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    Home » Recipes » Recipes

    Date Squares

    February 16, 2021 by Laureen King

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    An old fashioned recipe for Date Squares or as we used to call them matrimonial squares. A delicious layer of sweet date filling sandwiched between a crumbly chewy oatmeal crust and topping. via @artandthekitchAn old fashioned recipe for Date Squares or as we used to call them matrimonial squares. A delicious layer of sweet date filling sandwiched between a crumbly chewy oatmeal crust and topping. via @artandthekitch

    An old-fashioned recipe for Date Squares, or as we always called it, Matrimonial Squares. Consisting of a layer of sweet date filling, sandwiched between a crumbly chewy oatmeal crust and topping.

    A stack of two date squares on black cooling rack.

    Date squares are a popular Canadian dessert that are always included in Holiday baking, church gatherings, and bake sales. I love making many of the old fashioned recipes my Mom and Grandma made. They always bring back such special memories!

    My Dad loves date squares, so I always include them in my Holiday baking. This date bar recipe is handwritten from my Mom's old scribbler of "favorite recipes for cookies, cakes and squares".

    Butter Tarts and Nanaimo bars are two other Canadian Classic dessert recipes you have got to try!

    A date square topped with whole date on a black cooling rack.

    Why are Date Squares also call Matrimonial Cake?

    I am not exactly sure why they are called Matrimonial cake as well as Date Squares except that years ago the cake was often cut into individual  squares, covered with plastic wrap, then decoratively wrapped in small paper doilies and tied with a ribbon. These where given out to each guest at the wedding.

    Cake pan of date squares with a slice cut out.

    Ingredients you will need:

    Ingredients measured in bowls for making date squares.
    • Dates - Dried pitted dates. Any variety will work, but I love the flavor of Medjool dates.
    • Oats - large flake old-fashioned. Quick cook or steel-cut will not work well in this recipe.
    • Brown sugar - I use golden yellow or light brown.
    • Butter - I use unsalted for baking, but if you use salted just reduce salt to ½ teaspoon.
    • Flour - all-purpose white flour.
    • Granulated sugar, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt.

    How to make Date Squares

    Chop dates.

    Chopped dates on wood cutting board.

    Start by softening the chopped dates. Mix the dates, water and granulated sugar together. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for about 5-10 minutes until the dates have softened and the water has evaporated. 

    Dates cooking in stainless steel pot.

    Stir the oats, flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and brown sugar together.

    Stainless steel bowl of flour, oats, brown sugar, pastry blender on side.

    Using a pastry blender cut the butter into the oat mixture and blend until pea-sized crumbles form.

    Cubes of butter on top of dry baking ingredients in stainless steel bowl.
    Butter crumb mixture in stainless steel bowl.

    Press half of the crumb mixture into the bottom of prepared 9 x 13 baking pan.

    Oatmeal butter crumb mixture pressed into glass baking pan.

    Spread the date mixture evenly over the crumb layer.

    Dollops of cooked dates on top of oat crumb crust.
    Cooked date mixture spread on crumb crust in glass baking pan.

    Sprinkle the top with the remaining crumb mixture, pressing down slightly.

    Oatmeal crumb mix on top of cooked dates in glass baking pan.

    Bake in 350 degree oven for 30 minutes. The top should be crisp and golden brown.

    Golden brown baked date squares in glass baking pan.

    Enjoy more tasty square and bar recipes.

    Butterscotch Confetti Squares

    Nanaimo Bars

    Puffed Wheat Squares

    Butterscotch Rice Krispie Squares

    A stack of two date squares on black cooling rack.

    This post was originally published on April 17, 2014. Occasionally I update posts with fresh tips, content, and photos. Current update February 16, 2021.

    A stack of two date squares on black cooling rack.

    Date Squares- Matrimonial Bars

    Laureen King
    Sweet dates between buttery, chewy oat-crumb layers.
    4.20 from 26 votes
    Prevent your screen from going dark
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 15 mins
    Cook Time 30 mins
    Total Time 45 mins
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine Canadian
    Servings 32
    Calories 277 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 3 cups oats large flake
    • 2 ½ cups all purpose flour
    • 2 teaspoons baking soda
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • 2 teaspoons cinnamon
    • 2 cups brown sugar
    • 2 cups butter room temperature
    • 1 pound dates chopped
    • 1 ⅓ cups water
    • ¾ cups granulated sugar

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
    • Grease 9x13 pan or line with parchment paper.
    • Using a heavy saucepan, mix together chopped dates, water, and granulated sugar.
    • Bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer for approximately 5-10 minutes until dates have softened and water has evaporated . Let the mixture cool.
    • In a large bowl combine the oats, flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and brown sugar.
    • Using a pastry blender, cut the butter into the oat mixture. Mix just until pea-sized clumps form.
    • Spread half of the crumb mixture into bottom of greased baking pan. Press down.
    • Next spread the date mixture evenly over the crumb layer.
    • Top with the remaining crumb mix, pressing down slightly.
    • Bake 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 minutes. The top should crisp and golden brown.
    • Cut into squares.

    Video

    Nutrition

    Calories: 277kcalCarbohydrates: 42gProtein: 2gFat: 12gSaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 31mgSodium: 248mgPotassium: 153mgFiber: 2gSugar: 27gVitamin A: 356IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 27mgIron: 1mg
    Keyword Date Squares, Matrimonial Bars, dates
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. suzie king

      February 20, 2015 at 2:45 pm

      This is a favorite of mine, I got the recipe from my great gram king, it reminds me of tea with her.

      Reply
      • Laureen King

        February 20, 2015 at 3:07 pm

        I love all those old time recipes from Gramma!

        Reply
    2. jill

      July 04, 2016 at 12:24 am

      My mom used to make these too - I loved them as much as chocolate (which is saying A LOT) I'm thrilled to find this recipe! Thank you thank you thank you!

      Reply
      • Laureen King

        July 04, 2016 at 6:22 am

        So glad you found my recipe so you can now make your own. I actually never liked them as a kid, but now I love them!

        Reply
        • Nancy Ferguson

          December 07, 2017 at 5:55 pm

          Did you use instant oatmeal or whole

          Reply
          • Laureen King

            December 10, 2017 at 6:35 pm

            Definitely use whole slow cook variety not instant

            Reply
    3. Helen Galbraith

      December 23, 2019 at 11:44 am

      Love Matrimonial Cake, as we always called it.
      I grew up at Melfort, SK no far to your home town so a lot of our traditions will be similar.

      Reply
      • Laureen King

        December 26, 2019 at 7:01 am

        Helen, that is what my family always called it as well. I recently moved back to Saskatchewan after 40 years. Back to my home town of Humboldt.

        Reply

    Trackbacks

    1. Nanaimo Bars | Art and the Kitchen says:
      March 7, 2015 at 9:17 am

      […] from cracking apart. 3.2.2925 Some more great treats to enjoy! Old Fashioned Butter Tarts, Date Squares and Chocolate Caramel Rice Krispie […]

      Reply
    2. FBC Weekend Links: Find Your Holiday Date! | Food Bloggers of Canada says:
      December 4, 2015 at 11:22 pm

      […] Matrimonial Date Squares from Laureen at Art and the Kitchen […]

      Reply
    3. Nanaimo Bars | Art and the Kitchen says:
      December 13, 2020 at 9:00 am

      […] Date Squares  […]

      Reply

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