Best Old Fashioned Date Squares (Matrimonial Squares) Recipe

If you’re looking for the best old fashioned date squares, you’ve found them! This easy date squares recipe (also known as matrimonial squares) features a buttery, chewy oatmeal crumble and a unique orange-infused twist with the filling. It’s a nostalgic Canadian treat that has been a favourite in my household for years, updated with a fresh orange twist that makes the flavours truly pop.”

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Why You’ll Love These Old Fashioned Date Squares

• The Delicious Orange Twist: While most date squares can be overly sweet, the splash of orange juice and fresh zest in this recipe cuts through the richness, giving them a bright, modern twist.

• Naturally Sweetened & High in Fibre: Dates provide a rich sweetness and a ton of fibre per serving making it much healthier go-to treat compared to other more refined snacks.

• Versatile Snack or Dessert: These bars are sturdy enough for a lunchbox snack but also elevated enough to serve as a dessert with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Ingredients for Old Fashioned Date Squares

Group 1: The Oatmeal Crumble

Old Fashion Oats: 2 cups of good quality old fashion, or rolled oats, will give your bars the perfect, crumbly texture.

All Purpose Flour: 1 cup of all purpose flour adds some structure to the base and crumble.

Brown Sugar: 3/4 cup of brown sugar not only sweetens your dates, the molasses will help add more chewiness to your oat crumble.

Allspice: 1/4 teaspoon of allspice will add a complexity to the squares. Allspice contains cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves which will help balance the natural sweetness of the dates.

Baking Soda: 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda to help the oats brown and cook evenly.

Salt: 1/4 teaspoon of salt is all you need. If you’re using salted butter you can skip this ingredient.

Butter: 3/4 cups of softened butter to coat the oats and bind everything together. It’s easier to cube your butter to speed up the process.

Group 2: The Date Filling

Pitted Dates: 400 grams (or 2 1/2 cups). If you’re in America, I would recommend using pitted Medjool dates. I primarily use pitted honey dates, which are more widely available in my location. They are smaller, darker, and chewier.

Vanilla Extract: 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract will help balance the flavours.

Orange Juice: 2 tablespoons of orange juice to add acidity and flavour.

Orange Zest: 1 tablespoon of orange zest helps the orange flavours burst through and adds a nice boost of fresh, citrus flavour that pairs nicely with the caramel like flavour of the dates.

What Kind of Oats Are Best for Date Squares (Matrimonial Squares)

For the perfect texture, I recommend using old-fashioned rolled oats. These hold their shape better during baking and will give you the classic crumble.

While quick oats can sometimes result in a softer, or soggier bar, they can be used in a punch. I’ve actually used the Quaker Oats Quick Oats many times and they’ve turned out pretty good – for best case, use the old-fashioned rolled oats.

How to Make Old Fashioned Date Squares (Matrimonial Squares)

1. Make the filling: The filling is simple to make. Add your dates to a medium sauce pan, then add the water and orange juice, and simmer over medium heat. The dates will start to break down pretty quickly, but you’ll want to keep stirring until you’re left with a paste, with most of the liquid is gone – about 10 minutes. Remove it from heat and stir in the vanilla extract and the orange zest. Let the filling cool to room temperature. Tip: You can pop it in the fridge to speed up the cooling process.

2. Preheat the oven: Now is the perfect time to preheat your oven to 350℉ and set your oven rack to the middle position.

2. Make the oat crumble: In a large bowl, whisk together the oats, flour, brown sugar, salt, baking soda, and allspice. Don’t worry about any brown sugar clumps yet. I find this next step easier if you work with your hands, however, you’re welcome to use a wooden spoon or spatula. Add your cubed, room temperature butter, and begin to combine with the dry mixture. Break up the butter until you’re left with an even, but crumbly texture.

2. Prepare your 9×9 inch pan: Cut a large piece of parchment paper to fit the base of your pan. Leave a few extra inches on ether side to use as handles later to remove your old fashioned date squares from the pan. You can lightly spray your parchment paper and the sides of your pan with a non-stick spray, but it’s not necessary.

5. Create the base: Pour about two thirds of your oat crumble mixture into your prepared pan. Using a fork, spread the mixture out evenly along your pan, then press it down firmly to create a crust. Make sure to get the edges and corners of the pan as well.

5. Add the filling: Once your filling is room temperature, use a spatula to scoop your filling onto your base, then evenly spread it to cover your base. Don’t be too concerned if you get a few oats mixed into the filling. You’ll probably never notice once you cut into them.
   

7. Top with the crumble: Once you’ve gotten an even coat of filling, evenly sprinkle the remaining one third of the oat crumble mixture onto pan. Gently press it into your filling to make sure it sticks.

8. Bake: Bake your Date Squares for 25-30 minutes or until the top is golden. I very rarely pass the 25 minute mark, so keep a close eye as not to burn the bottom.

9. Cool and Serve: Let your old fashioned date squares cool to room temperature before placing them in the refrigerator to cool for another hour before cutting into 16 equal squares.

What is the History of the Date Square (Matrimonial Cake)?

The Date Square is a Canadian creation, most often appearing in coffee shops or family kitchens in bar form as a sweet and nutritious snack. It is more commonly called a Matrimonial Cake in the Western Canadian Provinces, and is also known as a date crumble on the east coast. The Date Square is thought to have been made popular during the Great Depression as ingredients like eggs and sugar became scarce, and less expensive ingredients like oats and dates were more widely available.

Serving & Storage Tips

How to get the perfect cut

You’ll want to wait for the date squares to be completely cool before cutting. If you slice them while they’re still warm you risk them falling apart. To get the perfect cut, I’d recommend cooling them in the fridge for an hour before cutting them with a large knife.

Storing date squares

When stored in an air tight container, you can store old fashioned date squares at room temperature for 3 days, and up to a week if kept in the fridge.

Can date squares be frozen?

Yes! Date squares can be frozen in an airtight freezer safe container for up to 2 months to extend their shelf life. I typically will use freezer safe Ziplock Bags. They thaw pretty quickly and make a great quick snack when they’re already portioned out! Heat them up for a few seconds to get that “just out of the oven” feel.

If you’re on a roll with your weekly snack prep, you might also love my Bakery-Style Blueberry Muffin recipe. Just like these squares, they’re packed with fruit and make a perfect grab-and-go morning favourite for busy weekdays.

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