Date Square Cookies Recipes

NEWFOUNDLAND DATE CRUMBLES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking pan and line with parchment paper if you want.
• As noted in the recipe description, some people prefer these date squares with less filling so you can reduce the amounts in the filling by 1/4, 1/3 or even 1/2 if you prefer.
• In a medium saucepan combine and gently simmer until thickened (about 10-15 minutes).
• The filling should be very thick; you will need to watch it carefully and stir constantly in the last few minutes of cooking time.
• Set aside to cool slightly while you prepare the crumble mixture.
• In a large bowl, toss together the rolled oats, baking powder, coconut, flour and brown sugar.
• Using your hands, rub the butter thoroughly through the dry ingredients.
• Divide crumble mixture in half and press half into the bottom of the prepared baking pan.
• Spread date mixture over the base.
• Top with remaining crumb mixture, pressing it together in clumps in your hands and then breaking it into small pieces with your fingers to scatter evenly over the date filling.
• Press down lightly.
• Bake for 40 minutes at 350 degrees F.
• This is a very good basic recipe but I have also had very good variations of date crumbles over the years.
• Orange Date Crumbles: Substitute orange juice for the water in the filling and add the zest of a medium orange.
• Cocoa Date Crumbles: Add 4 tbsp cocoa to the filling.
• Hazelnut or Almond Date Crumbles: Prepare filling as usual. Add ½ cup ground Almonds or Hazelnuts plus 1 tsp cinnamon and ½ tsp nutmeg to the crumble.

DATE COOKIES

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well with each addition. Combine the flour, baking soda, cinnamon and cloves; gradually stir into the creamed mixture. Combine the water and dates; stir into the dough along with the chopped pecans. Cover and chill for 1 hour.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease cookie sheets. Drop by rounded spoonfuls onto the prepared cookie sheet.
• Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.

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.

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.

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.

MA'AMOUL (LEBANESE DATE COOKIES)

Steps:

• Mix semolina flour, all-purpose flour, mahlab, and salt together in a large bowl. Work clarified butter into the dry ingredients with your fingertips until thoroughly incorporated. Cover bowl and let dough rest at room temperature, 8 hours to overnight.
• Pour milk into a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave until just warm, about 15 seconds. Stir in sugar and yeast until dissolved. Let stand until foamy, about 5 minutes.
• Pour yeast mixture and orange blossom water over the dough and mix until evenly moistened. Pinch off a piece of dough and roll into a ball; it should hold its shape without cracking. Add more milk or orange blossom water if needed. Cover and let rest for 15 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.
• Sprinkle some flour over the ma'amoul molds and tap out the excess. Pinch off a walnut-sized piece of dough and roll into a ball. Press your thumb into the ball to create space for the filling. Work the edges with your fingers so the sides are even and fairly thin. Drop in a piece of date paste and pinch dough over it to seal.
• Place cookie into the mold cavity seam-side up. Press down so that the top is flush with edges of the mold. Trim off any excess dough. Invert the mold and tap it against your work surface to release the cookie. Repeat with remaining dough and date paste, arranging cookies 1 inch apart on the baking sheets.
• Bake in the preheated oven, 1 baking sheet at a time, until edges and bottoms are golden but tops are still mostly pale, about 15 minutes.
• Sift powdered sugar over the cookies while still slightly warm. Let cool completely. Store in an airtight container at room temperature.

OLD FASHIONED DIABETIC DATE SQUARES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Combine flour,baking powder,baking soda,and salt.
• Rub in butter until mixture is crumbly.
• Add sugar and oats.
• Mix well.
• Spread half of crumb mixture into 9"x9" greased baking pan,patting mixture until firm and smooth.
• Cook dates,with water,orange rind ,orange juice,lemon and sugar in a saucepan till smooth and thick.
• Cool mixture.
• Add to bottom layer of oat mixture.
• Add remaining oats to top of dates.
• Spread out evenly.
• Bake at 350 for 35-40 minutes or until lightly browned.
• Cool and cut into squares to your liking.
• Enjoy these great Date squares.

MATRIMONIAL DATE SQUARES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Heat dates, 2/3 cup brown sugar, orange juice, and orange zest in a saucepan over low heat; cook, stirring occasionally, until dates have softened, absorbed the liquid, and mixture is like a paste, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in vanilla extract.
• Stir oats, flour, 1 cup brown sugar, baking soda, and salt together in a bowl; cut in butter with a knife or pastry blender until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
• Lightly press 2/3 of the crumb mixture into the bottom of a 9x9-inch pan. Spread date mixture evenly over the crumb crust; sprinkle remaining crumbs evenly over the top of date mixture.
• Bake in the preheated oven until top is golden, about 30 minutes; cool on a wire rack for at least 1 hour before slicing into bars.