This is the Best Date Square Recipe
Are you craving old-fashioned date squares? This is the perfect oat mixture and a great way to combine dates that will have you loving life. I think that these are the perfect dessert to pair with a cup of coffee at the beginning or end of the day.
You know those amazing Date Squares or Newfoundland Date Crumbles they have at your local coffee shop? The really huge ones, that are so melt in your mouth delicious?
Well what if I were to tell you that you could make these delicious little treats yourself, and very easily too? And that they were jam packed with healthy ingredients, like dates? AND…
Homemade Date Squares or Date Bars are already Vegan, and so easy to convert to Gluten-Free!
This post was originally published on June 23, 2017 and updated December 4, 2020.
All of that buttery date filling sandwiched between delicious brown sugar, flour and more butter!
Would you be interested? I thought so!
Homemade Date Squares
This Homemade Date Squares Recipe is even better than the ones you see in your favorite coffee store. Just sayin.
That crumble crust paired with the chopped dates and other filling ingredients makes for the perfect treat in individual squares.
Biting into a freshly baked Date Square can be a bit tricky. That delicious crumbly topping full of buttery brown sugar goodness will crumble all over you, if you aren’t careful.
But that really does take second place to the creamy date filling for date squares that swirls around in your mouth with the yummy cookie base and topping.
Tips to make the Best Date Filling for Date Squares
These remind me of my Blueberry Scone Recipe (Starbucks) but just sweeter!
- Use the freshest ingredients
- Use large flake oatmeal
- Follow the recipe exactly
- Make sure the unsalted butter is cold
- Use a hand held pastry blender to gently blend the butter through the oatmeal and flour mixture
Ingredients needed to make Date Square Bars
- Oatmeal, fine (not instant)
- Flour
- Brown sugar
- Salt
- Baking powder
- Shortening, or butter if you prefer
- Dates, chopped
- Water
- Brown sugar
- Lemon juice
- Baking soda
How To Make Old Fashioned Date Squares
Step One: Base and Topping
- Blend all ingredients together well, making sure the shortening is blended and split the mixture in half – one part for the bottom in a well greased plan, and one part for the top of the squares.
Step Two: Make the Filling
- Combine the filling ingredients in a medium saucepan and stirring often, cook over low heat until thick. Cool before spreading.
Step Three: Make the Date Squares
- Press one half of the dry mixture in the bottom of a 9 X 9 square pan, that you have lined with aluminum foil
- Spread the Date mixture evenly
- Top with the rest of the Dry mixture
- Bake at 350F 35 – 45 minutes or until top is nicely golden.
- Cool and cut into squares right away.
- Store in an air tight container.
- These Date squares freeze really well!
- Enjoy.
Recipe FAQs
Date Squares are definitely a triple layer of awesome goodness! They are also known as Newfoundland Date Crumbles and there are a number of different recipes out there.
They’re made of pitted dates, large flake oatmeal, butter, brown sugar, and flour.
A healthy substitute for white sugar is date syrup.
What other recipes use pitted dates?
- Queen Elizabeth Cake is a great old fashioned recipes that uses dates. Or you could make Date Nut Cookies. Both are excellent.
Once you get the hang of this recipe, it’ll be like your new best friend! This dates square recipe is one of the best!
A well-known Canadian treat – wiki says Date squares are also known as Matrimonial Squares or Newfoundland Date Crumbles!
But in my humble opinion, the very best date squares recipe I’ve ever eaten comes from the one I’m about to share with you and that was created by my Grandma Snider.
You may need:
This recipe uses a 9 X 9 baking pan, but if you double the recipe it’s perfect for a 13 X 9 baking pan and that means freezing some for yummy treats later!
We’ve included equipment information in the recipe below.
How to store leftover date bars
Make sure to store any leftovers in an airtight container. This is the best way to keep them fresh! They don’t have to be kept in the fridge, either.
I’ve featured some of Grandma’s recipes before, she was an amazing cook and baker! This easy recipe will quickly become a family favorite.
You may also like….
Date Squares are a Canadian speciality, just like Nanaimo Bars, and Butter Tarts!
Also known as Newfoundland Date Crumbles, we love this truly Canadian Recipe. Here are some of my Grandma’s other recipes you can find on the blog:
- Orange Cranberry Bundt Cake
- Homemade Butter Tarts
- Chocolate Fudge Cake
- The Best Homemade Pumpkin Pie
- What is The Secret To Make Perfect Flaky Pie Crust
Dates Squares – A Wonderful Old Fashioned Recipe!
Our Date Squares are a moist soft bar, full of sweet dates, butter, brown sugar and yummy oatmeal.
The crumble top browns only slightly, and folks often serve date squares just like a slice of cake!
We like to cut them into small squares, so they can be eaten with your fingers, and of course that always mean you can have seconds, right? Or thirds?!? LOL. Enjoy this old fashioned recipe. Your friends and family will definitely love it!
If you like this homemade date squares recipe, please give it a 5 star rating. xo
Homemade Date Squares Recipe | Grandma’s Favorites
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Equipment
Ingredients
Base and Topping
- 2 cups oatmeal - fine (not instant)
- 1 cup flour
- ¾ cup brown sugar
- Pinch salt
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ½ cup shortening - or butter if you prefer
Filling
- 1 cup dates - chopped
- 1 cup water
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- Pinch baking soda
Instructions
Base and Topping:
- Blend all ingredients together well, making sure the shortening is blended and split the mixture in half – one part for the bottom in a well greased plan, and one part for the top of the squares.
Filling:
- Combine the filling ingredients in a medium saucepan and stirring often, cook over low heat until thick. Cool before spreading.
Make the Date Squares
- Press one half of the dry mixture in the bottom of a 9 X 9 square pan, that you have lined with aluminum foil
- Spread the Date mixture evenly
- Top with the rest of the Dry mixture
- Bake at 350F 35 – 45 minutes or until top is nicely golden.
- Cool and cut into squares right away.
- Store in an air tight container.
- These Date squares freeze really well!
- Enjoy.
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Nutrition
These are estimated values generated from a nutritional database using unbranded products. Please do your own research with the products you’re using if you have a serious health issue or are following a specific diet.
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Judy Kahansky
Judy Kahansky is an experienced writer and baker, creating delicious desserts (including pie!) for over 40 years. She loves to take classic and vintage recipes and update them to fit the busy lives of her readers. When not baking, Judy and her husband Mark are passionate golfers, travelers and dog lovers, spending as much time as they can with their sweet pup Millie.
I am Canadian and living in US Thanks for the delicious child hood recipe