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

5 stars (288) Rate this recipe
Preparation
20 MIN
Cooking
1 H 5 MIN
Output
9 to 16 squares
Freezes

Ingredients

Filling

Crisp

Preparation

  1. With the rack in the middle position, preheat the oven to 180 °C (350 °F). 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 saucepan, bring the dates, water, lemon juice, and brown sugar to a boil. Add the baking soda and simmer for about 5 minutes, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, 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 pan and press firmly. Layer with the date mixture. Cover with the remaining crisp and press lightly. Bake for about 55 minutes or until the crisp is golden brown. Let cool on a wire rack for about 4 hours or overnight. Unmould and cut into 9 to 16 squares.

Note

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

Comments

  1. 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.

  2. 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!!!

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

  4. 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.

  5. Super good thanks Ricardo. I made another half recipe on top of the dates because I used all my oat mix for the bottom. I had a Pyrex 10 X12 approx. On my dates I sprayed that super nice smell Christmas spices that I bought at Bulk Barn. Mmmmmm. That spice is 4 or 5 different spices together that really smell Christmas. It's only for sale at Bulk Barn starting in November and until it's all sold, then you have to wait for the next November to find it.

  6. Absolutely the best...my favourite tea-time treat anytime I want (they freeze well)....I inadvertently made them in a 9" pan so a little thinner but no less delicious!

  7. Add cinanamon to the filling, not the lingo???? Stupid auto correct.

  8. I added cinnamon to both the lingo and the crust, since my husbands diabetic and cinnamon helps regulate blood sugar plus it tastes great.

  9. Make these for my daughter for Christmas. She said they were so good she wouldn't share.

  10. I'm really curious why Baking soda is added. I couldn't figure out what it does to the taste but it must be there for a reason?? Best Date Squares ever.

  11. Why did my filling turn red after the baking. Followed exact recipe but not mejdool dates. ????? Reaction with lemon?

  12. I enjoy the extra filling. Delicious !

  13. I'm sorry but I found there was just WAY too much filling in these :( they were a bit cloying, even though I only used 1 tbsp of sugar in the filling. Next time I'd halve or even use 1/3 of the filling, or just use another recipe. That being said, my fiancé thought they were pretty good!

  14. I follow this recipe exactly as listed. They are the very best indeed. I have people tell me that they are the very best that they have eaten too. THANK YOU RICARDO

  15. I grew up with this recipe, other than a couple differences, orange juice instead of lemon and no sugar with the dates. I have never had dry squares, I also use my hands to mix butter into the dry "crumbling" I have used regular rolled oats instead of the quick 5 min oats, I actually prefer the regular oats. Its a favorite in my house and friends always want me to make it and bring it over

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