Traditional Date Squares

Ingredients:
Date filling
3 cups pitted dates
1 1/2 tbsp orange zest (optional)
1 1/2 tbsp unsalted butter
1 cup water

Crumble:
2 1/2 cups rolled regular oats
1 1/4 cups all purpose flour
1 cup golden brown sugar packed
2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup unsalted butter melted

Preparation:
for the filling: place all ingredients in a pot and bring up to a boil; remove from hat and let dates sit and soak until room temperature. Puree until smooth and set aside.
Preheat oven to 350F , grease an 8 inch square pan, and line bottom with parchment paper so that the paper hangs over the edge of the pan on 2 sides, combine oats, flour, brown sugar, cinnamon and salt in a bowl. Stir in butter and blend until an even crumbly texture. Press half of the crumble in to the bottom of the prepared pan. Spread date filling over base and top with remaining crumble (not pressing). Bakes for 40 to 45 minutes, until the top of the crumble begins to brown. Allow to cool before cutting into squares.

Lebanese twist on Date Squares

Date Squares Filling:
3 cups pitted dates
1 tbsp orange zest
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp cardamom
1 tsp cinnamon
3/4 cup water + 1/4 cup orange blossom water or
1/2 cup water + 1/2 cup orange juice
the orange flavour combined with the spices gives the crumble a nice taste

Crumble:
2 1/2 cups rolled regular oasts
1 1/4 cups all purpose flour
1 cup golden brown sugar, pakced
2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup unsalted butted melted

press half of the mixture in the bottom of your pan

Preparation:
follow the direction for preparing the tradition date squares.