Matrimonial Date Squares

An oatmeal bar cookie with lots of date filling, this is a favorite family recipe.

• Preparation Time: 15 mins
• Cooking Time: 40 mins
• Total Time: 55 mins
• Calories: 307 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 cup light brown sugar
• 1 pound pitted dates
• 1 orange, zested
• 0.25 teaspoon salt
• 0.75 teaspoon baking soda
• 0.66666668653488 cup orange juice
• 0.66666668653488 cup light brown sugar
• 1.5 cups regular rolled oats
• 0.75 cup cold unsalted butter

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

Step 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 extract.

Step 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.

Step 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.

Step 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.