Date Squares
A buttery oat crumble pressed around a thick, cooked date filling. Sold in Canada as date squares or matrimonial cake, and made from the pantry.
Method
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Heat the oven to 180°C / 350°F and line a 20 cm square tin with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on two sides.
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Put the dates, water and lemon juice in a saucepan and simmer for 8 to 10 minutes, stirring and pressing the dates with the spoon, until they break down into a thick paste. Stir in the vanilla and set aside.
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Mix the oats, flour, sugar, bicarbonate of soda and salt in a bowl. Pour in the melted butter and stir until the mixture is evenly moist and crumbly.
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Press just over half of the crumble firmly and evenly into the base of the tin.
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Spread the date filling over the base in an even layer, then scatter the remaining crumble over the top and press it down lightly.
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Bake for 30 minutes, until the top is golden brown.
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Cool in the tin at least 1 hour, then lift out by the parchment and cut into 16 squares.
Chef’s Tips
- Cook the dates until they are a thick paste. A loose filling makes a soggy base.
- Press the bottom layer down hard with the back of a spoon or a flat-bottomed glass.
- Chill the squares 30 minutes before cutting if they crumble. Butter firms up as it cools.
Pairing Suggestions
- A cup of tea
- Vanilla ice cream
- Whipped cream
Storage & Reheating
Keep in an airtight tin up to 5 days. Freeze cut squares for 2 months.
Common questions
How long does Date Squares take to make?
About 1 hour 5 minutes of hands-on work — 25 minutes of preparation and 40 minutes of cooking — plus 1 hour of Cooling, so allow 2 hours 5 minutes from start to finish. The recipe serves 16.
What are the key tips for making Date Squares?
Cook the dates until they are a thick paste. A loose filling makes a soggy base. Press the bottom layer down hard with the back of a spoon or a flat-bottomed glass. Chill the squares 30 minutes before cutting if they crumble. Butter firms up as it cools.
What should I serve with Date Squares?
A cup of tea; Vanilla ice cream; Whipped cream.
Can Date Squares be made ahead or frozen?
Keep in an airtight tin up to 5 days. Freeze cut squares for 2 months.
Is Date Squares suitable for a special diet?
This recipe is vegetarian. Those labels are checked against the ingredient list, so a dish is only marked when nothing in it contradicts the claim.
How many calories are in Date Squares?
About 258 kcal per serving, with 3 g protein, 39 g carbohydrate and 10 g fat. The figures are calculated from the ingredient list and are an estimate.
Nutritional Highlights
Per serving, calculated from the ingredient list. Treat these as an estimate — brands and cuts vary.
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Written and tested by Turab
One person, one kitchen — no test kitchen, no team. How every recipe on this site is checked before it goes up.