When I was a child growing up, I was blessed to have a mom who loved to bake! One recipe that was a favorite of mine and of my dad, was date squares or bars. I missed them a lot when I first went gluten free and tried to make gluten free date squares with a number of different grain flake combinations. I tried amaranth flakes, rice flakes and quinoa flakes.
They all made a passable gluten free date square but something was missing. Then, to my delight, along came Only Oats with their gluten free oat offerings. I was sold!! So here is my version of gluten free date squares made all that much better with the addition of real oats (gluten free, of course).
Golden Brown Gluten Free Date Squares
Date Filling Ingredients
1 pound of dates, cut up (use kitchen shears or scissors, it is quicker!), to make 3 cups of chopped dates
1 1/2 cups of cold water
1/4 cup of white sugar
Make the filling first by putting the cut up dates, cold water, and white sugar in a heavy sauce pan. Cook over medium heat, stirring, until the date mixture thickens. That will take approximately 10 minutes. Remember to stir the whole time, you don’t want scorched dates! Take the pan off of the heat and let the date mixture cool.
Gluten Free Date Square Crust Recipe
1 cup of brown sugar
3/4 cup of butter (or you can use coconut oil or a combo of butter and coconut oil…for this recipe, I prefer butter, it makes it golden!)
1 3/4 cups of gluten free all purpose mix
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp cinnamon (you can omit this but it gives it a little bit of a kick!)
1 1/2 cups of Only Oats quick cooking gluten free oats (or another brand of certified gluten free oats–this is critical, make sure they are certified gluten free)
Putting it all together!
Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
In a large bowl, mix the brown sugar and butter until blended. You can use your hands, a mixer, or an old fashioned pastry cutter. In a separate bowl, mix the dry ingredients, the gluten free all purpose mix, salt, baking soda and gluten free oats.Combine until “crumbly”.
Set aside half of the mixture. You will use this for the delicious topping! Pat half of the mixture into a greased 13 by 9 inch pan. I usually use a metal baking pan but glass works well, too! Just make sure that you grease it well with either butter or coconut oil (or shortening, if you prefer). Top the patted down mixture with the cooled cooked dates.
Top that with the reserved crust mixture, lightly patting it down (not too much though, you still want the crumb effect). Bake in the preheated oven for about 25 to 30 minutes, until golden brown. This makes about 36 squares, if you cut them small. Cut while warm, it makes it easier! These freeze well, if you stack with parchment paper or waxed paper between layers!
My family loves these gluten free date squares and my friends can’t tell that it is gluten free!
P.S. Not everyone who needs to eat gluten free can eat gluten free oats. Please use your judgement wisely! My family does well with them!
Sherie
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My GF flour substitute doesn’t have xantham gum in it does that matter?
Janelle, it all depends. Can you use it for cakes without adding xantham gum to it? Does it hold together? If it doesn’t, then I would add the xantham gum.
I’m not sure I haven’t ever baked anything since going gf just picked up the robin hood baking mix.
I haven’t tried the Robin Hood mix yet but it will probably work well!
Sherie recently posted..Spiced Gluten Free Pumpkin Loaf
it was a success! now to go through your blog and find some more goodies to make!
Awesome!!!! So glad to hear it, Janelle!!
Sherie recently posted..Spiced Gluten Free Pumpkin Loaf
I don’t tolerate GF rolled oats well. Can this recipe be made without them and just substitue the flour? I tried this recipe and it was heavenly, I just had trouble with the oats.
I haven’t tried that, Lisa, but think it would work. It would just give you a different texture. So glad that you enjoyed it and sorry you had trouble with the oats…
Sherie recently posted..Just Released: Easy Gluten Free Muffins and More
Oatmeal Date Squares recipe – terrific find! I will be making these tomorrow to serve as Sunday dinner dessert – thanks for the recipe and keep up the good work!