Delightful Date Squares Food

DATE SQUARES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Grease a 13- by 9- by 2-inch metal baking pan, then line with foil, leaving a 2-inch overhang on 2 opposite sides, and butter foil.
• Whisk together flour, salt, and spices. Beat together butter and granulated sugar in a bowl with an electric mixer at medium-high speed until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes in a standing mixer (preferably fitted with paddle attachment) or 6 minutes with a handheld. Reduce speed to low and add eggs 1 at a time, mixing well after each addition. Add baking soda mixture and mix until combined. Add flour mixture, walnuts, and dates and mix until just combined.
• Spread batter evenly in baking pan and bake in middle of oven until a tester comes out clean, 50 minutes to 1 hour. Cool in pan on a rack 15 minutes. Carefully lift date mixture out of pan using foil overhang and transfer to a cutting board. Cut into 1-inch squares and peel from foil.
• Toss warm squares a few at a time in confectioners sugar, then transfer to a rack to cool completely. Sprinkle with more confectioners sugar just before serving.

DELIGHTFUL DATE SQUARES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• In a small saucepan, bring the water to a boil, then reduce to medium heat and add the dates and 1/2 tsp of the salt, and simmer until the dates are soft and will mix easily with the water.
• Remove from heat and set aside to cool.
• In a large bowl, stir together the oat flakes, flour, sweetener, salt, baking powder, baking soda, and cinnamon.
• Add the margarine and oil and stir together until well combined.
• If the crust is too dry, add the optional water.
• Press half of the crust mixture into the bottom of a 9x13 pan.
• Spread the date mixture over the top, spreading out with the back of a large spoon.
• Sprinkle the remaining crust mixture over the top.
• Bake for 25-40 minutes, until the top is lightly browned and tender.
• Crust will harden when it cools so cut into squares before it gets too difficult!

DATE SQUARES

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.