This easy-peasy, no-bake date square recipe is simply put, delicious!
These are not like the old-fashioned date squares with a date filling and two crumbly oatmeal layers that most people are familiar with. No, these date squares are rather unique.
They are luxuriously buttery with a toffee-like flavour and a lovely crunchy texture from the pieces of biscuit.
You will need zero baking skills, one pan and 20 minutes of your time. They're also far easier and quicker to make than traditional date squares.
They also go by "date bars" or "date slices" - it simply depends on the shape they're cut.
If you love dates, also try this luxurious date balls recipe, ideal for Christmas snacks or gifts. For other easy no bake recipes have a look at these velvety rum truffles with ginger, peanut brittle or this easy coconut ice with condensed milk recipe.
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What's to love about this recipe
- 20 minutes to make using a few simple ingredients. This is an easy recipe and quicker to make than the classic recipe for date crumbles.
- No need to switch the oven on, it's all made on the stove top.
- Dangerously moreish! To be enjoyed with a cup of coffee.
- Perfect dessert on-the-go, to stock the cookie tins for the holidays, to take on picnics or as a lunch box treat.
- These delicious date squares make lovely gifts when packaged in pretty boxes or cellophane wrap.
What exactly are dates?
Dates are simply wonderful gifts, straight from Mother Nature herself. It's like toffees growing on trees!
They are the fruits of date palm trees (yes, it is a specific type), native to the Middle East and North Africa. These days, date palms are grown anywhere in the world with a warm, dry climate, making them far more accessible to the rest of the globe.
The fruits grow in big clusters and are hand-harvested by people who definitely cannot afford to have any issues with vertigo – these palms are extremely high!
There are male and female trees, but birds and bees are not hugely attracted to the fruit, so the female trees need to be pollinated by hand.
A collection of date palms is called a "date garden" or a "date grove".
Key ingredients and substitutions
**Please see the recipe card at the bottom of this post for the full list of ingredients.
Butter
Salted or unsalted butter will work. The variation in saltiness is not significant once all the ingredients have been combined.
Pitted dates
You will need plain old regular, pitted dates usually found in the baking aisle of your supermarket. No need to splash out on expensive Medjool dates.
Just to clarify, in the average supermarket, you may find two types of dates - Medjool dates and Deglet Moor (baking aisle dates).
Medjool dates are usually larger, plumper and also far more expensive. You will likely see them in the fresh fruit aisle. These expensive dates will be wasted in this recipe because we are cooking the dates to a near pulp with some butter. So, save your pennies!
Deglet Noor are the smaller, firmer and cheaper dates that you would generally find in the baking aisle or with the dried fruit. We've never seen them packaged as 'Deglet Noor' dates, they're usually just 'dates'. These are the dates you want.
Castor sugar
You can replace this with white granulated sugar.
Top tip: You can make your own castor sugar very easily by just whizzing normal granulated sugar in a food processer. The consistency needs to be somewhere between granulated sugar and icing sugar.
We would advise against using brown sugar, it will make the mixture too heavy and too dark.
Digestive biscuits
Can be replaced with any plain biscuits like Graham crackers (USA), Marie biscuits (South Arica), Tea biscuits (UK) or even Scottish shortbreads.
Equipment needed
- A medium saucepan.
- A square baking pan of 20cm x 20cm (8" x 8").
- Parchment paper.
- A wooden spoon or spatula.
- A cutting board and sharp knife.
How to make date squares
- Melt the butter slowly over a medium heat and add the chopped dates.
- Stir the mixture gently until the dates become soft and start to break up.
You can help this process by gently squishing the dates with a spatula as you stir. Make sure to scrape the bottom of the pan throughout.
- Once done, take the mixture off the heat and let it cool for 10 minutes.
It does not need to cool down to room temperature, it should just not be fiercely hot.
- Whisk the egg together with the sugar and salt in a small bowl.
- Add the egg mixture to the dates and combine well.
- Put the saucepan back on a medium-low heat and gently warm the mixture for 2-3 minutes. Remove it from the heat.
