Date Squares (Desert - Dinner 3)

Leanne kicks off the OOTC Baker's Recipe Box Blog with Date Squares. My paternal grandmother made them, a melt in the mouth treat for a kid, with subtle sweetness that promises adventure.

Here is Leanne's recipe:

In order to make 5 pans the size at St. Andrews, we'll need to 10 x the recipe which means we'll need the following:


Ingredients
10 lbs dates (sold in 1 lb cellophane wrapped blocks)
20 cups water
5 lbs butter
20 cups flour
10 tsp baking soda
20 cups rolled oats
10 cups brown sugar
5 tsp salt
10 tbsp cornstarch
10 tsp cinnamon

Recipe
1 lb dates - chopped
2 cups cold water
1 tbsp cornstarch
1 tsp cinnamon
2 cups flour
2 cups oats
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 lb butter - softened1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt

Procedure
Chop dates (remove pits if necessary). Boil dates in water until soft. Thicken with cornstarch and stir in cinnamon at end.In large bowl, mix flour, oats, salt, soda, brown sugar and softened butter with fingers until crumbly. Press half of the oat mixture into bottom of ungreased rectangular 9x13 baking pan. Spread date mixture on top and cover with remaining oat mixture. Spread evenly.

Bake at 325 for 30 minutes.

If you have questions you can email Leanne at leanne.mantha@barclaysglobal.com