MUM'S DATE COOKIES AND SQUARES

Mum's Date Cookies and Squares image

These have to be my favourite baked treat. Unfortunately for me, the only time of year Mom made the squares was Christmas, but she made the cookies as a special treat for Dad a couple of times a year. I've never been able to replicate hers, but they are still really good :)

Provided by Sue Fitzpatrick

Categories Cookies

Number Of Ingredients 26

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Ingredients

DATE FILLING
1 lb chopped dates
1 c cold water
2 Tbsp brown sugar, firmly packed
1/2 fresh orange (juice and grated rind)
1 tsp lemon juice (fresh or bottled)
DATE COOKIES
1 date filling recipe
1/2 c sugar
1/2 c butter
1/2 c lard (yes, lard!) or you can use 1 cup butter total, but they don't turn out the same)
1/2 c milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 1/2 c all purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
2 c rolled oats
DATE SQUARES
1 date filling recipe
1 1/2 c cake and pastry flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1 c butter (just chilled, not cold or soft)
1 c brown sugar, firmly packed
2 c rolled oats

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.

*** Explore more Mum's Date Cookies And Squares Recipes »

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Padam Kc

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These date squares were just okay. They were a bit dry and the dates were a bit too chewy.

Virendar Singh

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I tried making these cookies, but they didn't turn out well. I think I overcooked them.

Clay Houchin

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These cookies were a bit too sweet for my taste, but my kids loved them.

sani sumon

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I'm not usually a fan of date squares, but these were really good. The dates were soft and chewy, and the crust was perfectly flaky.

Claudio Cela

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These cookies are the perfect combination of chewy and sweet. I love the addition of dates.

Akash Gaming

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These date squares are so good, I could eat them every day.

Tariq Hamza

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I love how easy these cookies are to make. I always have the ingredients on hand, so they're a great last-minute treat.

Themidiclorian

themidiclorian@gmail.com

These cookies were delicious! I made them with gluten-free flour and they turned out great. I'll definitely be making them again.

Fred Alick

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I've been making these date squares for years and they're always a crowd-pleaser. They're so rich and decadent, and the dates add a lovely chewy texture.