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5.0 from 225 votes

Easy date squares

This easy-peasy, no-bake date squares recipe is simply put, delicious! These are not like the old-fashioned date squares with a date filling and two crumbly oatmeal layers that most people are familiar with. No, these date squares are rather unique. They are luxuriously buttery with a toffee-like flavour and a lovely crunchy texture from the pieces of biscuit.

Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Servings: 36 squares
Calories: 128 kcal
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: International

Ingredients

  • 250 gram butter
  • 500 gram dates, roughly chopped
  • 1 egg
  • 100 grams white sugar
  • 1 pinch salt
  • 200 gram digestive biscuits or any plain biscuits

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Line a 20cm x 20cm (8" x 8") baking tin with parchment paper, leaving a slight overhang. The overhang will make it easier to lift the block of date squares from the tin once it's set.
  2. Place the butter in a large saucepan and gently melt it over medium heat.
  3. Once the butter has melted, add the roughly chopped dates to the pan.
  4. Using a spatula, stir the mixture until the dates soften and begin to break up. This process typically takes around 5 minutes.You can help this process by gently 'squishing' the dates with a spatula as you stir. Make sure to scrape the bottom of the pan throughout. If it seems like there's an excess of liquid butter at this stage, don't worry, it will get fully incorporated later in the process.
  5. Once done, take the mixture off the heat and let it cool for around 10 minutes. You don't have to wait for it to cool down to room temperature, just make sure it's not intensely hot. This is to avoid the egg from scrambling once we add it in.
  6. Whisk the egg together with the sugar and salt in a small bowl.
  7. After the 10 minutes, add the egg mixture to the dates and immediately stir it in, making sure to incorporate it quickly.
  8. Put the saucepan back on medium-low heat and gently warm the mixture for 2-3 minutes to cook the egg. Keep moving the mixture and fold as much of the butter into the dates as possible, then, remove it from the heat.
  9. In a large bowl, break the biscuits into small pieces by hand. Don't crush it too finely, you want some larger chunks.
  10. Add the warm date mixture to the crushed biscuits.
  11. Using a sturdy, large spoon, like a serving spoon, combine the date mixture with the crushed biscuits.
  12. Scoop the mixture into the prepared tin.
  13. Using your sturdy spoon, push the mixture into all the corners and level the top with the back of the spoon.
  14. Place the pan of date squares in the fridge for a minimum of 3 hours to set.
  15. Lift the whole slab out of the tin and transfer it onto a cutting board. Slice it into individual squares.
  16. Optional: You can sprinkle the squares with desiccated coconut. It goes really well with the dates!

Notes

  • You don’t need to chop the dates too small. We like to use a pair of kitchen scissors and simply cut each date in half.
  • For the best date squares, avoid crushing the biscuits into a fine powder. Instead, aim for some larger pieces to add a crunchy texture to the squares. Pieces about the size of M&Ms are a good reference, but it's alright if there are even larger chunks mixed in.
  • Using a food processor will turn the biscuits into a powder, which is not what you want for this recipe.

Nutrition Information

Calories 128kcal (6%) Carbohydrates 18g (6%) Protein 1g (2%) Fat 6g (9%) Saturated Fat 4g (20%) Polyunsaturated Fat 1g Monounsaturated Fat 2g Trans Fat 1g Cholesterol 19mg (6%) Sodium 76mg (3%) Potassium 104mg (3%) Fiber 1g (4%) Sugar 14g (28%) Vitamin A 182IU (4%) Vitamin C 1mg (1%) Calcium 12mg (1%) Iron 1mg (6%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 36squares

Amount Per Serving

Calories 128

% Daily Value*

Calories 128kcal 6%
Carbohydrates 18g 6%
Protein 1g 2%
Fat 6g 9%
Saturated Fat 4g 20%
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g 6%
Monounsaturated Fat 2g 10%
Trans Fat 1g 50%
Cholesterol 19mg 6%
Sodium 76mg 3%
Potassium 104mg 2%
Fiber 1g 4%
Sugar 14g 28%
Vitamin A 182IU 4%
Vitamin C 1mg 1%
Calcium 12mg 1%
Iron 1mg 6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.