Classic Dessert
Date Squares
Another time honoured classic, this is sure to become the standard by which all other date squares will be measured.
Preparation Time:
15 Minutes
Ingredients:
| Filling: | ||
| 2 cups | Packed pitted dates | 500 mL |
| 2 tbsp | Packed light brown sugar | 25 mL |
| 1 tbsp | Lemon juice | 15 mL |
| 1 tsp | Vanilla | 5 mL |
| Topping and Base: | ||
| 2 cups | Rolled oats (preferably not instant) | 500 mL |
| 1 cup | All purpose flour | 250 mL |
| 1 cup | Packed brown sugar | 250 mL |
| 1 tsp | Baking soda | 5 mL |
| 1/4 tsp | Cinnamon (Optional) | 1 mL |
| 1 Pinch | Salt | |
| 1 cup | Gay Lea unsalted butter, softened | 1 mL |
Instructions:
Filling:
In heavy bottomed saucepan, combine dates and sugar and 1 cup (250 mL) water. Bring to boil; reduce heat and simmer, stirring and mashing dates slightly, for 20 minutes or until thick and jamlike. Stir in lemon juice and vanilla. Set aside to cool.
Preheat oven to 350F (180C). Lightly grease 8-inch (2L) or 9-inch (2.5L) square baking pan or line with parchment paper.
In large bowl combine oats, flour, sugar, soda, cinnamon (if using) and salt. Add butter, crumbling with fingertips until crumbly and well blended. Pat half of mixture into bottom of prepared pan. Spread date filling evenly over. Sprinkle remaining oat mixture evenly over top.
Bake in centre of oven for about 30 minutes or until topping is golden brown. Cool completely in pan on rack. Cut into bars.
Makes 16 squares.
Variations:
- Replace water with orange juice and 1 tbsp (15mL) grated orange rind.
- Blueberry squares. Omit date filling. In saucepan, combine 3 cups (750mL) fresh or frozen blueberries, 1/2 cup (125mL) granulated sugar and 1/4 cup (50mL) fresh orange juice to boil. Reduce heat and simmer for about 10 minutes or until tender. Whisk together 4 tsp (20mL) cornstarch and 2 tbsp (25mL) fresh orange juice; whisk into blueberry mixture. Bring mixture to boil and cook, stirring, for 1 minute or until thickened. Cool completely; proceed with recipe above.