Canadian Date Squares Recipe

Want the best old fashioned Canadian date squares recipe? Get ready to be over the moon! You've just found it, and it may well be the only one you will ever need!

Grandma and Mom often made their homemade date squares for special occasions, and now you can make the same delicious, rich-tasting, crumbly treats. I believe you will find their taste unsurpassed!

Mom's Old Fashioned Canadian Date Squares Recipe

Mom's Recipe Scrapbooks (c. 1920s)

Best Canadian Date Squares

3/4 cup butter, 1 cup brown sugar, 1 teaspoon baking soda dissolved in 2 tablespoons hot water, 1-3/4 cups rolled oats, 1-1/2 cups flour, 1/2 teaspoon salt. Cream butter, add sugar, flour, rolled oats, salt and soda.

Divide mixture in two and spread half of it on the bottom of the baking pan. Place the date filling, given below, on top of this and spread the remaining half of the mixture on the filling. Bake in a moderate oven (375°F) for almost 30 minutes, or until done. Cut when cool.

Make the filling by mixing together 1/2 pound dates, 1 cup water, 1/2 cup brown sugar. Cook until thick; cool before spreading. The filling should be prepared before beginning mixing the other ingredients.

Quick Date Bars

To make this alternative Canadian date squares recipe, use 1 package of oatmeal cookie mix, any brand.

Mix 3 cups cookie mix with 3 tablespoons water. Pack half of mixture into a greased 8-inch square cake pan and reserve the remainder for topping.

Date Filling:

2 cups pitted dates
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup water
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon lemon rind

Mix filling ingredients together in a bowl. Spread filling over cookie mix in pan, then lightly pack remaining mix on top. Bake in 350°F oven for 30 to 35 minutes until done.

Shortbread Date Squares

Date Mixture:

One pound dates (stoned). Cover with water, add 1/2 cup sugar, and juice of 1/2 lemon, boil until soft and cool. Set aside.

Make your shortbread with 2-1/2 cups flour, 2-1/2 cups coarse oatmeal, 1 cup butter, 1 cup brown sugar, 1 level teaspoon soda, 1 teaspoon salt. Mix well with the hands.

Grease an oblong pan. Divide shortbread mixture into two, and pat one half into the bottom of the pan. Spread the date mixture over, then spread other half over top.

Bake 35 minutes in moderate oven (350°F). Makes a nice change from common date squares.

ALMOST Date Squares

Mom's Recipe Scrapbooks (c. 1920s)

Date, Nut and Cornflake Drops

2 egg whites, 1/2 cup granulated or fruit sugar, 2 cups cornflakes, 1/2 cup chopped dates, 1/2 cup chopped nuts, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla.

Beat egg whites stiff, add sugar gradually. Mix in other ingredients, drop by spoonfuls on a buttered baking sheet and bake in a moderate oven (375°F).

Date and Walnut Bars

Beat 3 eggs well. Add 1 cup sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla, 1 cup walnuts broken in pieces, 1 cup dates. Then beat in 1-1/2 cups flour, 2 level teaspoons baking powder and a pinch of salt.

Have dough 1/2 inch deep. Bake in moderately hot oven (350°F). Cut into bars while warm and shake in a bag of confectionery sugar.

Chewy Date Macaroons

Whites of 2 eggs, 1 pound dates split in two, 1/2 pound almond meat split in two, 1 cup white sugar; put spoonful in buttered tin; cook in moderate oven (375°F). —Mrs. F. Milburn

Date Honeymoons

2 egg whites, 1 cup white sugar, 1 tablespoon cornstarch, 1 cup chopped dates, 1 cup almonds blanched; beat whites of eggs stiff and mix with other ingredients. Bake in slow oven (325°F) and cut in squares. —Mrs. J. Mervin

Chinese Date Chews

1 cup sugar, 1/4 cup butter (melted), 2 eggs, 2 tablespoons milk, 1 teaspoon vanilla, 1 cup flour, 1 teaspoon baking powder, 1 cup chopped walnuts, 1 cup chopped dates; spread in pan 1/4 inch thick and bake (325F). Cut in squares or bars. —Margaret Menzies

Nut and Date Chews

 2 eggs, 1 cup white sugar, 1 cup walnuts chopped, 1 cup dates cut fine, 3/4 cup flour; beat the eggs well and add the sugar, then the nuts, dates and flour.

Bake in a moderate oven (375°F) until nicely brown. Let cool before cutting into bars. —Mrs. Howard Clegg

Old Time Date Straws

1 small cup butter, 1 cup white sugar, 1 egg beaten separately, 1 cup dates cut fine, 2 cups flour, 2 teaspoons baking powder; this makes it real stiff; roll out and put in pan. Bake in a moderate oven (375°F) about 25 minutes. —Mrs. N. Pogue

About the Old Fashioned Canadian Date Squares Recipe

Mom always made her homemade date squares extra thick and cut them in generous-sized pieces, almost coaster-sized. Well, I might be exaggerating a tiny bit, but not much — her squares were big — BIG!

And so rich and crumbly and good tasting too! I loved eating them, and I know you will too.

It's the only recipe for date squares that you'll ever need, and as a bonus, I have included Mom's vintage date cookie recipes to make what I call ALMOST date squares.

Use Mom's favorite old fashioned date squares recipe to make crumbly homemade treats with the rich, exotic flavor of dates. You will find they are perfect for serving at your next party or for any occasion. They make the occasion. Enjoy!