Best Date Squares Ever
Description
This best date squares ever recipe yields delicious date-filled oatmeal bars that use less sugar than other recipes, but you would never know it.
Ingredients
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4 cups chopped pitted honey dates
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3/4 cup orange juice
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1/2 teaspoon lemon juice
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2 cups whole wheat flour
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2 cups quick-cooking oats
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3/4 cup brown sugar
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1/2 teaspoon baking powder
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1/2 teaspoon baking soda
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1/2 teaspoon salt
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1 1/2 cups unsalted butter, melted and cooled
Directions
1
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Grease a 9x11-inch baking pan; line with parchment paper.
2
Heat dates, orange juice, and lemon juice in a large saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring often, until dates are soft, about 6 minutes.
3
Whisk whole wheat flour, oats, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together in a large bowl; stir in melted butter. Press 1/2 oat mixture evenly into the prepared pan.
4
Spread date mixture evenly over oat mixture; sprinkle remaining oat mixture evenly over date mixture and press lightly.
5
Bake in the preheated oven until golden, about 20 minutes. Cool in the pan to room temperature, about 30 minutes. Refrigerate until chilled before cutting into squares, about 1 hour.