"Can't Eat Just One" Oatmeal Date Square Recipe {Updated}.

"Can't Eat Just One" Oatmeal Date Square Recipe.


Shopping & Preparation List:

Date Filling-

• 2 cups of pitted dates, 
• 1 cup water
• 1 tablespoon Orange Juice*
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract* 

Oat Crumble-

• 1 1/2 cups rolled oats
• 1/2 cup flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup Brown Sugar Blend Splenda (Equivalent to sweetness of 1 cup of brown sugar.)
• 1/2 cup + 2 teaspoons butter, softened or room temperature

Press 2/3 oatmeal crumble in bottom.

Spread the date puree.

Oven Ready.

What I Did:

1. Simmer the dates and water in a saucepan for 5 minutes, set aside to cool.
2. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
3. Combine Oatmeal Crumble ingredients with a fork until the butter is evenly mixed.
4. Press 2/3 of Oatmeal Crumble into the bottom of parchment-lined square 9x9 baking dish.
5. Add vanilla extract and orange juice to the Date Filling. 
6. Puree Date Filling in a blender or a food processor.
7. Spread date puree carefully over your Oatmeal Crumble Base.
8. Sprinkle the remaining Oatmeal mixture evenly over the top.
9. Bake 30 minutes.
10. Cool completely before cutting, makes 12 squares.
11. Keep in fridge up to 7 days.

I have been craving date squares for a few weeks now and figured my sweet tooth was nagging me.  When I did a little research into the nutritional benefits of this palm tree fruit, I was very surprised.  Dates are naturally sweet, and full of Vitamins A, B-complex, and K.  Minerals like Iron, and Magnesium, along with Calcium and Potassium also pack a dietary punch in this tiny fruit.  We don't even need to talk about the amount of fiber in this recipe do we?

My original recipe called for a full cup of butter in the Oatmeal Crumble. It will yield a moister crumble, but my waistline is demanding a gentler kind of sweet to nosh with my afternoon coffee.

Nutritional Links:

Live Strong.

Nutrition And You.

Weight Loss Advisor.

*Original post date -July 28, 2011
*This is not a sponsored post- nor endorsed by any of the brands mentioned within.