Posted by e. westcott on November 25, 1997 at 01:48:33:
In Reply to: Re: I need date bar recipe (layered) posted by Gerard on November 22, 1997 at 17:04:29:
: : I remember eating date bars as a child which had a kind of crumb layer on the bottom, the date mixture as second layer, and crumb mixture on top. Might have had oatmeal in it. I have searched all my cookbooks and every date recipe I have mixes all ingredients together before baking. Would like to include this in my Christmas baking this year. Anyone help?
This recipe seems to have two names here in Canada. One is Matrimonial cake or squares. The other is plain old date squares. My husband loves to cook and this is one of his favourite recipes.
Filling:
2 cups dates 1 cup brown sugar 1 cup hot water
Combine and cook until dates are very soft. Set aside to cool.
Crumb:
1 1/2 cups flour 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 1/2 cups rolled oats(not instant) 1 cup brown sugar 3/4 cup butter (could be, dare I say it, margarine)
Mix flour, soda and salt into a large bowl. Stir in rolled oats and sugar. Rub in the butter until a coarse crumb is formed.
Press half of this mixture into a greased 8 x 12 inch pan. Cover with date filling, then sprinkle over the remaining crumb mixture. Bake at 375 F. for 25 minutes. Cut into squares while hot but let cool in the pan.