Date Squares

My mom's good friend always makes her batches of date squares and I have always meant to ask for the recipe and for some reason or another just never got round to it.  So I took the leap and just googled a recipe and hoped for the best. And they were oh so scrummy.  I found they tasted better with time - I kept them in the fridge and they were so tasty cold with a cup of tea.

Filling

500g dates
250ml water
2 tbspns lemon juice
2 tbspns brown sugar
1/2 tspn bicarb

Crisp

400g oats
250g flour
180g brown sugar
1/2 tspn baking powder
180g butter

Preheat the oven to 180 degrees and line a 20cm baking tin.
In a saucepan, bring the dates, water, lemon juice and sugar to the boil.  Add the bicarb and simmer for about 5 minutes, stirring constantly until the dates are soft and falling apart.  Let cool.

In a bowl, combine the oats, flour, sugar and baking powder.  Add the butter with your fingers until the mixture resembles coarse breadcrumbs.  Spread half the crisp in the tin and press firmly.  Layer the date mixture and cover with the remaining crisp.  Bake for approx 50 minutes or until golden brown.  Cool overnight and cut into squares.

These really are a treat and quick to make & bake! They last well and dates are nutritious too - bonus!!

Happy Baking ♥