Donna's Date Squares

Donna's Date Squares 

Without fail, no road trip or church bake sale is complete without a batch of Donna's (a.k.a. Mamma D a.k.a. Gramma D a.k.a Kirstie's Mom) highly addictive date squares!  

This recipe is for TWO 9x9 inch square baking pans.  Because as Donna says, if you're going to make them, make them.  They freeze really well.  

3 cups rolled oats
3 cups all-purpose flour 
1/2-1 tsp salt (we like that extra bit of salt) 
1 1/2 tsp. baking soda 
2 cups PACKED brown sugar 
1 1/2 cups salted butter, softened 
1 1/2 lbs. pitted dates, cut up 
2 cups water, or, as needed 
2/3 cup packed brown sugar (second amount) 
2 tsp. lemon juice, or to taste 

1. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees F 
2. In a large bowl combine oats, flour, salt, baking soda and the two cups of brown sugar.  Mix in ('snap) the butter in until crumbly.  Roughly divide this mixture into 4: pat one-fourth of the mixture into the bottom of one of the 9x9 pans.  Pat the other one-fourth in the bottom of the other 9x9 pan.  Reserve remaining crumble for the tops of the pans. 
3. For the filling:  place dates, water, and second amount of brown sugar in a medium pot.  Bring up just to a boil and continue to simmer over high heat until thickened, breaking up the dates with a wooden spoon or potato masher until no large pieces of dates remain.  Add more water if necessary.   Stir in lemon juice.  Taste your mixture, make sure it is tart enough.  
4. Let cool slightly then divide evenly amongst the pans.  Top the pans with remaining crumble.  
5. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until tops are lightly golden brown.  
6. Cool completely (don't even think about it, says Donna) before cutting into squares.  Give the rustic edges to your kids, save the nice ones for the bake sale :)