Best Mums Date Cookies And Squares Recipes

MATRIMONIAL DATE SQUARES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Heat dates, 2/3 cup brown sugar, orange juice, and orange zest in a saucepan over low heat; cook, stirring occasionally, until dates have softened, absorbed the liquid, and mixture is like a paste, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in vanilla extract.
• Stir oats, flour, 1 cup brown sugar, baking soda, and salt together in a bowl; cut in butter with a knife or pastry blender until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
• Lightly press 2/3 of the crumb mixture into the bottom of a 9x9-inch pan. Spread date mixture evenly over the crumb crust; sprinkle remaining crumbs evenly over the top of date mixture.
• Bake in the preheated oven until top is golden, about 30 minutes; cool on a wire rack for at least 1 hour before slicing into bars.

GRAMMA'S DATE SQUARES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• In a large bowl, combine oats, pastry flour, salt, 1 cup brown sugar, and baking soda. Mix in the butter until crumbly. Press half of the mixture into the bottom of a 9 inch square baking pan.
• In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine the dates, water, and 1/3 cup brown sugar. Bring to a boil, and cook until thickened. Stir in lemon juice, and remove from heat. Spread the filling over the base, and pat the remaining crumb mixture on top.
• Bake for 20 to 25 minutes in preheated oven, or until top is lightly toasted. Cool before cutting into squares.

MUM'S DATE COOKIES AND SQUARES

Steps:

• 1. Date Filling: Cook dates, water, orange rind and sugar in small saucepan (1 qt), over moderate heat until thick and smooth. Remove from heat, add juices mix well. Cool before spreading on cookie or oatmeal batter.
• 2. Date Cookies: Cream butter and lard, add sugar, mix until smooth, add vanilla and mix. Sift flour, baking powder and soda. Add to mixture alternately with milk. Add rolled oats a cup at a time, mix in. It will be stiff so you may want to use your hands to mix. Roll out on a floured surface, cut with 2-3" cookie cutter, place on greased cookie sheet and bake at 325°F for 8-10 minutes or until lightly golden. Cool and spread with date filling. Sandwich with another cookie on top.
• 3. Date Squares: Sift flour, baking powder, soda and salt. Rub in butter with tips of fingers. Add sugar and oatmeal. Mix well with fingers until all oatmeal is covered. It should be like a crumble. Spread one half of mixture crumbs into a greased, shallow pan, pat down to make it smooth. Cover with cooled date filling, spreading it evenly, then cover with the remaining crumbs. Pat to make smooth. Bake at 325°F for 30 to 35 minutes. Cut while still warm and allow to cool in the pan.