No Bake Date Squares

Like travelling with my grandma, these date squares make me sooo happy. Not only are they sugar free, gluten free, and vegan but they also taste just like the butter and sugar ridden treats I used to snatch up at our local church’s pot luck as a kid or the kind I’d always find at big family get together’s. If you are not familiar with date squares let me fill you in before we get into things. They are composed of three layers: a bottom cookie-like crust, a middle ooey-gooey carmel-y date layer and a crunchy and sweet crumble top.

 

 

The brown sugar that the traditional date square called for seemed a bit out of place to me because dates are already a super sweet treat. Honestly, they are like earth’s natural sugar. Often in the afternoon, when my sweet tooth starts calling, I’ll  grab a couple of dates to cut my craving and also for a nutritious energy boost. Dates are also packed full of tons of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants so not only do they taste great but they are amazing for you. I opted out of the sugar altogether because it is really not needed at all (sorry sugar but not sorry). I let the wonderful natural flavour of the dates shine through by not only using them in the ooey-gooey center but also in the crust and crumble as a natural binder along with some heart healthy coconut oil (bye bye butter!). 

 

These layered no bake date squares are also very easy and simple to throw together – you just need to leave a couple of hours to let them chill out and set in the frige before devouring. First, I let the dates soak in boiling water for at least 10 minutes. This makes the dates that much sweeter and also makes them easier to process in the food processor. I made the decadent crust and crumble by processing three of my favourite foods – oats, coconut and pecans. While the dates are soaking, throw the pecans, shredded coconut and oats into the food processor and process until a course powder is formed. Add in the dates and coconut oil and pulse until a crumbly and moist dough is formed. Set aside 3/4 of a cup for the third crumble layer and press the remaining dough into the bottom of a pan lined with parchment. Now add in the the rest of the dates with some of the sweet date water, a splash of lemon juice and a dash of sea salt. Process the dates until a gooey caramel-like date paste is formed. Spread the golden date mixture on top of the cookie layer and evenly sprinkle the remaining crumble on top. Now all you have to do is play the waiting game until the date squares have fully set after chilling out in the fridge for a couple of hours. Simple, right? Feel free to share these at your next family event or at your church potluck and put the old method of making date squares to shame. I froze mine and will be enjoying these with Grandma on Monday along with one of our notorious long chats! 🙂