- In a large bowl, break the biscuits into small pieces and add to the date mixture, combine well.
You can crush the biscuits in a plastic bag using a rolling pin, but don't break it up too finely, you need to have some chunky bits too.
- Line a square pan of 20cm x 20cm (8" x 8") with parchment paper.
- Scoop the mixture into the tin. Level it out with the back of a spoon and place the pan of date squares in the fridge for 3 hours.
- Lift the whole slab out of the tin and transfer it onto a cutting board. Slice it into individual squares.
- Optional: You can sprinkle the squares with desiccated coconut. It goes really well with the dates!
Useful tips
Chopping the dates
You don’t need to chop the dates too small. We like to use a pair of kitchen scissors and simply cut each date in half.
Don't crush the biscuits too finely
For the best date squares, avoid crushing the biscuits into a fine powder. Instead, aim for some larger pieces to add a crunchy texture to the squares. Pieces about the size of M&Ms are a good reference, but it's alright if there are even larger chunks mixed in.
Using a food processor will turn the biscuits into a powder, which is not what you want for this recipe.
Vegan date squares
Replace the butter with a vegan butter, the egg with a quarter cup apple sauce and the digestives with vegan-friendly, plain biscuits.
Storage
The date squares will last well for 2 weeks when stored in an airtight container or sealed with plastic wrap.
These date squares mature and improve over time, becoming more delicious on the next day after baking and in the following days.
Can you freeze date squares?
Yes you can. Place a sheet of baking paper between each layer of squares and freeze for up to 3 months. You can layer them in a lidded box, or inside a freezer bag.
To defrost, simply remove them from the freezer a few hours before you would like to enjoy them.
FAQ
It's best to cut the squares once they've had their 3 hours in the fridge. It will be much easier to slice and the slices will also be neater.
Yes you can! Just replace the digestive biscuits with a gluten free version.
More easy no bake recipes
Recipe
Easy date squares
Equipment
- 20 x 20cm Baking dish or baking tin
Ingredients
- 250 gram butter
- 500 gram dates, chopped
- 1 egg
- 100 grams castor sugar
- 1 pinch salt
- 200 gram digestive biscuits - or any plain biscuits
Instructions
- Line a 20cmx20cm (8"x8") baking tin with parchment paper. Leave a slight overhang of paper, this will make it easier to lift the slab out later.
- Chop the dates into slightly smaller pieces.
- In a large saucepan, melt the butter slowly over a medium heat.
- Once melted, add the chopped dates.
- Stir the mixture gently for about 3-4 minutes, until the dates become soft and start to break up. You can help this process by gently squishing the dates with a spatula as you stir.
- Once done, take the mixture off the heat and let it cool for 10 minutes.
- Whisk the egg together with the sugar and pinch of salt in a small bowl.
- Add the egg mixture to the dates and combine well.
- Put the saucepan back on a medium-low heat and gently warm the mixture for 2-3 minutes. Remove it from the heat.Don't worry if you see small bits of cooked egg white in the mixture, it will disappear once you add the biscuits.
- Break the biscuits into small pieces and add it to the date mixture. Combine well with a large spoon.You can crush the biscuits in a plastic bag using a rolling pin, but don't break it up too finely, you need to have some chunky bits too.
- Scoop the date mixture into the tin. Level it out with the back of a spoon and place it in the fridge for a minimum of 3 hours.
- Once cooled, lift the whole slab out of the tin and transfer it onto a cutting board. Slice it into squares.
- Optional: You can sprinkle the squares with desiccated coconut. It goes really well with the dates!
**Nutritional data disclaimer**
Please keep in mind that the nutritional information provided below is calculated by a third party and we cannot guarantee the accuracy. We try our best to give you the most accurate information, but we do not take responsibility for errors that may be present. Also, the nutritional value of the recipe may change depending on the exact brands and products used. We recommend that you consult with a qualified healthcare professional or registered dietitian for personalised advice on your dietary needs.
Nutrition
For food safety advice, including guidance on food allergies
