Best 3 Canadian Date Squares Recipes

Indulge in the delightful symphony of flavors and textures that is Canadian date squares, a beloved treat that seamlessly blends sweet, chewy goodness with a buttery, flaky crust. These delectable squares, with their iconic layers of rich date filling sandwiched between layers of tender pastry, offer a taste of Canadian culinary heritage. This comprehensive guide presents a collection of carefully curated recipes, each offering a unique twist on this classic dessert. From the traditional rendition to variations featuring nuts, chocolate, and even a gluten-free option, these recipes cater to diverse preferences and dietary needs. Embark on a culinary journey as we explore the art of crafting these delectable squares, ensuring an unforgettable baking experience.

Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!

GRAMMA'S DATE SQUARES

Gramma's Date Squares image

A date filled bar with a chewy oatmeal crust. This is my grandmother's recipe, which my whole family loves.

Provided by Mai Forrester

Categories Desserts Cookies International Cookie Recipes Canadian Cookie Recipes

Time 50m

Yield 12

Number Of Ingredients 10

Ingredients

1 ½ cups rolled oats
1 ½ cups sifted pastry flour
¼ teaspoon salt
¾ teaspoon baking soda
1 cup packed brown sugar
¾ cup butter, softened
¾ pound pitted dates, diced
1 cup water
⅓ cup packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon lemon juice

Steps:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
In a large bowl, combine oats, pastry flour, salt, 1 cup brown sugar, and baking soda. Mix in the butter until crumbly. Press half of the mixture into the bottom of a 9 inch square baking pan.
In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine the dates, water, and 1/3 cup brown sugar. Bring to a boil, and cook until thickened. Stir in lemon juice, and remove from heat. Spread the filling over the base, and pat the remaining crumb mixture on top.
Bake for 20 to 25 minutes in preheated oven, or until top is lightly toasted. Cool before cutting into squares.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 363.1 calories, Carbohydrate 63.7 g, Cholesterol 30.5 mg, Fat 12.5 g, Fiber 5.3 g, Protein 3.7 g, SaturatedFat 7.4 g, Sodium 217.4 mg, Sugar 41.8 g

BEST DATE SQUARES EVER

Best Date Squares Ever image

These rich tasting squares use less sugar than other recipes but you would never know it. Bring squares to room temperature to serve, about 15 minutes.

Provided by Suzanne Poynter

Categories Desserts Cookies International Cookie Recipes Canadian Cookie Recipes

Time 2h20m

Yield 24

Number Of Ingredients 10

Ingredients

4 cups chopped pitted honey dates
¾ cup orange juice
½ teaspoon lemon juice
2 cups whole wheat flour
2 cups quick-cooking oats
¾ cup brown sugar
½ teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
1 ½ cups unsalted butter, melted and cooled

Steps:

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Grease a 9x11-inch baking pan and line with parchment paper.
Heat dates, orange juice, and lemon juice in a large saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring often, until dates are soft, about 6 minutes.
Stir whole wheat flour, oats, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together in a large bowl; stir in melted butter. Press half of the oat mixture evenly into the prepared pan.
Spread date mixture evenly over oat mixture; sprinkle remaining oat mixture evenly over date mixture and press down lightly.
Bake in the preheated oven until golden, about 20 minutes. Allow to cool in the pan to room temperature, about 30 minutes. Refrigerate until chilled before cutting into squares, about 1 hour.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 251.1 calories, Carbohydrate 35.5 g, Cholesterol 30.5 mg, Fat 12.2 g, Fiber 3.9 g, Protein 3 g, SaturatedFat 7.4 g, Sodium 89.1 mg, Sugar 20.7 g

DATE SQUARES

Date Squares image

This was printed by The Montreal Gazette. Every Wednesday they printed recipes and recipe ideas, and many of them come from cookbooks or chefs. This one comes from chef Michele Fireman. I've tried this several times, and it's always a hit in the house.

Provided by Studentchef

Categories Dessert

Time 45m

Yield 18 squares

Number Of Ingredients 11

Ingredients

1 lb chopped pitted dates
1 cup water
2/3 cup brown sugar
1/2 lemon, juice of
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1/2 cup unsalted butter
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups rolled oats

Steps:

For the date filling: Combine the dates, water, sugar, cornstarch and lemon juice in a medium saucepan, stirring often, until thick and smooth, about ten minutes.
Preheat the oven to 350°F.
In a mixing bowl cream butter, then cream in sugar.
In another bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda and salt.
Blend flour mixture into the butter mixture, then blend in the rolled outs.
Grease a square Pyrex baking dish 8x8 inches/2L (I use a square baking pan of the same size).
Put half the rolled oats mixture evenly over the bottom. Spread the cooled dates over the base. Then add the remaining rolled oats mixture over the dates.
Bake in the oven for 30 minutes or until nice and brown.
Cool in pan. Cut into squares or bars.
It can be frozen, but in my house it's usually gone within the next few days.

Tips:

Use a food processor to quickly and easily chop the dates.
If you don't have a food processor, you can chop the dates by hand, but it will take a bit longer.
Be sure to use unsalted butter in the recipe, as salted butter can make the squares too salty.
If you don't have brown sugar, you can use white sugar instead, but the squares will be a bit less flavorful.
Be careful not to overcook the squares, as they can become dry and crumbly.
Let the squares cool completely before cutting them into bars, otherwise they will be too soft and difficult to cut.

Conclusion:

Canadian date squares are a delicious and easy-to-make treat that are perfect for any occasion. With their sweet and chewy date filling and their crispy oatmeal crust, these squares are sure to be a hit with everyone who tries them. So next time you're looking for a tasty dessert to make, give Canadian date squares a try!