Date Squares

Oatmeal Date Squares

My mom made these squares when I was a little girl. She used to buy date squares as a boxed cake mix, but here's the homemade version.

• 1-1/2 lbs (680 gram pkg) dates
• 1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 cups large flake or rolled oats (not instant)
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 3/4 cup butter

1. Cook dates in 2-1/4 cups water. When soft, mash dates.
2. Combine remaining ingredients in a blender.
3. If you don't have a blender, mix flour, baking powder and sugar well, cut in butter with pastry blender or two knives, stir in oats to make a crumbly mixture.
4. Place 2/3 of the flour mixture on the bottom of a greased 9x12 inch pan, spread evenly, press down. Spread date mixture evenly on top.
5. Sprinkle the rest of the flour mixture on top of dates.
6. Bake in preheated 375 degree F oven 30-40 minutes, until golden.

Eileen's Date Squares

This recipe uses a 9 x 13" glass baking dish.

Filling:

• 1/2 lb. dates, finely chopped
• 2 Tbsp flour
• 2 Tbsp brown sugar
• 1 cup boiling water
• 3 Tbsp lemon juice

Combine ingredients, except lemon juice.

Gently cook in a pot on the stove, stirring frequently.

When it starts to boil, mash mixture with a potato masher.

When mixture is smooth, take off heat and stir in lemon juice.

Set aside.

Crumb Mixture:

• 1 lb. butter or margarine
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon or allspice
• 1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1-1/2 cups oats

Combine all crumb mixture ingredients with hands in a large mixing bowl until large crumbs are formed.

Press half of crumbs into greased 9 x 13 inch glass baking dish.

Spread filling over surface and top with remaining crumbs.

Bake 30 minutes.

May be served warm with vanilla ice cream.

Date Crumble

This recipe is baked in a square 9 x 9 inch pan.

It is also known as "matrimonial cake" for some reason.

• 1 cup chopped dates
• 1/2 cup boiling water
• 2 Tbsp brown sugar
• 1 tsp lemon juice
• 1/2 cup butter or margarine
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla 
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 cup rolled oats
• 1/8 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp baking soda

Cook dates, 1/2 cup water, and 2 Tbsp brown sugar until soft.

Cool, add 1 tsp lemon juice. Set aside.

Cream 1/2 cup butter, 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1 tsp vanilla.

Add 1 cup flour, 1 cup rolled oats, 1/8 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp baking soda.

Rub together to form a crumb mixture.

Please half of mixture into a greased 9 x 9 inch pan.

Spread with date mixture.

Sprinkle remaining crumbs over the top.

Bake in preheated 350 degree F oven 20-30 minutes.

When cool, cut in squares.