Oat & Date Crumble Slice

Name: Date Squares
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 38 min
Total time: 178 min
Ingredients: 115 g (1¼ cups) plain flour; 110 g (1¼ cups) rolled oats; ½ tsp salt; ½ tsp bi-carb soda; 100 g (½ cup) raw sugar; 80 g (½ cup) brown sugar (packed); 170 g (¾ cup) unsalted butter (melted); 1 tsp vanilla extract; 400 g dried pitted dates; 400 g (ml) water; 1 tsp vanilla extract; 30 g butter

Jump to Recipe

Old fashioned Date Squares are made with a crunchy base, a sweet date filling and an oat crumble topping. This classic recipe (also known as matrimonial cake) takes just 20 minutes to prepare and is perfect served for afternoon tea with a cup of coffee.

A layered slice filled with dates and a rolled oats crumble topping

Some of the most popular slice recipes on Bake Play Smile are the old fashioned ones!

You know, the ones that your grandma used to make out of her very well worn CWA cookbook.

Classic recipes - like raspberry coconut slice, chocolate coconut slice, lemon slice, hedgehog slice and these date squares are just as popular today as were 50 years ago!

Squares of a oat & date slice on a white dish, with a golden crumble topping

Why You're Going To Love This Recipe

This sweet and crunchy date slice is always popular for morning or afternoon tea.

Basic ingredients - there are no fancy or expensive ingredients needed - just a few basic pantry staples
Budget-friendly - rolled oats and dates, two of the main ingredients, are both very reasonably priced. This entire slice will set you back just a few dollars
Healthy - rolled oats are a great source of carbs and fibre, loaded with vitamins and minerals, and known for helping to lower cholesterol. Rolled oats are also higher in protein than many other grains. Dates are an excellent natural sweetener and are high in fibre, potassium and anti-oxidants.
Versatile - This simple slice is prefect served as a slice with a cuppa or as a sweet dessert. I just love sitting down with a cup of coffee and an energy boosting date square to munch on, (especially when I hit that mid-afternoon 'slump'), but you can also warm it up, add a big scoop of vanilla ice-cream and serve it as a rich, decadent dessert.

Four squares of a crumble and date slice, served on a white cake stand

What You Need

Just a few basic ingredients are needed to make this old fashioned date squares recipe.

Note: Please scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of the post for ingredient quantities and the full detailed method.

All the ingredients for date squares in individual bowls

plain flour - also know as all purpose flour
rolled oats - use plain rolled oats instead of instant or quick oats for best results
salt
bicarbonate soda - also known as baking soda. It's ingredient is sodium bicarbonate and this creates a different reaction to baking powder when used in baking
raw sugar - also known as granulated sugar
brown sugar - either light or dark brown sugar are fine to use, however I prefer to use 'light' as the dates give the slice a rich caramelised flavour on their own
butter - I use unsalted butter in this recipe, however if you only have salted butter, simply omit the ½ tsp of salt
pitted dates - dried pitted dates are easily found in the baking section of your supermarket
vanilla extract - or vanilla essence or vanilla bean paste
water

Step By Step Instructions

A simple melt and mix date squares recipe that is easy enough for beginner cooks to master, but also loved by those who are more experienced in the kitchen.

Note: Please scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of the post for ingredient quantities and the full detailed method.

Step 1 - Prepare The Mix

Preheat your oven to 160 degrees (fan forced) and grease and line a slice tin, allowing the edges of a sheet of baking paper to overhang.

Add the dry ingredients to a large bowl.

Brown and raw sugar added to oats and flour in a glass bowl

Mix through to combine.

Dry ingredients in a glass bowl with a spoon

Add the melted butter and vanilla extract.

Melted butter added to dry ingredients in a glass bowl

Stir gently until all ingredients are well combined.

The rolled oats mixture in a glass bowl with a spoon

Step 2 - Bake Your Base

Press half the crumble mixture into your slice tin.

TIP: Use the back of a spoon to press the mixture down firmly and evenly.

Half the rolled oats mixture pressed into a lined baking tain

Bake in a preheated oven for 15 minutes until golden.

The base layer of date squares baked golden in a slice tin.

Remove from the oven (but leave your oven on to cook the filling and topping).

Step 3 - Cook The Date Mixture

Chop the pitted dates and place in a saucepan along with the water and butter.

Chopped dates, water and butter in a saucepan

Over medium heat, stirring occasionally, simmer for approximately 10 minutes and then allow to cool slightly. Spread thickened date mixture over the baked base layer.

NOTE: using all of the date mixture will give you a very thick middle layer. Use as much or as little of the date mixture as you like. I personally like my middle layer quite thick, whereas some others prefer a thinner layer in the middle and therefore could reduce quantities to ½ - ⅔ of the date mixture.

A thick layer of cooked dates spread over base layer

Step 4 - Add Your Crumble Topping

Sprinkle the remaining rolled oats mixture evenly over the date layer, and then place into the oven to cook.

Crumble topping sprinkled over date layer in a slice tin

Expert Tips And FAQS

Can I use fresh medjool dates?

Yes, you could, however they are considerably more expensive than the dried pitted dates that I have used in this date squares recipe. I recommend using dried pitted dates for this recipe.

I don't have unsalted butter, can I use salted butter?

Of course, simply omit the ½ tsp of salt in the recipe.

I don't want a thick layer of dates, how do I reduce the quantity?

Sure, the date layer certainly adds to the sweetness of this slice, however you could reduce this by halving or using two-thirds of the dates, water and butter in the date mixture to make a thinner layer.

Storing

Date squares can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature or in the refrigerator for up to a week.

Freezing

This date square slice can be stored in an airtight container and frozen for up to 3 months. Defrost before consuming or before reheating as a dessert.

Looking down on a white cake stand with four squares of an oat & date slice

Dates add such a great natural sweetness to baking, they're healthy and so versatile too! Here's a few favorite recipes made with dates.

Healthy ABCD Muffins - such a firm favourite, filled with apple, banana, coconut and dates
Date Slice - just 10 minutes prep time and 6 basic ingredients
Sticky Date Pudding with Caramel Sauce - hello, everyone's winter comfort pudding!
Healthy Oat & Date Slice - full of healthy ingredients like dates, oats, honey, chia seeds and LSA (a mix of linseed, sunflower seeds and ground almonds) this is a hugely popular recipe!