These classic Date Squares (aka date bar recipe) will quickly become a household favorite -unsweetened Medjool dates sandwiched between layers of oat crumble. Old-fashioned goodness in every bite.
Mother’s Day – it’s complicated, isn’t it?
North American tradition dictates that the second Sunday of the month of May is Mother’s Day. A day set aside to honor mothers and motherhood, and to think of our mothers and children, and the experiences we’ve had with them, what could have been, what should have been…
For so many of us, Mother’s Day brings a lot of joy and cause for celebration. Unfortunately, there are also so many women who experience a sense of sadness and loss on this day.
I came to this understanding in the weeks that followed my mother’s passing. Having lost my mom at an age that I considered too young… I can honestly say that I am in a place of acceptance and gratitude today.
But I had moments of anger and sadness and the textbook stages of dealing with grief. This was especially true the first Mother’s Day without my mom.
My mom was the kind of mom that Hallmark would make cards about – kind, compassionate, thoughtful, selfless, supportive, and unconditionally loving. I felt very privileged for having had such a wonderful mother, and for having had such a wonderful relationship with her.
When she passed, friends and family came together to tell me how my mother had supported them through their own journeys… guided them through the difficult issues concerning their own mothers and motherhood. It just solidified my belief that my mom was truly a special woman.
It was difficult to face each day without my mother at first. I lost my best friend.
But today, I’ve come to appreciate and better understand that healing is a process. Somehow, this process becomes easier if we have faith in it and acknowledge it.
Always striving to be in a place of gratitude and not taking relationships for granted is the work that needs to be done every day… for some of us it’s easy… for others, it’s a little bit more of a struggle.
Mother’s Day… don’t be so hard on yourself. My message is to acknowledge and bring a sense of encouragement to those who find Mother’s Day challenging.
My beautiful daughter asked me why I chose this recipe for a Mother’s Day post. Isn’t that a great question? I thought I would share my answer with all of you just in case any of you were wondering the same thing.
For starters, my mom loved this recipe.
We would often sit and chat while having a cup of coffee with these squares, and those are memories I cherish very much.
This recipe also conjures up visions of old-fashioned goodness and innocence. It has a timeless dimension to it.
I can imagine a grandmother lovingly making this classic dessert for her grandchildren (and, of course, her adult kids).
I love the simplicity of this recipe. There are so few ingredients, and they come together so easily.
Allow me to demonstrate.
How to Make Date Squares:
There are two parts to this date square recipe: the date filling and the oat crumble mixture.
The date filling
In a medium-sized saucepan, combine the chopped dates (1 pound), water (1 cup), lemon juice (2 tablespoons), zest of half a lemon, and cornstarch (1 teaspoon).
Cook, uncovered, over low heat for about 8 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent scorching. Notice the date mixture thickening as the water is absorbed. There is no need to puree the mixture.
Set the mixture aside to cool off.
The oat crumble mixture
In a large bowl, combine the rolled oats (1½ cups), all purpose flour (1¼ cups), brown sugar (¾ cups), baking soda (½ teaspoon) and a pinch of salt. Combine thoroughly together.
Grate the butter (⅔ cup) using the large holes of a box grater and incorporate in the oat mixture with your finger tips.
Although the mixture is extremely crumbly, it will stick when pressed together (see video for demonstration).
At this point, it’s just a matter of layering both mixtures.
Place about two-thirds of the oat mixture in the bottom of an 8 x 8 pan (sprayed with nonstick vegetable spray) and press lightly with a heavy-bottomed glass.
Bake in a preheated oven (350°F /175°C) for 5-8 minutes.
Remove from the oven and spread the date mixture evenly over the bottom crust.
Distribute the rest of the oat mixture evenly over the top of the date mixture. Press down lightly with your fingertips.
Bake for another 25-30 minutes. Remove from the oven, place on a wire rack, and allow to cool down completely before cutting.
FAQ
Can the recipe be made in a 9 x 9 pan?
