Description
The Best Date Squares Recipe is a classic dessert made with a buttery oat crumb, a soft sweet date filling, and simple pantry ingredients for an easy old-fashioned treat everyone loves.
Ingredients
2 cups chopped dates
1 cup water
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup old-fashioned oats
1 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
Instructions
1. Preheat the oven to 350°F and line or grease an 8×8-inch baking pan.
2. Add the chopped dates, water, granulated sugar, and lemon juice to a saucepan over medium heat.
3. Cook the mixture, stirring often, until the dates soften and form a thick filling.
4. Remove the pan from the heat, stir in the vanilla extract, and let the filling cool slightly.
5. In a large bowl, mix the old-fashioned oats, all-purpose flour, brown sugar, salt, and baking soda.
6. Pour in the melted butter and stir until the mixture becomes evenly crumbly.
7. Press about two-thirds of the oat mixture firmly into the bottom of the prepared pan.
8. Spread the date filling evenly over the crust.
9. Sprinkle the remaining oat mixture over the top of the filling.
10. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the top is lightly golden and the edges are set.
11. Let the bars cool completely before slicing into squares.
Notes
For the cleanest slices, let the bars cool fully before cutting.
If your dates feel dry, simmer them an extra minute or two so the filling becomes smooth and spreadable.
These bars taste even better the next day after the layers have settled and the flavor has deepened.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 square
- Calories: 252
- Sugar: 24g
- Sodium: 74mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 24mg