The Date Squares Square Off: A Classic Treat with a Twist

 

I love dates squares. They've always been my go-to-date recipe. In fact I've used the same oat base recipe for other delicious creations like my strawberry/rhubarb cheesecake squares, a perfect summer treat that everyone enjoys. But classic date squares?  These timeless delights are loved no matter the season. 

This recipe comes straight from The Great Bake Take and Go Baking Book  and is a combination of four different recipes. The goal? Keep the flavor rich and use the best bits from them all while keeping the calories under control.

Date Square Recipe

Oat Base & Topping Ingredients

• All-purpose flour – 245 g (1¾ cups)
• Cinnamon – 3 g (½ tsp)
• Rolled oats – 180 g (2 cups)
• Brown sugar – 200 g (1 cup)
• Butter (cold, cubed) – 170 g (¾ cup)
• Baking soda – 2 g (½ tsp)
• Salt – 3 g (½ tsp)

Date Filling Ingredients

• Pitted dates – 600 g (4 cups)
• Water – 375 g (1½ cups) (may need a little more)
• Brown sugar – 90 g (1/3 cup)
• Vanilla – 6 g (½ tsp)

Method

1. In a saucepan, boil dates with water over medium heat until soft (about 5-10 minutes). If needed, add a little more water. Let cool.
2. In a mixing bowl, combine flour, baking soda, oats, and cinnamon.
3. In another bowl, mix butter, salt, and sugar.
4. Combine both mixtures to create a crumbly oat mixture. Using your hands helps!
5. Press half of the oat mixture firmly into a greased 9x13-inch pan.
6. Spread the cooled date filling evenly over the base.
7. Top with the remaining oat mixture, pressing it down gently. Adjust for thickness—some prefer a thicker base with a lighter topping.
8. Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 25–30 minutes until golden brown.
9. Cool completely before cutting into squares.

Tips & Variations

• Add a tangy twist – A squeeze of fresh lemon juice in the filling brightens the flavors.
• Try dried cranberries – At Dobbits' Bakehouse (which I still miss!), we added dried cranberries to the filling. It was a delightful touch. Swap 1/3 of the dates for cranberries.
• Pineapple for a tropical flair – Some people add crushed pineapple while boiling the dates for a unique sweetness. Start with a 1/3 swap out of the dates for pineapple. (Disclaimer, I haven't tried pineapple).

Because this post is called the Date Square Square Off, I wanted to share my Aunt Eleanor's date square recipe. While visiting my cousin Nancy in Sussex New Brunswick, I took a photo of the original hand written recipe. Great baking runs in the family. 

Family Tradition: Aunt Eleanor’s Version

Because this post is called the Date Square Square-Off, I have to share my Aunt Eleanor’s recipe. While visiting my cousin Nancy in Sussex, New Brunswick, I took a photo of her original handwritten recipe—hey, great baking runs in the family!

What’s different?

• More flour and butter in the base of Elenor's, which can add a richer, more crumbly texture.
• No vanilla in Eleanor's filling, but a different balance of sugar.
• A slightly longer bake time, resulting in a deeper caramelized flavor.

Aunt Eleanor’s date squares were always so good, but I think the secret ingredient was love—she made them for the people she cared about. I hope you give one of these recipes a try! 

Are you team classic date squares, or do you love a creative twist?  Let me know in the comments.

Here is a great picture of Aunt Eleanor when she was young. She was one of nine children. I remember meeting her for the first time when we moved to New Brunswick from Ontario. Dad and mom pulled up to their farm house in Perth/Andover with eight kids in the back of a station wagon. They were all so happy to see us. It was like a miracle because in those days it did not seem like anyone wanted to see a bunch of kids pull up, knowing they all needed to be feed. It was fun meeting family getting to know our cousins.

One of the older girl cousins had made a batch of no bake haystack cookies. You know the ones made of cocoa, oatmeal, coconut and butter. 

At the farm there was a tree log fence along rolling dirt farm roads while free range chickens were running around. One of the boy cousins sat on that fence and taught us how to make a real rooster sound while the other boy cousin pulled some long beautiful orange carrots out of the garden, washed them with a garden hose. That was the first thing we ate while our mouths watered waiting for the chocolate delights cooling down on cookie trays in the kitchen. 

Dog Wisdom: If you give me a gift such as a treat or toy, I will graciously and happily accept it wagging my tail in delight. To all you humans out there, you should do the same when offered a gift, accept it happily and graciously. Remember though to save the tail wagging for the dogs.