add the baking soda to the filling mixture it will create a lot of bubbles and foam. That's normal.
  2. I like to add the butter in chunks while stirring. It lets it combine evenly better.
  3. Don't use a stand mixer. I find the butter doesn't combine as well and you end up with a lot of smaller dry chunks. If able, use a wooden spoon.
  4. Use ONLY 1/2 half on the bottom layer of the crisp. It won't look like enough, but it does get a little bigger when baking. If you use more then the top is a little skimpy.
  5. If you are traveling with these (lunches, gifts, etc) adding a little more to the bottom will give a stronger base and lead to less crumbling. [1]
The date square filling mixture almost to the boil.

Footnote

[1]Yes, I know what I just said above. A skimpy, but formed cookie bar is a better gift than a mess though.