Matrimonial Date Squares
Description
These delicious date squares are oatmeal bar cookies with lots of date filling. This is a favorite family recipe. Try them out to see for yourself.
Ingredients
•
1 pound pitted dates
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2/3 cup light brown sugar
•
2/3 cup orange juice
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1 orange, zested
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2 teaspoons vanilla extract
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1 1/2 cups regular rolled oats
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1 cup all-purpose flour
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1 cup light brown sugar
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3/4 teaspoon baking soda
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1/4 teaspoon salt
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3/4 cup cold unsalted butter
Directions
1
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2
Heat dates, 2/3 cup brown sugar, orange juice, and orange zest in a saucepan over low heat; cook, stirring occasionally, until dates have softened, absorbed the liquid, and mixture is like a paste, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in vanilla.
3
Stir oats, flour, 1 cup brown sugar, baking soda, and salt together in a bowl; cut in butter with a knife or pastry blender until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
4
Lightly press 2/3 of the crumb mixture into the bottom of a 9x9-inch pan. Spread date mixture evenly over the crumb crust; sprinkle remaining crumbs evenly over the top of date mixture.
5
Bake in the preheated oven until top is golden, about 30 minutes; cool on a wire rack for at least 1 hour before slicing into bars.