A few months ago I travelled to Palm Springs and visited Shield’s Date Farm. As I toured the property and learned all about how dates are cultivated, I also discovered the “date shake.”
Shields is famous for this iconic shake made with dates grown on their property. As I sat in the dessert heat enjoying my icy treat, I remembered the delicious date squares my mom once made. I hadn’t come across those treats in years, so I headed back home on a mission to make them.
Unable to find a recipe mirroring the flavour of hers, I began cultivating my own version. This recipe is a result of a few failures, a couple of not bad’s, and finally a win.
1 Cup of all-purpose flour ( I use Anita's from BC)
3/4 Cup light brown sugar
1/4 Tsp baking powder
3/4 Cup of European butter ( room temperature)
1 Tsp salt
1/4 Tsp crushed cardamom seeds
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 375
Grease an 8×8 square pan with butter, then lay a piece of parchment over the bottom allowing it to go up two sides. This will allow you to easily remove the squares once cooked.
In a large bowl, combine the rolled oats, flour, brown sugar, baking powder, butter, salt, and cardamom. Mix well so the mixture is combined and crumbly. Set aside.
Take a medium sauce pot, and combine the dates, Kahlua, coffee, orange juice, orange zest. Cook until boiling. reduce heat to medium. Add the baking soda and cook stirring constantly until the dates are soft and the mixture resembles a butter like paste. Should take about 5-6 minutes.
Take half of the oat mixture and press it into the bottom of the pan. Top with the date filling, and then add the remaining oats to evenly cover the top. Press gently into the date mixture to set.
Bake for 45-50 minutes.
Remove from the oven and leave the squares in the pan until completely cooled. Approximately 3-4 hours.
Cut into equal portions and serve. These freeze very well, and will easily last 3 months frozen.
adoptedtomato