Yes! The result will be a thinner date bar but equally delicious.
Can this recipe be frozen?
Yes! Although they can be kept in the fridge for up to one week, they can easily be frozen. It is best to cut into larger squares (4 x 4 inches), wrap properly in plastic cling wrap, and freeze.
More Date Recipes
Recipe origin
I found the inspiration for this recipe in the food section of the newspaper the Ottawa Citizen. This one dates back to 2006. I have made my usual changes to the recipe – I eliminated all the brown sugar in the date filling since dates are sweet enough, and I decreased the amount of salt.
This date bar recipe is the perfect dessert any time of the year.
I want to bring your attention to the tray. I borrowed it from my sister. She inherited the tray from her mother-in-law. Such a perfect match for this recipe. Don’t you think?
As a final thought, I would like to dedicate this post to my mom and to my sister’s mother-in-law.
THANKS SO MUCH for following and being part of the She Loves Biscotti community where you will find Simple & Tasty Family-Friendly Recipes with an Italian Twist.
Ciao for now,
Maria
★★★★★ If you have made these Date Oat Bars, I would love to hear about it in the comments below and be sure to rate the recipe!
Recipe
Date Squares
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Ingredients
Date filling:
- 1 pound Medjool dates 500 grams, pit removed, coarsely chopped
- 1 cup water
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- Zest of half a lemon
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch
Oat crumble:
- 1 ½ cups rolled oats regular or quick oats
- 1 ¼ cups all purpose flour 175 grams
- ¾ cup brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- pinch of salt
- ⅔ cup unsalted butter
Instructions
To make the date filling:
- Combine the dates, water, lemon juice, zest and cornstarch in a medium sized saucepan.
- Cook on very low heat for about 8 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Remove from heat and set aside to cool down.
To make the oat crumble:
- Combine all the dry ingredients together except the butter.
- Grate the butter over the dry mixture.
- With your hands, incorporate the butter in the oat crumble mixture.
- The dough should be crumbly, but if you squeeze it together, it should hold its’ shape.
To make the date squares:
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Spray an 8 x 8 square pan with non-stick vegetable spray.
- Press about ⅔ of the total oat crumble mixture at the bottom of a square pan. press lightly with a heavy bottomed glass.
- Bake in oven for about 5-8 minutes.
- Remove from heat.
- Spread the date filling over the base.
- Crumble the remaining oatmeal mixture over the top of the date filling. Press lightly with fingertips.
- Bake in a preheated oven for about 25-30 minutes.
- Set pan on wire rack. Cool completely in pan before cutting into squares.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
This post was originally published on May 1, 2016 and republished on May 4, 2019 with updated content, photos and a video. Thanks for watching and sharing!
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Jeanne Haagen-Lebert
Making it right now, super excited! My husband loves eight squares on. Unfortunately, I did not get an opportunity to ask his mom for her recipe before she passed away. He’s very sick right now, so I’m trying to give him a healthy, sweet treat. Just curious as to what the rule is for taking the crust out between five and eight minutes. What is the factor? Thank you so much
Maria
Thanks for your interest Jeanne. It really depends on your oven as every oven heat a little differently. The longer it stays in the oven the “drier” the oat crumble becomes.
Diane Stump
The bars are so delicious and the oat crumble is 10 stars! Best crumble I’ve ever tasted. Thank you for this recipe.
Maria
I am so thrilled to read this Diane! Thanks so much for sharing!
Kathleen B
I love date bars and these are exactly how I remember my mother’s. I have tried several recipes and these are by far the best. Delicious and easy to make. The lemon juice and zest provide the perfect balance to sweetness of dates. Thanks so much. I will make them again!
Maria
Thank you so much for sharing Kathleen.
Marianna
These are great and super easy to make. But I will reduce sugar by half next time. I bit too sweet for my taste.
Thank you, Maria, for sharing this recipe. Have a pleasant day!
Maria
Thanks so much for sharing Marianna.