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.
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!
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.
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.
- 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.
Mix through to combine.
Add the melted butter and vanilla extract.
Stir gently until all ingredients are well combined.
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.
Bake in a preheated oven for 15 minutes until golden.
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.
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.
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.
Expert Tips And FAQS
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.
Of course, simply omit the ½ tsp of salt in the recipe.
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.
Date squares can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature or in the refrigerator for up to a week.
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.
Related Recipes
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!
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Date Squares
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
For the date filling
- 400 g (ml) water
- 400 g dried pitted dates
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 30 g butter
Instructions
Conventional Method
- Preheat oven to 160 degrees fan forced. Grease and line a 17cm x 28cm slice tray with baking paper, allowing the edges to overhang.
- In a large bowl, mix together flour, rolled oats, salt and bi-carb soda. Stir in the raw sugar and brown sugar and mix until all combined.
- Pour melted butter and vanilla extract over the dry ingredients. Stir mixture until well combined.
- Spread half of the crumb mixture into the bottom of the prepared tin and press into an even layer. Bake in preheated oven for 15 minutes. Remove from oven and put aside (leave the oven turned on).
- Meanwhile, chop the pitted dates and place them into a saucepan along with the water, butter and vanilla extract.
- Stir over medium heat until the dates have softened and the mixture has thickened (approx 10 minutes). Allow to cool slightly.
- Pour the date mixture over the cooked oat base and spread out evenly.
- Sprinkle the remaining crumble mixture over the top of the date layer.
- Bake in oven for 23 - 26 minutes or until lightly golden. Remove from oven and allow to cool.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours (preferably overnight) then take it out and cut into squares.
- Store in airtight container in refrigerator or at room temperature for up to 1 week.
Thermomix Method
- Preheat oven to 160 degrees fan forced. Grease and line a 17cm x 28cm slice tray with baking paper, allowing the edges to overhang.
- Melt the butter and vanilla in the Thermomix bowl for 3 minutes, Speed 2, 50 degrees.
- Add the plain flour, rolled oats, salt, bi-carb soda, brown sugar and raw sugar. Mix for 20 seconds on Reverse, Speed 2. Scrape down the sides. Mix for a further 20 seconds on Reverse, Speed 2.
- Spread half of the crumb mixture into the bottom of the prepared tray and press firmly into an even layer. Bake in preheated oven for 15 minutes or until lightly golden. Remove from oven and put aside (leave the oven turned on).
- Place the dates into a clean Thermomix bowl. Chop for 10 seconds, Speed 9. Scrape down the sides of the bowl. Add the water, vanilla and butter and mix for 6 minutes, Reverse, Speed 3, 90 degrees. Pour into a bowl and allow to cool slightly.
- Pour the date mixture over the cooked oat base and spread out evenly.
- Sprinkle the remaining crumble mixture over the top of the date layer. Bake in oven for 23 – 26 minutes or until lightly golden. Remove from oven and allow to cool.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours (preferably overnight) then take it out and cut into squares.
- Store in airtight container in refrigerator or at room temperature for up to 1 week.
Notes
- Dried pitted dates are easily found in the baking section of your supermarket
- Date layer - the date layer in the middle is deliciously thick if you follow my recipe exactly. However, if you prefer a thinner date filling then you can reduce the date filling ingredients (dates, water and butter) by half.
- 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.
Naomi Horton
These are delicious. I made some thin lemon icing with finely grated lemon zest and juice. Pour it over top whilst still warm, NOT hot. Cuts down the sweetness of the dates...we like the filling thick as well. Yumm
Lavinia
Hi, how about using the dark unsulfered apricots in place of the dates?
Lucy Mathieson
I haven't tried that sorry!
Amanda
Absolutely love this recipe, just wondering if and how you would freeze these?
Love the website, can’t wait to try out more of your recipes!
Lucy Mathieson
Hi Amanda, thank you!!! And yes, absolutely you can freeze this slice. xx
Charlotte
Hi, was just wondering, did you grind the rolled oats into flour? Mine has just ended up very wet and not like crumble at all, thanks!
Lucy Mathieson
Hi Charlotte, no the rolled oats are used as is in this recipe. I'm not sure how the crumble would end up too wet as the only liquid is coming from the butter? That's very odd!!
Maria Phelan
COULD YOU HAVE USED TOO MUCH WATER WHEN SOFTENING THE DATES?
Jane
Did you use quick oats, or traditional oats? You would need to use traditional oats in this recipe
Tania| My Kitchen Stories
Gorgeous and so easy.