Quick Recipe for Date Squares - Only 10 Minutes of Prep!
This recipe for date squares is satisfyingly simple. The sweet and gooey treats are made with a crumbly oat and flour base, a rich and sticky date filling, and a topping of more crumbly oats and flour.
Equipment
- Medium Saucepan
- Rubber Spatula
- Pastry Cutter or 2 Forks
- Mixing Bowls
- 8x8 Baking Pan
Ingredients
Date Filling
- 8 Ounces Medjool Dates pitted and chopped - 226g
- ⅔ Cup Water up to 1 cup, depending on desired consistency - 158g - 237g
- 4 Tsp Light Brown Sugar 16g
- ½ Tsp Pure Vanilla Extract 2g
Crumbly Oat Shortbread Crust
- 1 Cup All-purpose Flour 120g
- ½ Tsp Baking Soda 2g
- ¼ Tsp Fine Sea Salt or table salt - 1.5g
- 2 Sticks Unsalted Butter softened and cut into cubes - 226g
- 1 Cup Oat Flour 90g
- ¾ Cup Light Brown Sugar 150g
- 1 Cup Quick (or Instant) Oats 81g
Instructions
Date Filling
- Add dates, water, and brown sugar to a medium saucepan on a stove burner, set to medium heat, and stir to combine. Cook without stirring until the mixture begins to bubble, about 3 minutes.
- Add the vanilla extract, stir the mixture, and lower the heat. Simmer over low heat until the water is mostly dissolved and the dates are broken down, about 5 minutes. Add 1/3 cup of water additional if you'd like to soften the dates longer, and continue cooking until mostly dissolved. Place the cooked dates in a small, heat-safe bowl and set aside.
Crumbly Oat Shortbread Crust
- Preheat the oven to 325°F / 162°C, and place an oven rack in the center. Prepare an 8"x8" baking pan by buttering the bottom and two opposing sides. Place a strip of parchment paper across the buttered sides and press to adhere the paper to the pan. Butter the two remaining sides.
- Add the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt to a large mixing bowl, and whisk to combine.
- Add the butter to the flour mixture. Using a pastry blender or 2 large forks, mix the butter into the flour until small pea-shaped pieces begin to form, about 2-3 minutes.
- Add the oat flour and brown sugar, and continue blending with the pastry blender or forks until mostly incorporated, about 2-3 minutes.
- Add the quick oats and continue blending with the pastry blender or forks until all ingredients are combined, about 2-3 minutes.
- Sprinkle half of the mixture into the prepared pan, pressing with your hand firmly to create a bottom crust. Spread the date mixture over the bottom crust, and cover with the remaining topping. Press lightly down on the topping with your hands.
- Bake on the center rack of the oven until lightly browned around the edges, about 35-40 minutes. Let cool for 20 minutes or longer before cutting and serving.
Video
Notes
Please Note: Nutrition Facts are estimates only. These figures are calculated via a third-party application using a generic likeness of each ingredient. Nutritional content will vary based on actual brands and weights used for each ingredient and portion size.
Nutrition
Serving: 1SquaresCalories: 262kcalCarbohydrates: 36gProtein: 3gFat: 13gSaturated Fat: 7gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0.5gCholesterol: 30mgSodium: 80mgPotassium: 179mgFiber: 2gSugar: 21gVitamin A: 521IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 31mgIron: 1mg
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