Date Squares

also called date bars · matrimonial cake · date crumble squares

The table

Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C)
Line an 8x8-in pan with parchment
3/4 cup(170 g)cold unsalted butterrublayer crumble, filling, crumblebake at 350°F for 35 min
1 1/2 cups(135 g)rolled oats
1 1/4 cups(160 g)all-purpose flour
3/4 cup(150 g)light brown sugar
1/2 tsp(2.5 g)baking soda
1/4 tsp(1.5 g)table salt
2 cups(340 g)chopped pitted datessimmer in a saucepan for 10 min until jammy
3/4 cup(180 mL)water
2 Tbs(25 g)granulated sugar
1 Tbs(15 mL)lemon juice
Tap anything to cross it off.

What to lay out

Everything the recipe asks for, sitting under the step that eats it. Tick each one as you measure it.15 things to get out.

Pans and tools

Before anything else

3rub

4simmer in a saucepan for 10 min until jammy

Cooking it

Tap a step when it is done; the next one lights up.

The clock

Start to finish
at least 45 mintwo waits that overlap count once
Needs you
none givenof the steps that give a time

2 of the 4 steps never say how long they take, so both numbers are floors. The recipe itself says 1 hr.

  1. simmer in a saucepan for 10 min until jammy

    10 minwalk away(read off the step)from the start

  2. rub

    not timedfrom the start

  3. layer crumble, filling, crumble

    not timed10 min in

  4. bake at 350°F for 35 min

    35 minwalk away(read off the step)10 min in

Drawn to scale, so a long wait really does take up the room it takes. The shortest stretches keep a sliver so they stay visible; their times are printed beside them. The minutes are always the recipe’s own; a dashed edge means we worked out from the step whether you have to be there, and a dotted one means nothing was said, so we assumed you are standing over it.

You'll need 8x8-in pan · oven · saucepan

See how it is written
>> title: Date Squares
>> category: Bars & Brownies
>> tags: dates, oats, dessert, oven
>> counters: Bakery
>> aka: date bars, matrimonial cake, date crumble squares
>> servings: 9
>> time: 1 hr
>> step.5: layer crumble, filling, crumble

Preheat the #oven{} to 350°F (175°C).

Line an #8x8-in pan{} with parchment.

Simmer @chopped pitted dates{2%cup}(340 g), @water{3/4%cup}(180 mL), @granulated sugar{2%Tbs}(25 g), @lemon juice{1%Tbs}(15 mL) in a #saucepan{} for ~{10%min}, until jammy.

Rub @cold unsalted butter{3/4%cup}(170 g) into @rolled oats{1 1/2%cup}(135 g), @all-purpose flour{1 1/4%cup}(160 g), @light brown sugar{3/4%cup}(150 g), @baking soda{1/2%tsp}(2.5 g), @table salt{1/4%tsp}(1.5 g).

Press half of @&(~1)oat crumble{} into the pan, spread @&(~2)date filling{} over it, and scatter the rest of the crumble on top.

Bake @&(~1)squares{} at 350°F for ~{35%min}.