No Bake Date Squares
Let’s get real, usually date squares are not the healthiest of desserts. Traditionally, the crust and crumble are made by mixing together flour and butter. Betty Crocker’s method also calls for boiling the dates with brown sugar until an ooey-gooey center is formed. Sounds awesome, right? Probably and imnotgonnalie that method does taste pretty darn good but in all my health consciousness I knew there was probably a better way way to whip these babies up using less of all of the above.
Date Squares
- Total Time: 40 mins
- Yield: 16 1x
Description
These NO bake date squares are made without any added sugar or flour! They are much healthier, tastier and better than traditional date squares!
Ingredients
Prepare
- 3 cups pitted dates, soaked in boiling water for at least 10 minutes – (you are going to use 1/2 packed cup of the soaked dates for the cookie crust and crumble topping AND 2 packed cups of the soaked dates for the date middle layer, you may have a bit of dates leftover)
Cookie Crust + Crumble Topping
- 1 cup pecans (or walnuts)
- 1 cup shredded coconut
- 1 cup oats
- 1/4 cup coconut oil
- 1/2 packed cup of the soaked dates
- 1/2 tsp sea salt
- 1/4 tsp cinnamon (optional)
Middle Date Layer
- 2 packed cups of the soaked dates
- 1/4 cup water (from the soaked dates)
- 1/4 tsp sea salt
- 1 1/4 tsp lemon juice
Instructions
- Soak 3 cups of pitted dates in boiling water for 30 minutes [do not discard the water!!].
- Place parchment or plastic wrap, two-ways, in the bottom of an 8×8 or 9×9 square baking pan.
- Cookie Crust + Crumble Layer: Pulse pecans in the food processor until they turn into a course powder. Add shredded coconut, oats, sea salt, and cinnamon and pulse until your mixture has processed into a course powder. Add 1/2 packed cup of the soaked dates and pulse until the dates are fully cut up and mixed into the dough mixture. Add coconut oil and pulse a few times, scraping down sides when necessary, until a crumbly dough is formed that is easily pressed together with your fingers.
- Measure out 3/4 cup of the dough mixture and save for the crumble topping. Scoop dough into the square baking pan. Press an even layer, with the palms of your hands, onto the bottom of your pan (dough might be a bit sticky – that is okay). Place in the fridge to harden slightly for 5 minutes while you prepare the ooey-gooey date middle layer.
- Middle Date Layer: Process the final 2 packed cups of soaked dates in the food processor with 1/4 cup of water from the soaked dates, sea salt, and lemon juice until you have a consistent, almost creamy and sticky (*but not runny*) consistency. If the mixture seems too thick add a bit more water by the tbsp until the desired consistency is formed.
- Take the pan out of the fridge. Pour the date mixture with a spatula on top of the first crust layer. Evenly smooth out the date layer with the back of a spoon.
- Evenly crumble, with your fingers, the remaining 3/4 cup of the dough mixture onto the top of the middle date layer. Lightly press the crumble layer into the dates (so they do not “fly” away)
- Cool for 2 or more hours in the fridge. They are easiest to cut when they are cold directly from the fridge. Cut into 16 or 24 pieces depending on the desired size (see note).
- Devour, Share and Enjoy 🙂
Notes
Soaking the dates before processing them in the food processor brings out their natural sweetness as well as makes them much easier to process in the food processor. Make sure to line your square baking pan (9×9 or 8×8) with parchment paper or plastic wrap for easy transferring and less clean up. After throwing these squares together, allow them to chill out and set in the fridge for at least 2 hours [or overnight]. These date squares cut best when cold with a sharp knife. Cut into 16 or 24 pieces depending on how big your want each date square – keep in mind that these are very sweet (I prefer cutting them into 24). Keep these date squares in the fridge for up to 5 days or freeze for up to a couple weeks.
- Prep Time: 40 mins
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Calories: 4391
- Sugar: 573g
- Sodium: 2026mg
- Fat: 162g
- Saturated Fat: 78g
- Unsaturated Fat: 75g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 768g
- Fiber: 89g
- Protein: 53g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
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Had anyone tried using hemp hearts instead of oats ? Love this recipe but I’m working on being grain free !
Curious as to why you don’t cook these? Have you ever tried baking them?
