I made this for an event in December and have been asked over and over for the recipe; I made a batch for a bake sale on the weekend and they sold out immediately!
It is slightly adapted from this cookbook which is one of those where people sent in their favourite recipes using the sponsor's ingredient.
Newfoundland Date Squares
filling:
2 cups (250 g) dates
1 cup (160 g) brown sugar (best with dark muscovado)
1 cup (237 ml) hot water
optional - add 1 Tbs butter and juice of half a lemon
Chop dates and cook with hot water and sugar until soft. Stir in butter and lemon juice until thick and smooth, let cool.
crumb:
1 1/2 cups (190g) flour
1 1/2 teaspoons bicarbonate of soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 cups (165 g) rolled oats (I use a mix of jumbo oats and oatmeal)
1 cup (160 g) brown sugar (again, I recommend muscovado)
3/4 cup (112 g) butter at room temperature
Stir flour, soda and salt into large bowl. Stir in rolled oats and sugar. Rub in the butter until a coarse crumb is formed.
Press half this mixture into a buttered 8inch x 12 inch pan (I use 9x9 inch), cover with date filling, then press remaining crumb on top.
Bake at 375 F for 25 minutes. Cut into squares while hot.
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