Old-fashioned date squares
By Chatelaine
Date squares. (Photo, Erik Putz.)
Delicious date squares are a simple blend of brown sugar, oats, butter and sweet dates — a comforting treat for a cozy winter afternoon. If there's a baked-goods equivalent to a hug, this is it.
Ingredients
-
2 1/2 cups
pitted
dates
-
1 1/2 cups
water
-
2 tsp
vanilla
-
1 3/4 cups
large-flake
oats
-
1 cup
all-purpose
flour
-
1 cup
packed
brown sugar
-
1/2 tsp
baking soda
-
1/4 tsp
salt
-
1 cup
cold unsalted
butter
Instructions
- PREHEAT oven to 350F. Lightly spray an 8-in. square glass or metal baking pan with oil and line with overhanging parchment.
- COMBINE dates with water in a medium saucepan over high. Boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer gently, stirring occasionally, until thick, 6 to 8 min. Remove from heat.
- STIR in vanilla and let cool.
- COMBINE oats, flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt in a food processor. Pulse 3 times to combine. Add butter and pulse until oat mixture is crumbly (pea-sized). Transfer to a large bowl and quickly crumble with fingers to evenly distribute the butter. Spread two-thirds of oat mixture over bottom of prepared pan. Press down gently to make a crust. Scrape date mixture over crust and spread evenly. Layer with remaining oat mixture and press down lightly.
- BAKE in centre of oven until top is golden brown, 30 to 35 min. Transfer to a rack and cool completely in pan, about 1 hour. Cut into 16 squares.
How to make breakfast power bars (secret ingredient: dates!)
Nutrition (per square)
- Calories
- 196,
- Protein
- 2 g,
- Carbohydrates
- 30 g,
- Fat
- 8 g,
- Fibre
- 2 g,
- Sodium
- 55 mg.
Shopping tip: No need to splurge on Medjool dates for this recipe: We also tested it with packages cooking dates, and the squares were just as delicious!
