Delightful 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.

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 degrees. Butter an 8-by-8-by-2-inch baking pan, and set aside. In a large bowl, combine flour, oats, brown sugar, and baking soda. Add butter, and blend with your fingertips until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
• Transfer two-thirds of the crumb mixture into prepared pan, and press into bottom and up sides. Spread date paste over bottom layer of the dough. Cover with remaining crumb mixture.
• Bake until golden brown, about 35 minutes. Transfer pan to a wire rack to cool completely. Invert onto a plate, then back onto a cutting board. Cut into 2-inch squares. Store in an airtight container for up to 1 week.

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.

TIPSY DATE SQUARES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line the bottom of an 8-inch square baking pan with parchment. Whisk to combine flour, cocoa powder, salt, and cinnamon in a bowl.
• In a separate bowl, beat brown sugar, molasses, and butter with an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth, 1 to 2 minutes; beat in eggs. Reduce speed to low; add flour mixture, beating just until combined. Fold in orange peel, dates, and walnuts.
• Transfer batter to pan; smooth top with an offset spatula. Bake until surface is set and a toothpick inserted in center comes out with only a few moist crumbs clinging to it, 20 to 25 minutes. Let cake rest in pan 5 minutes. Invert onto a wire rack; peel off parchment. Brush bottom side (now facing up) with 3 tablespoons port. Let stand 30 minutes. Flip cake over on rack, and brush other side with remaining tablespoon port. Let stand 1 hour. (Cake can be kept at room temperature, wrapped well in plastic, up to 1 month.)
• Cut into 3/4-inch squares, wiping knife with a damp cloth between cuts. Squares can be refrigerated in an airtight container (layered between sheets of waxed paper) up to 1 week.