Canadian Date Squares Recipes

GRAMMA'S DATE SQUARES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• In a large bowl, combine oats, pastry flour, salt, 1 cup brown sugar, and baking soda. Mix in the butter until crumbly. Press half of the mixture into the bottom of a 9 inch square baking pan.
• In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine the dates, water, and 1/3 cup brown sugar. Bring to a boil, and cook until thickened. Stir in lemon juice, and remove from heat. Spread the filling over the base, and pat the remaining crumb mixture on top.
• Bake for 20 to 25 minutes in preheated oven, or until top is lightly toasted. Cool before cutting into squares.

EASY DATE SQUARES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Date Jam
• Combine dates, sugar, water and vanilla in saucepan and bring to a boil.
• Simmer 5 minutes, until mixture resembles a thick paste.
• Cool completely
• Oatmeal Layer
• Combine flour, oats, sugar, nuts and salt in mixing bowl.
• Cut in butter.
• Reserve 2 cups of this mixture for topping.
• Press remaining mixture into bottom of greased 9 x 9" pan.
• Spread cooled date jam over the bottom layer and sprinkle reserved oatmeal mixture evenly over top.
• Bake 25- 33 minute.
• Cool completely then cut into squares.

DATE SQUARES

Steps:

• For the date filling: Combine the dates, water, sugar, cornstarch and lemon juice in a medium saucepan, stirring often, until thick and smooth, about ten minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 350°F.
• In a mixing bowl cream butter, then cream in sugar.
• In another bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda and salt.
• Blend flour mixture into the butter mixture, then blend in the rolled outs.
• Grease a square Pyrex baking dish 8x8 inches/2L (I use a square baking pan of the same size).
• Put half the rolled oats mixture evenly over the bottom. Spread the cooled dates over the base. Then add the remaining rolled oats mixture over the dates.
• Bake in the oven for 30 minutes or until nice and brown.
• Cool in pan. Cut into squares or bars.
• It can be frozen, but in my house it's usually gone within the next few days.

DATE SQUARES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Grease a 13- by 9- by 2-inch metal baking pan, then line with foil, leaving a 2-inch overhang on 2 opposite sides, and butter foil.
• Whisk together flour, salt, and spices. Beat together butter and granulated sugar in a bowl with an electric mixer at medium-high speed until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes in a standing mixer (preferably fitted with paddle attachment) or 6 minutes with a handheld. Reduce speed to low and add eggs 1 at a time, mixing well after each addition. Add baking soda mixture and mix until combined. Add flour mixture, walnuts, and dates and mix until just combined.
• Spread batter evenly in baking pan and bake in middle of oven until a tester comes out clean, 50 minutes to 1 hour. Cool in pan on a rack 15 minutes. Carefully lift date mixture out of pan using foil overhang and transfer to a cutting board. Cut into 1-inch squares and peel from foil.
• Toss warm squares a few at a time in confectioners sugar, then transfer to a rack to cool completely. Sprinkle with more confectioners sugar just before serving.

BEST DATE SQUARES EVER

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Grease a 9x11-inch baking pan and line with parchment paper.
• Heat dates, orange juice, and lemon juice in a large saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring often, until dates are soft, about 6 minutes.
• Stir whole wheat flour, oats, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together in a large bowl; stir in melted butter. Press half of the oat mixture evenly into the prepared pan.
• Spread date mixture evenly over oat mixture; sprinkle remaining oat mixture evenly over date mixture and press down lightly.
• Bake in the preheated oven until golden, about 20 minutes. Allow to cool in the pan to room temperature, about 30 minutes. Refrigerate until chilled before cutting into squares, about 1 hour.