Date Squares / Date Oatmeal Bars

Date Squares are buttery, rich, perfectly sweet, and delicious, with soft and juicy date filling between two oatmeal shortbread crusts!

These Canadian Date Squares are also known as date slices or matrimonial bars. They consist of two buttery and rich layers of oatmeal crusts sandwiched together with soft, juicy, and sweet date filling.

Jump to:

• About Date Squares
• Ingredients
• Step by Step Directions
• Storing Suggestions
• Can I Make It Without Food Processor?
• Helpful Tips
• More Date Recipes
• Recipe Card

Our Latest Videos

About Date Squares

You should try these delicious old-fashioned Canadian Date Squares if you like dates. Date Oatmeal bars are filled with luscious date filling flavored with vanilla. And to make them bright and more enjoyable, I have added citrus flavor with orange juice and zest.

The oatmeal base is firm and holds the squares firmly; the top layer is buttery and crumbly. While the middle layer of dates is creamy, soft, and has the right amount of sweetness.

Date Oatmeal Bars are great for a quick snack, sweet craving, or as a bar on the go. It tastes delicious with a cup of tea on cold winter afternoons. I have cut the crust into 16 squares, but you can cut it into smaller squares for the bite sizes.

Ingredients

1. Dates: I have used Medjool dates to make these bars. I prefer these dates as they are soft, juicy, and very sweet. However, you can use any variety of soft and sweet dates.
2. Water + Orange Juice: We need a total of one cup of liquid to cook the dates. I have used ¾ cup of water and ¼ cup of orange juice. You can change this ratio as you like. Also, instead of orange juice, you can add lemon juice. But make sure to use citrus juice to make these bars flavorful, bright, and interesting.
3. Orange Zest: It is optional but highly recommended. If you use lemon juice, add lemon zest.
4. Vanilla: It adds a warm and sweet flavor to these bars.
5. Salt: It provides a nice contrast to a sweet and creamy date filling. But you can skip if you do not want to add salt to the dates puree.
6. Oats: I highly recommend using rolled oats to make these date squares. They provide more crunch and flavor. But you can use quick oats if you prefer them.
7. All-Purpose Flour: I have used unbleached all-purpose flour. You can use pastry flour instead if you like.
8. Sugar: I have used light brown sugar, but you can add white or dark brown sugar.
9. Butter: Use cold butter for the nicely crispy oatmeal crusts. Cut the cold butter into small cubes. You can also grate the cold butter using a large grater. If you grate the butter, pulse it with oatmeal mixture only a couple of times.
10. Ground Cinnamon: I have added cinnamon to the oatmeal crust for some flavor, but you can also add other spices of choice. Instead of cinnamon or with cinnamon, you can add ground cardamom or nutmeg.

Step by Step Directions

Making Date Filling

• Place the dates, water, salt, and orange juice in a medium saucepan.
• Cook the mixture on low-medium heat until dates are soft and all the water is absorbed for about 5-10 minutes, stirring often.

• Turn off the heat, add vanilla and orange zest, mix well.
• Set the mixture aside and let it cool completely.

• Then add the date mixture to a food processor or blender and process it into a fine paste.
• Set it aside.

Making Oatmeal Crust

• Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). 
• Take the 8-inch or 9-inch square baking pan and grease with oil spray or butter.
• Then line it with parchment paper, and keep the parchment paper hanging over both sides. Set it aside.

• Place oats, flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon in a food processor bowl.
• Pulse the mixture 5-6 times to combine.

• Then add butter cubes and pulse until the oat mixture is crumbly and butter is pea-sized.
• Instead of butter cubes, you can grate the cold butter with a large grater. And if you use the grated butter, pulse the mixture 2-3 times only.

• Transfer the mixture into a large bowl and quickly crumble with fingers to distribute the butter evenly.

Baking The Date Squares

• Spread ⅔ of the oat mixture into the prepared baking pan and press down gently but firmly to make a crust.

• Now spread the date filling evenly over the oatmeal crust.
• You can use an offset spatula to spread the date mixture evenly.

• Cover the date filling layer with the remaining oat mixture, and press down lightly to compact.

• Bake in the preheated oven for 40-50 minutes or until golden brown.
• The baking time may vary as every oven is different.
• If the top is browning too quickly, cover it with aluminum foil and continue baking.
• Transfer the pan onto a wire rack and let it cool completely.

• Then unmold and cut into 16 or 20 squares depending on the size of the squares.

Storing Suggestions

• Date Squares will keep at room temperature for up to 2 days, covered in an airtight container.
• Refrigerate the date bars in an airtight container for up to a week.
• You can also freeze the bars for up to a month. For freezing, separate each square with parchment paper pieces and place them in the freezer-safe container or bag.

Can I Make It Without Food Processor?

Yes! You do not need the food processor to make these delicious date squares. Instead, use a blender to puree the date mixture. And if you like the rolled oats whole and intact, simply mix the dry ingredients in a large bowl. Then add grated cold butter and incorporate it using a fork or pastry cutter. You can also mix it with your clean fingers. But if you like to crush the oats coarsely, quickly blend them in the blender and then use them in the recipe.

Helpful Tips

• Medjool dates are best for this recipe as they are soft, juicy, and sweet. However, you can use any other variety that is soft and juicy.
• I suggest using rolled oats to make date bars as they provide a nice texture and flavor compared to quick oats.
• Use cold butter in this recipe for the crispy crust. Instead of cutting the cold butter into small cubes, you can grate the cold butter.
• I highly recommend adding a citrus flavor to the date filling. Without citrus juice, the date squares will be delicious, but the addition of citrus flavor will make the bars more interesting. 
• I have used orange juice and zest, but you can also add lemon juice and zest for the bright flavors. 

More Date Recipes

You May Also Like

• Banana Bars (Whole Wheat and Eggless)
• Overnight Oats (Four Delicious Flavors)
• Chocolate Bark (Easy and Quick)
• Cashew & Coconut Chocobars

Recipe Card