Vegan Date Square (Healthy Recipe)

Vegan date square piled over each other over parchment paper.

5 from 1 vote

Vegan Date Square (Healthy Recipe)

These decadent vegan date squares are easy to make, packed with sweet flavor from the wholesome dates and they are rich in fiber. The creamy date filling paired with a buttery and crunchy oat layer makes for such a delicious combo! They are 100% vegan + dairy-free, and you can easily make them gluten-free.

Prep Time20

Cook Time40

Total Time1

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: date cake, date dessert, vegan bars

Servings: squares

Calories: 225kcal

Author: Jessica Laroche

Equipment

8 x 8 or 9 x 9 inch Square pan
Parchment paper
Small sauce pot
Mixing bowl and mixing spoon
Small kitchen scale (or measuring cups)
Measuring spoons

Ingredients

Date filling

360 g large Medjool dates 360 g = about 2 packed cups, pitted and rtoughly chopped
245 g water 245 g = about 1 cup
2 tablespoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Topping

200 g rolled oats 200 g = about 2 cups
130 g all-purpose flour 130 g = about 1 cup, oat flour works too
130 g vegan butter or refined coconut oil 130 g = about ½ cup
110 g brown sugar 110g = about ½ cup
½ teaspoon salt

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350ºF and line an 8 x8 or 9 x 9-inch square pan with parchment paper.
In a large bowl, combine the rolled oats, flour, brown sugar and salt. Then, add the solid vegan butter and use your hands or a pasty cutter to crush it into the dry ingredients until it forms a crumbly and uniform mixture. Set aside.
To a small saucepan, add the pitted dates, lemon juice and water. Cover and bring to a simmer, then let the dates cook on a gentle simmer covered for 5-10 minutes. Then, stir in the vanilla extract and add the baking soda. Lots of bubbles should form, this is normal. Keep cooking while stirring and mashing the dates until it forms a coarse pasty consistency. Remove from the heat.
Transfer about half the oat mixture into the prepared square pan and use your hands to press it to the bottom of the pan (press it tightly, so the squares hold well). Then, scatter the date mix over and use the back of a spoon to spread it out evenly over the bottom crust layer.
Transfer the second half of the oat mix over the dates and gently press it to an even layer. Bake for 40-45 minutes or until golden brown. Then, let the dish completely cool down before unmolding and slicing. Enjoy!

Video

Notes

If your dates are whole (meaning intact with still their stone inside), then you will have to first remove the pit. To do so, simply create a slice lengthwise to allow the date to open up and be able to remove the pit.
I used Medjool dates, which are technically not dried and usually found in the produce section. If you use dried dates that are harder, then I recommend first soaking them in plenty of water for a few hours. Then, drain and continue with the recipe.
It is best to allow the date mix to cool down before transferring over to the bottom layer.
Make sure to press over the bottom layer so a tight crust forms while balking. This will help the squares hold well!
Cooling down the date squares before slicing will make sure they hold well together.
This recipe makes for 9 large squares or 16 smaller ones.
Nutrition: please note that the nutritional information is an estimate per serving provided for informational purposes only (calculated by software) and accuracy is not guaranteed. Consult with your healthcare provider or a registered dietitian if you need precise nutrition calculations for health reasons.

Nutrition