Date Squares
Date Squares – these easy to make date squares are delicious, gooey and so comforting. An old fashioned recipe that will give you the best date squares you’ll ever have.
When I was 14 years old, I used to work in a small bakery on the weekends for extra cash as a cashier. The owner of the bakery used to make these awesome date squares and I would always have one when they were fresh. I learned to make them then, but I have to say I don’t make them very often. It’s been years since I made date squares, not sure why because they are a favorite of mine. The beauty of date squares is that they truly are easy to make.
Start by adding a cup of water to a medium saucepan and add the 3 cups of dates. Place this over medium-heat and cook for about 10 minutes or until all the water evaporates and the dates are soft and can be mashed with a wooden spoon. Place these dates in a food processor, add the vanilla extract and pulse a few times until it becomes a paste. Remove from food processor to a bowl and set aside.
To make the crust, add the dry ingredients to a food processor and pulse a few times. Add the butter cubes, make sure it’s cold and pulse for about 30 seconds or so until the mixtures starts to come together and it’s nice and crumbly.
Start by spreading 2/3 of the crumble mixture in the bottom of the baking dish.
Next spread the entire date mix over and even it out with a spatula.
Next add the remaining crumb mixture on top and pat it easily with your hands or using the back of a spoon or a spatula.
Bake this for about 35 to 45 minutes, depending on your oven until it’s golden brown.
Now let the dates squares cool completely, then place the pan in the fridge for a couple hours. Finally you can cut the dates into small squares and enjoy with a great cup of coffee.
Looking for more tried and true sweet classics? Try these!
What you’ll need:
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Date Squares
Prep: 15 mins
Cook: 45 mins
Total: 1 hr
Serves: 16
Date Squares - these easy to make date squares are delicious, gooey and super tasty. An old fashioned recipe that will give you the best date squares you'll ever have.
Ingredients
For Filling
- 1 cup water
- 3 cups dates pitted
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
For Crust
- 2 cups old fashioned rolled oats
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/8 tsp cinnamon
- 1 cup cold butter unsalted, cut into small cubes
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 F degrees. Line a 9 inch baking pan with parchment paper. Set aside.
- In a medium saucepan add the water and the dates and cook over medium heat for about 10 minutes, until there's no water left. Add the vanilla extract to the dates and mix well. Let mixture cool.
- Add the dates mixture to a food processor and pulse until it turns into a paste. Set aside.
- In a food processor add the remaining dry ingredients and the butter cut into small pieces and pulse until the butter is well incorporated into the mixture and crumbles.
- Spread 2/3 of the crumb mixture on the bottom of the prepared baking pan and spread it evenly. Add the date mixture and spread it with a spatula. Add the remaining crumb mixture as the last layer and pat it using a spatula, do not press down too hard.
- Bake for 35 to 45 minutes until golden brown then let cool completely. Place in the fridge for a couple more hours then take it out and cut into squares.
Recipe Notes
If you don't have a food processor, you can make the crumble mixture in a bowl using a pastry cutter or 2 forks. You will be able to puree the date mixture in a blender. Please keep in mind that nutritional information is a rough estimate and can vary greatly based on products used. ★ Did you make this recipe? Don't forget to give it a star rating below!
Nutrition Information:
Serving: 58gCalories: 191kcal (10%)Carbohydrates: 21.85g (7%)Protein: 3.04g (6%)Fat: 12.42g (19%)Saturated Fat: 7.456g (47%)Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.789gMonounsaturated Fat: 3.268gTrans Fat: 0.465gCholesterol: 31mg (10%)Sodium: 168mg (7%)Potassium: 110mg (3%)Fiber: 2.3g (10%)Sugar: 7.81g (9%)Vitamin A: 750IU (15%)Calcium: 20mg (2%)Iron: 1.1mg (6%)
Nutrition Facts
Date Squares
Amount Per Serving (58 g)
Calories 191 Calories from Fat 112
% Daily Value*
Fat 12.42g19%
Saturated Fat 7.456g47%
Trans Fat 0.465g
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.789g
Monounsaturated Fat 3.268g
Cholesterol 31mg10%
Sodium 168mg7%
Potassium 110mg3%
Carbohydrates 21.85g7%
Fiber 2.3g10%
Sugar 7.81g9%
Protein 3.04g6%
Vitamin A 750IU15%
Calcium 20mg2%
Iron 1.1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Debbi Herman says
Jo, I made your classic French cassoulet and oh my my my it was fantastic- I made with homemade braided
Bread and I impressed myself. Thank you.
Joanna Cismaru says
Yay! So happy you liked it! Love that you made your own bread, super impressed.
Aleksandra says
Can you replace 3/4 cup of sugar with maple syrup?
Joanna Cismaru says
You know, I haven’t tried it. However, I think it might change the texture.
Aleksandra says
I’ll give it a try, my kids don’t eat sugar (fructose is good) so every recipe has to be modified a bit, anyway thank you for the amazing recipes i keep on coming back for more of them! Keep up the amazing work you already do. Regards!
Joanna Cismaru says
Thank you! Do let me know how it turns out with the maple syrup.
Mo says
I would like to try this recipe but I don’t have a food processor. Pls advise
Joanna Cismaru says
I think for the crust you can do it in a bowl and use a pastry cutter or 2 forks to crumble it up, for the dates you might be able to use a blender or again try with a fork because the dates after being cooked will be quite mushy so you might be able to get away with it.
Mo says
Thanks. Will definitely give it a go!
Maureen | Orgasmic Chef says
When I was a kid, you could buy a Betty Crocker mix to make date bars and I was a date bar specialist. 🙂 I haven’t had one since I was about 15 and I’m dying for a bite of the one in your photo.
Definitely making this memory food all for myself!
jo says
You’ll love it Maureen!
Heather c says
Thanks so much for this recipe, I have made this years ago, I think someone had a mix, but no longer. My husband loves, what a great treat to make for him. Thanks sgain
jo says
My pleasure!
Angharad says
Add a little orange zest and replace some water with the juice of an orange for an even more flavourful date filling
jo says
Great idea!
Kevin Kemball says
I always make it with Lemon juice. The flavours of Orange, Lemon, and Lime work great but are so different when combined with the dates. Lemon just happens to be my favourite for this recipe.
BTW, (my opinion), without the Lemon or citrus, I find date squares fairly boring, delicious but boring. I’ve never met a date square that didn’t like me (grin).
Marsha Spegal says
You have no idea how long I have been searching for this exact recipe! My Aunt used to make these every Christmas back in the 1950’s, and I have not had them for fifty years! Thank you SO MUCH!
jo says
My pleasure, it’s such an easy recipe too, really one of my favorites.
Rose says
Can these be frozen?
jo says
Absolutely, in an airtight container.
Sharron says
No need to put the cooked dates in food processor just use a fork to mash them a bit A lot easier and much less mess
Julie says
This looks very similar to something I had growing up, only it was a boxed mix called Date squares and I think they were by Betty Crocker. I loved them, but sadly, I don’t think Betty Crocker sells that mix any longer. It is nice to have a homemade version, which I am sure is much tastier. Thank you!
jo says
You’re welcome. 🙂