Date squares

Method9 steps

1. 1

   Step 1: Heat the oven to 350°F / 180°C. Grease an 8-inch / 20 cm square baking pan with a little separate greasing butter.

   Uses A little additional butter to grease the baking pan

2. 2

   Step 2: Chop the pitted dates (2½ cups) and put all of them with the measured cup of water (1 cup) in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to low and simmer gently for six to eight minutes, stirring occasionally, until the actual date filling thickens.

   Simmer date filling until thick · 8 minUses 2½ cups pitted dates, chopped in step 2 · 1 cup Water

3. 3

   Step 3: Take the actual thickened filling off the heat and stir in all one-and-a-half teaspoons vanilla extract (1½ tsp). Let the complete filling cool while making the crumble.

   Uses All cooked date filling · 1½ tsp vanilla extract

4. 4

   Step 4: Put all the rolled oats (1¾ cups), flour, packed brown sugar (1 cup), baking soda (½ tsp) and salt (1/4 tsp) in a food processor. Pulse three times just to combine, keeping the oats from becoming powdery.

   Uses 1¾ cups rolled oats · 1 cup All purpose flour · 1 cup packed brown sugar · ½ tsp baking soda · 1/4 tsp Salt

5. 5

   Step 5: Cut the measured cup of cold crumble butter (1 cup) into pieces and add all of it to the actual dry mix. Pulse until crumbly in pea-sized clumps, then transfer to a mixing bowl and mix any remaining butter through thoroughly.

   Uses All dry crumble mix · 1 cup cold unsalted butter for crumble

6. 6

   Step 6: Press half of the actual buttery oat crumble evenly over the bottom of the greased pan. Spread all the actual cooled vanilla-date filling evenly over this base.

   Uses First half of the complete crumble · All cooled date filling

7. 7

   Step 7: Spread the remaining half of the actual crumble over the date layer and press gently into a flat, even top, using the full prepared batch.

   Uses The complete layered base and filling · Remaining half of the complete crumble

8. 8

   Step 8: Bake the actual assembled pan in the centre of the oven for thirty to thirty-five minutes until the top is golden brown. Leave the complete baked slab in its pan to cool fully before cutting.

   Bake date-square slab until golden · 35 minUses The complete layered pan

9. 9

   Step 9: Once the baked slab has cooled completely in the pan, cut it into twenty small squares and serve. Cover any remaining squares for storage and refrigerate or freeze them.

   Uses The complete baked slab, once completely cool