Orange Coconut Date Squares Recipes

ORANGE DATE CRUMBLE BARS

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 all of the filling ingredients 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 so that it doesn't burn.
• Set aside to cool slightly while you prepare the crumble mixture.
• To prepare the crumble
• 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.

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.

ORANGE COCONUT DATE SQUARES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350F degrees.
• Measure flour, salt and baking powder in bowl and stir to blend, set aside.
• Melt butter in small saucepan over low heat, remove from stove. Stir in brown sugar.
• Blend in egg, vanilla and orange zest.
• Add flour mixture to the butter mixture.
• Stir in coconut and dates.
• Spread mixture into a greased 7"x 11" pan.
• Bake for 25 - 30 minutes.
• Remove from oven and cool before cutting in small squares.

CANDIED COCONUT DATE SQUARES

Steps:

• Grease a 9x5x3" loaf pan with butter, and set aside, until ready to use.
• For the squares - In a medium sized pot, combine, dates, sugar, flour, butter and egg.
• Stir constantly until mixture comes to a full boil 7 -10 minutes.
• Continue cooking until it starts to thicken, this should take about 3 minutes.
• Add the coconut to the mixture and then spread into prepared 9x5x3" loaf pan.
• Prepare the glaze in a small bowl, stirring together the powdered sugar, milk, lemon juice and vanilla extract, until smooth.
• Drizzle the glaze over the warm squares.
• Cover and refrigerate until firm, this should take about 3 hours.
• Cut into squares, and store covered in the fridge until needed -- Enjoy.

DATE SQUARES

Steps:

• Simmer dates in orange juice and cinnamon for 30 minutes, or until thickened, stirring occasionally. (be careful not to scorch mixture if it gets too thick)
• Combine flour, salt and brown sugar and cut in butter until mixture is crumbly. Stir in coconut, nuts and oats.
• Press half of dough mixture into bottom of 9 x 13 inch pyrex baking dish. Pat dough flat with a sheet of wax paper on hand.
• Spread date mixture to within a half inch of edges.
• Top with remaining dough and flatten lightly with wax paper on hand.
• Bake in a preheated 375 degrees F (190C) oven for 45 minutes, or until golden.
• Let cool in pan and cut into 24 bars (4 long strips cut by 6 shorter strips).

COCONUT ORANGE SQUARES

Steps:

• Crem butter and sugar until light. Beat in egg, orange rind and milk.
• Add coconut and dry ingredients.
• Mix only enough to blend.
• Place in 8" square pan lined with waxed paper (or use a nonstick pan). Bake in 350F oven about 25 minutes.
• Cut into squares.
• Can easily be doubled and baked in 13x9" pan.