Ingredients
  • FILLING:
  • 2½ cups pitted dates
  • ¾ cup firmly packed brown sugar
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1½ tbsp fresh lemon juice
  • CRUST:
  • 1½ cups all-purpose or whole wheat flour
  • 1½ cups rolled oats
  • ¾ cup firmly packed brown sugar
  • ½ tsp baking powder
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • ½ tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1 cup cold butter, cubed
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350. Lightly grease a 9x13" baking dish and set aside.
  2. FOR FILLING: Combine all ingredients in a saucepan and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Cook for 2-3 minutes to soften dates, then remove from heat and let cool. Once cool, puree in food processor until quite smooth.
  3. FOR CRUST: Combine all ingredients except butter in food processor and pulse to combine. Add butter and pulse until crumbly (without a food processor, just use your hands to mix in the butter until pea-sized crumbs form). Pat ⅔ of the mixture into prepared pan.
  4. Spread date filling evenly on top and sprinkle remaining crumb mixture over dates. Press down lightly.
  5. Place the pan on a large baking sheet (in case any dates want to bubble over) and bake for 25-30 minutes, until topping is golden brown. Cool completely before cutting into squares.
  6. To get the nicest squares, refrigerate them for an hour before cutting.
Recipe by Hidden Ponies at https://hiddenponies.com/2011/02/first-date-squares/