Date Squares
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This Date Squares recipe is a true crowd-pleaser, combining the sweetness of dates with a hearty oat crust for a perfectly balanced treat. It’s the kind of dessert that’ll have friends and family asking for seconds – and the recipe!
The Best Date Squares Recipe
What isn’t to love about date squares? They’ve got a caramel like filling, a melt in your mouth buttery oat crust, and store so easily for future snacking. They even freeze well, making our date filling nice and chewy.
Can I get nostalgic here for a minute? 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 and they’ve been a favorite even to this day.
Why You’ll Love These Date Squares
- Comforting and Delicious: There’s something so heartwarming about the combination of sweet, gooey dates and a buttery, crumbly crust.
- Easy to Make: You don’t need to be a pro baker to nail this recipe. With simple, straightforward steps and common pantry ingredients, it’s a breeze to put together, making it ideal for busy days or when you just want something sweet without too much fuss.
- Versatile for Any Occasion: Whether it’s a casual family gathering, a potluck with friends, or a fancy tea party, these Date Squares fit right in. They’re great for an afternoon snack, a dessert after dinner, or even as a special treat in lunchboxes.
- Dates: The star of the show! Dates bring natural sweetness and a caramel-like flavor to the filling. If dates aren’t your thing, try prunes or dried apricots for a different twist.
- Water: This helps cook the dates down into a smooth, spreadable paste.
- Vanilla Extract: Adds a hint of rich, warm flavor. No vanilla? No problem – try almond extract for a nutty taste.
- Old Fashioned Rolled Oats: They give the crust its delightful, chewy texture. If you’re out of oats, try using quick oats, but the texture will be a bit different.
- All-Purpose Flour: It’s the base of the crust, giving it structure. You could swap in a gluten-free flour blend if needed.
- Brown Sugar: Sweetens the crust and adds a hint of molasses flavor. Maple syrup or honey can be used as alternatives, but the texture might change a bit.
- Baking Soda: Helps the crust get a little lift and lightness.
- Salt: Just a pinch enhances all the other flavors.
- Cinnamon: This spice adds a warm, cozy touch. Feel free to leave it out or swap in nutmeg or allspice for a change.
- Cold Butter: It’s key for a flaky, crumbly crust. If you don’t do dairy, try cold coconut oil or a vegan butter alternative.
You’re going to love how easy and fun it is to make these Date Squares. It’s all about layering up some yummy ingredients.
First up, fire up your oven to 350°F. Grab your 9-inch square baking pan and line it with parchment paper. This step makes sure nothing sticks and you get those perfect squares later.
Now, take those dates you’ve got and pop them in a saucepan with the water. Let them simmer over medium heat for about 10 minutes. You’re looking for the water to mostly disappear and the dates to get all soft and mushy. Then, stir in the vanilla extract and let this sweet mixture cool down a bit.
Once your dates are nice and cool, scoop them into your food processor and give them a whirl until they’re nice and smooth. Set them aside.
No need to wash the food processor – let’s use it again for the crust. Toss in your oats, flour, brown sugar, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon. Cut your cold butter into small pieces and add that in too. Pulse everything together until it looks like a crumbly mixture.
Take about two-thirds of your crumbly crust mixture and press it into the bottom of your baking pan. Spread it out evenly. Now, spoon over your date paste and spread it out. Finally, sprinkle the rest of the crumb mixture on top and gently pat it down.
Pop your pan into the oven and let it bake for 35 to 45 minutes. You’re aiming for a lovely golden brown color on top. Once it’s done, let it cool completely in the pan – patience is key here! For the best texture, chill it in the fridge for a couple of hours before cutting into squares.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can I do if I don’t have a food processor?
No food processor? No problem! For the date paste, you can mash the dates with a fork or potato masher until they’re smooth. As for the crust, just mix the dry ingredients in a bowl and work the butter in with your fingertips or a pastry cutter until it’s crumbly.
How can I make these Date Squares gluten-free?
To make these squares gluten-free, simply swap the all-purpose flour with your favorite gluten-free flour blend. Also, make sure your oats are certified gluten-free. The rest of the ingredients are naturally gluten-free.
Can I add nuts or other ingredients to the recipe?
Sure thing! Feel free to add chopped nuts like walnuts or pecans to the crust for an extra crunch. You could also sprinkle in some chocolate chips or coconut flakes for a different twist.
Expert Tips
- Medjool dates are the absolute best to use for this recipe, and are pretty commonly found in any larger grocery store. These dates are nice and big, the also process perfectly into a perfectly sweet filling.
- Butter Temperature is Key: Use cold butter for the crust. This helps create those perfectly flaky, crumbly layers that make the squares so delightful. If the butter is too warm, the crust can become too dense.
- Even Layers for Balanced Bites: When layering your crust and date filling, aim for evenness. This ensures every bite has the right balance of date filling and crumbly crust.
- Cool Completely Before Cutting: Patience is crucial! Let the squares cool completely in the pan, and for even better texture, chill them in the fridge before cutting. This helps them set properly and makes cutting cleaner and easier.
- Make Ahead: These squares are perfect for making ahead. They store well in the fridge and even freeze beautifully. Just thaw overnight in the fridge when you’re ready to serve them again.
Storage
After the date squares have cooled down, just pop them into an airtight container. They’ll stay fresh and yummy in your fridge for about a week. And here’s a little tip: if you want to save them for later, they freeze beautifully! Just wrap the squares individually or store them in a freezer-safe container, and they’ll be good in the freezer for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to enjoy them again, simply thaw them overnight in the fridge.
Discover More Delicious Squares/Bars
- Cranberry Bars
- Lemon Bars
- Pecan Pie Bars
- Congo Bars
- No Bake Peanut Butter Chocolate Bars
- Puffed Wheat Squares
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Date Squares
Video
Ingredients
For Filling
- 1 cup water
- 3 cups dates (pitted)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For Crust
- 2 cups old fashioned rolled oats
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ¾ cup brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ⅛ teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 cup cold butter (unsalted, cut into small cubes)
Before You Begin! If you make this, please leave a review and rating letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business thrive & continue providing free recipes.
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. 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 ⅔ 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.
Equipment
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.
- These sweet treats will keep for up to a week if wrapped tightly or stored in an otherwise air tight container in the fridge.
- To freeze, be sure to store these in an airtight container or wrapped up tightly and cute the squares up first for easier snacking when needed.
Nutrition Information
Notice: Nutrition is auto-calculated for your convenience. Where relevant, we recommend using your own nutrition calculations.
