Date Squares (Matrimonial Cake) Recipe
I have used this recipe for years, having found it in an old Purity Cook Book.
Ingredients
- Date Filling:
- 1 cup chopped dates
- 1 Tbsp brown sugar
- 1/2 cup water
- Crumb Mixture:
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/8 tsp salt
- 1 cup butter or margarine
- 1 cup lightly packed brown sugar
- 2 cups rolled oats
Directions
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
- Combine the dates, brown sugar and water in a saucepan, bring to a boil and then simmer until dates are soft enough to be mashed with a fork (about 5 minutes). The mixture should be the consistency of jam.
- Set aside to cool.
- Sift together the flour, baking soda and salt. Cut or rub in the butter or margarine, then blend in the brown sugar and rolled oats. Press half of this crumb mixture into the bottom of a greased 8" square pan. Cover evenly with cooled date filling.
- Spread the remaining crumb over all and pat until smooth.
- Bake 35 to 40 minutes or until a light golden brown.
- Cool before cutting into squares.
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Reviews
June 16, 2011
This recipe takes me back to childhood, when my grandmother would make date, or fig squares. It was also a regional favorite that one would see in small neighborhood bakeries. I'll definitely be baking these as they're one of my favorite treats to have on hand. Thank you for sharing the recipe!
May 6, 2017
I got married in 1961....A Purity cookbook was one of our wedding presents!(Cost a wopping $1.97 back then).
Have been making this recipe ever since......truly a "tried, tested and true" recipe in my opinion.
Often I change it up by adding some orange OR lemon zest to the dates.
I have been known to also use/add some liquid flavour/flavoring to the dates too.....lemon, butterscotch, strawberry, cherry.......to add an unexpected "zing" to your first bite!!!! ;)I've cooked/tasted this recipe!This is a variation
July 22, 2020
This is the recipe I wanted to capture before I ever lose my Purity cookbook. I am making this right now and remember when we could buy 1/2 lb blocks of dates for cooking. Thanks for posting this.I've cooked/tasted this recipe!
