Date Squares

Date squares is one of my favourite treats to make.  I've bought date squares before at some grocery stores.  But I prefer this homemade version which is far more superior.  I found this recipe printed on the bag of oats that I had bought.  

Ingredients:

For the date filling you need the following ingredients:

Pitted Dates - 2 cups
Water - 1/3 cup
Brown sugar - 2 tbsp
Orange zest from half an orange
Orange juice - 2 tbsp
Lemon juice - 1 tsp

For the dough you need the following:

1 1/2 cups - whole wheat flour

1 1/2 cups - oats

Sugar - 1 cup

Softened butter - 1 cup

Baking soda - 1/2 tsp

Baking powder - 1 tsp

Salt - 1/4 tsp

Method:

Chop the dates. You may use a chopper or food processor or do it manually.

Combine 2 cups of dates chopped, 1/3 cup of water, 2 tbsp brown sugar and orange rind from half an orange in a pot and heat on low medium until the date mixture turns soft. This should take 3 to 5 minutes. 

After turning off heat add 2 tbsp orange juice and 1 tsp of lemon juice to the cooked dates and mix well and set aside.

Combine 1 1/2 cups of whole wheat flour, 1 tsp baking powder and 1/2 tsp baking soda, 1/4 tsp salt and 1 cup of softened butter. Mix with finger tips.

To the flour mixture add 1 1/2 cups oats and 1 cup of brown sugar and mix well

Spread half of the dough evenly in a baking tray. I have put parchment paper over the tray before spreading the dough.

Over the spread dough spread all of the date mixture you had made earlier

as evenly as possible 

Over the dates spread the other half of the dough

Bake at 325 F for 35 to 40 minutes. You may choose to cut into squares while it is still warm.

I have cut into squares after it cooled completely.

Enjoy this absolutely delicious date square...