Best Date Squares Ever

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.

• Preparation Time: 20 mins
• Cooking Time: 30 mins
• Total Time: 50 mins
• Calories: 251 Calories

Ingredients

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

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Heat dates, orange juice, and lemon juice in a large saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring often, until dates are soft, about 6 minutes.

Step 2

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Grease a 9x11-inch baking pan; line with parchment paper.

Step 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.

Step 4

Spread date mixture evenly over oat mixture; sprinkle remaining oat mixture evenly over date mixture and press lightly.

Step 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.