AMAZING!! The only thing i didn’t use was the oil. Didn’t soak the dates either because they were fresh dates so i just blended them.
★★★★★
These are phenomenal. Huge crowd pleaser!!! Thanks for the recipe!
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I made these yesterday. They are absolutely awesome! The best date squares I’ve ever tasted.
Thank you!
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Do you think you could just add all the ingredients together and roll them into balls?
I don’t like coconuts, but want to try this recipe. Is there a substitute I can use for coconuts or just eliminate them all together? Thanks!
I have never made these squares without oats so I’m not sure. You can try replacing the coconut with half oats and half oat flour! Let me know if you end up trying it! 🙂
I just made these, I divided them into 25 squares and they end up being about 125 calories each. Me and boyfriend both agreed the flavor was great. I only added a tad more cinnamon to the crust. I think they would be great just as granola bars without the date center too!
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So happy you and your boyfriend enjoyed the date sqaures, Emily! I love the idea of making the bottom later into a granola bar! Thanks for the great idea and wonderful feedback 🙂
I made them and was a little confused by directions. Ingredients say three cups dates and then 1/2 cup dates. The instructions then indicate three and two cups of dates. They were delicious but when I added the three cups of dates to the other ingredients it was not crumbly but more like a date paste. Any suggestions?
Thank you
Hi Eileen,
Thanks for your comment. I apologize if the instructions were confusing, I updated the recipe so the instructions are a bit more clear.
First soak three cup of dates in boiling water to soften them up (these are the dates you are going to use in the cookie crust, crumble and middle layer).
Measure out 1/2 packed cup of the soaked dates and add it to the dough mixture (the bottom layer and cookie top layer).
After you’ve transferred the dough layer to the pan, you are going to use the remaining 2 cups of packed dates for the middle layer.
Measure out 2 packed cups of the soaked dates for the middle date layer and proceed to process the dates with the lemon, date water, etc.
I hope this response was helpful. Would love to know your feedback!
Can I substrate almonds? I can’t eat walnuts or pecans.
Yes, almonds should work just fine! 🙂
Hi
Lovely recipe.
But i dont like cococnu oil in my food much..any alternatives for that pleas?
Thank you Praj, If you are not a fan of coconut oil I would try using a butter substitute (such a “Earth Balance” butter) that solidifies when cold and at room temperature (this also helps to keep the date squares nicely together!). I would not recommend subbing regular oil because it stays in a liquid state at room temperature and will make your squares a lot more crumbly! You could always try subbing an extra 1/4 cup of soaked dates instead of the coconut oil also – but I have not tried this so cannot guarantee the results 🙂 Good luck, and please let me know if you try it! Thanks for stopping by!
An old lady hiding inside you?!?!? Ok – that’s just super hilarious! I’m so glad she’s there, though, if she inspires recipes like this one! Loooove it! I’m a huge fan of using dates for their fabulously sweet, caramely flavors – this recipe is a perfect example of how brilliantly great something so healthy and natural can taste. I absolutely want to be eating one (or … ummmmm … two … or three … ) RIGHT NOW! Pinning for sure! And hey – I hope you had a wonderful time with your Grandma! She sounds like a really special friend! 😀
Hehe! Yes there is an old lady hiding inside me! I can’t help it 😀 We are having a wonderful time together here enjoying Europe!! Thanks for the pin, Shelley!
Oh yum!! These look AMAZING!! Love how they are no bake, g.free and vegan! And easy! Win-win!! 🙂
Thanks for the kind word, Cailee! 🙂 The easier and healthier the dessert the better for me 😀
Pinning as I am drooling right now!! That center looks so good 🙂 I have an old lady in me as well. When I go visit my grandma in L.a. We go to the movies and eat peppermint together!! Good times 🙂 I hope you have fun with your grandma and have a great weekend 🙂
Thanks for the pin Savy and the kind words 😀 Haha we can be old ladies together because munching on peppermint and going to the movies sounds right up my alley! Have a great weekend as well 😀 !
Perfect! without sugar, love it and I will definitely pin it!
Thanks for the pin Ilona 🙂
You can try my recipe and I will try yours, as I love the addition of the coconut!
I am certain your grandma will approve too 🙂
Thanks for the kind words and sounds like a great plan Cara (your date squares look to die for!). Have a wonderful weekend! 🙂