Date Squares (The Best)
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Date Squares (The Best)
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Date Squares (The Best)

5 stars (316) Rate this recipe
Preparation
20 MIN
Cooking
1 H 5 MIN
Makes
9 to 16 squares
Freezes

Ingredients

Filling

Crisp

Preparation

  1. With the rack in the middle position, preheat the oven to 350 °F (180 °C). Line a 20-cm (8-inch) square baking dish with a strip of parchment paper, letting it hang over both sides. Butter the other two sides.

Filling

  1. In a pot, bring the dates, water, lemon juice, and brown sugar to a boil. Add the baking soda and simmer for 5 minutes, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, or until the dates have fallen apart. Let cool.

Crisp

  1. In a bowl, combine the oats, flour, brown sugar, and baking powder. Add the butter and stir to combine.
  2. Spread half the crisp in the baking dish and press firmly. Layer with the date mixture. Cover with the remaining crisp and press lightly. Bake for 55 minutes or until the crisp is golden brown. Let cool on a wire rack for 4 hours. Unmould and cut into 16 squares.

Note

If you can’t find Medjool dates, use regular dried dates.

Comments

  1. Add zest and juice from one large orange to the date mixture for a unique delicious flavour

  2. Lightly salted would be my guess ...

  3. what is semi salted butter?

  4. Delicious!!! Can you make these sugar free?

  5. These were easy to make and thanks for the tip to use the food processor to chop the dates!

  6. I changed the recipe to make it healthier and it turned out great! For the filling, I didn't add in any of the brown sugar. For the crisp, I only put in 1/4 cup of brown sugar instead of 3/4. It still turned out very sweet but very good! I love this recipe!

  7. Here's a tip - instead of boiling the dates in water, boil them in day old coffee. Takes the sweetness out of the dates and adds another dimension of flavor. Too, puree the dates in a food processor when cooked. If there are any pits - and there's usually at least one - you'll find them clanking around on the processor blades. Better than finding them in the cake by biting into one.

  8. My husband requested “Matrimonial Cake” I looked for a recipe that had lots of dates and not too much sugar. This is it! I bought Deglet Noor dates from Costco. My husband is happy and I even like them. I must say, these are not a crumbly mess like I remember as a child.

  9. I thought these would be good given all the 5 star reviews. I made the recipe exactly as called for and they turned out super sweet. It felt like eating sugar cubes and the amount of dates was overwhelming. I like dates but thick and pasty in the middle, no. Very disappointed and threw the whole pan out.

  10. I'd give this recipe 10 stars if I could. They are the best Date Squares I've ever made and eaten...hands down!

  11. I have made this recipe many times and it is an instant crowd pleaser. I substitute coconut sugar for brown sugar and the taste is great.

  12. Yes, I would agree that these are "the best". I did not change the recipe one bit, though was a bit mortified at the size of the chunk of butter. The smell as it baked was divine! The Parchment paper was a great addition!. Tip - to get a heartier serving, use a smaller pan.

  13. I've made Date Squares for years, but I have to say that these are probably the best ones I've ever made. What an excellent recipe and it was so easy to do, Thanks Ricard!!!

  14. The BEST RECIPE I ever made ..Thanks! Ricardo. They were absolutely so delicious! Gessie S.

  15. Just a great recipe. Freezes well. Easy comfort sweet. I add 1/3 of a cup of coarsely small chopped walnuts to this recipe. Love it.

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