Date Squares

Name: Date Squares
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 18 squares
Ingredients: 1 lb chopped pitted dates; 1 cup water; 2/3 cup brown sugar; 1/2 lemon, juice of; 1 tablespoon cornstarch; 1/2 cup unsalted butter; 3/4 cup brown sugar; 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour; 1/2 teaspoon baking soda; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1 1/2 cups rolled oats

Submitted by Studentchef

"This was printed by The Montreal Gazette. Every Wednesday they printed recipes and recipe ideas, and many of them come from cookbooks or chefs. This one comes from chef Michele Fireman. I've tried this several times, and it's always a hit in the house."

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photo by loof751

Ready In:: 45mins
Ingredients:: 11
Yields:: 18 squares

ingredients

Date filling
1 lb chopped pitted dates
1 cup water
²⁄₃ cup brown sugar
¹⁄₂ lemon, juice of
1 tablespoon cornstarch
Base and topping
¹⁄₂ cup unsalted butter
³⁄₄ cup brown sugar
1 ¹⁄₂ cups all-purpose flour
¹⁄₂ teaspoon baking soda
¹⁄₂ teaspoon salt
1 ¹⁄₂ cups rolled oats

directions

For the date filling: Combine the dates, water, sugar, cornstarch and lemon juice in a medium saucepan, stirring often, until thick and smooth, about ten minutes.
Preheat the oven to 350°F.
In a mixing bowl cream butter, then cream in sugar.
In another bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda and salt.
Blend flour mixture into the butter mixture, then blend in the rolled outs.
Grease a square Pyrex baking dish 8x8 inches/2L (I use a square baking pan of the same size).
Put half the rolled oats mixture evenly over the bottom. Spread the cooled dates over the base. Then add the remaining rolled oats mixture over the dates.
Bake in the oven for 30 minutes or until nice and brown.
Cool in pan. Cut into squares or bars.
It can be frozen, but in my house it's usually gone within the next few days.

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Reviews

I also followed the recipe exactly and had the same dry results for the topping and the bottom, it did not seem to be moist enough when mixed but I went ahead and used it anyway, the results were disappointing as the bottom and the top did not hold together at all. Don,t know what I could have done to rectify this except to have added more butter I guess. Checking other recipies I notice most of them require more butter for the dry mixture. Tastes good but be careful with the dry mixture, if it looks or feels too dry it probably is. Hope this helps without being too critical.

muffins 1946
I used the filling part of this recipe only and found it to be perfect for my needs. I used it as filling in oatmeal-date filled cookies, sandwiching a layer of date filling between two small oatmeal cookies. Perfect!

A_Maude
ABSOLUTE ENJOYMENT, both in the making & the eating of these tasties! I did use Medjool dates which are a lot more moist & flavorful (I think) than some other dates on the market! I have several date bar recipes on hand, & this one is every bit as good as any of the others, so . . . I'll be keeping it around! Thanks for sharing this great recipe! [Tagged & made in Please Review My Recipe]

Sydney Mike
Just loved these delightful little treats! My filling was sweet and rich and the crust was firm yet chewy. The crust mixture was very thick and I had to mix the oats into it with my hands. I didn't wait the for filling mixture to cool completely and it worked out fine. Thanks for posting this yummy recipe!

loof751
This reminds me of something my grannie used to make she called them Matramonial squares - what I like better about these is that they aren't as sweet - thanks for the great taste and for bringing back some great memories!!!!!

Ravenseyes

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RECIPE SUBMITTED BY

Studentchef

I am an Israeli-Canadian who grew up in Montreal Quebec. I love to cook, especially for family and friends, and I love to experiment with recipes and try to do different variations of the same recipe. I did do part of cooking school, but found the place stressful and all the good recipes high in fat and calories, even the good ones. I don't have a fave cookbook, but I eat kosher. I have a dream and that is to own my own B&B one of these days. I also love creative writing, and maybe I like to try make up a recipe of my own and see if I'm good at doing that. I have to add that I do have some favourite chefs from the Food Network. They are Giada De Laurentis from Everyday Italian; Micheal Smith from Chef at Home; Jamie Oliver and everything he does; Anna Olson from Sugar; and Chef Gordon Ramsey from Hells' Kitchen and Ramsey's Kitchen Nightmares. <img src="http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r271/copperhorse58/HerbsandSpicesSwap2009Sticker.jpg"> <img src="http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c175/emmyduckie/banner2009.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"width=100%> <img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v726/annacia/Award%20Banners/kittencaljpg.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> <img src="http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/jj81/HokiesLady65/Banners/AMBadgeGenTP2009.jpg"> <img src="http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg271/MrsTeny/CookbookParticipation.jpg"> <img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v726/annacia/Permanent%20Banners/snow-queens-sm.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> <img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v726/annacia/Permanent%20Banners/pot-luck-sm.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> <img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v726/annacia/Permanent%20Banners/Masked-reveller-at-Carniv-0.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> <img src="http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b399/susied214/craze1banner.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"> <img src="http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b399/susied214/craze-e2banner.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"> <img src="http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b399/susied214/calendar%20clips/3Craze-E.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"> spring 08 <img src="http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b399/susied214/permanent%20collection/PAC08Main.jpg"> <img src="http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b399/susied214/permanent%20collection/adoptedspring08.jpg"> fall 08 <img src="http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b399/susied214/permanent%20collection/PACfall08partic.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"> <img src="http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b399/susied214/permanent%20collection/IWasAdoptedfall08.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"> spring 09 <img src="http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg271/MrsTeny/Permanent%20Collection/PACSpring09Iwasadopted.jpg"> fall 09 <img src="http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j166/ZaarNicksMom/PACsticker-Adopted.jpg"> <img src="http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j166/ZaarNicksMom/Animation6.gif"> <img src="http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b399/susied214/permanent%20collection/sticker.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"> <img src="http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y53/DUCHESS13/RSC%20Banners/RSC9-NoPhoto-Participant.jpg"> <img src="http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y53/DUCHESS13/RSC%20Banners/RSC10-NoPhoto-Participant.jpg"> <img src="http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y53/DUCHESS13/RSC%20Banners/RSC11-Participant.jpg"> <img src="http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e110/flower753/Food/soup_banner.jpg"></a> <img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e347/Saturn6666/KiwiDutch/3chefstag1.jpg"> <img src="http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e110/flower753/Food/my3chefs2008Small.jpg"> <img src="http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e110/flower753/Food/my3chefsnov2008.jpg"> <img src="http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b2/kiwidutch/my3chefs2009final-1.jpg"> <img src="http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r317/j_welcome/pics2/food/PRMRcopy.jpg"> <img src="http://i490.photobucket.com/albums/rr266/Acadia/Banners/HolidayCardSwapBannerP-1.jpg">

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