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Matrimony/Matrimonial or Date Squares, Gluten Free (Flashback Friday)



I posted this recipe a couple of years ago here but once again it is that time of year when our snowbird neighbours return home, bearing gifts. Once again they brought me a lovely container of dates and of course my mouth watered for these squares.
And so here is the repeat recipe on Flashback Friday.

Filling 
  • 3 1/2 - 4 cups pitted and chopped dates
  • 1 1/2 cups water 
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice 
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar 
  • 1/2 teaspoon soda 
Crumbs 
  • 2 1/4 cups gluten free oat flakes
  • 1 1/4 cup Julie's Flour mix or your favorite gluten-free all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup brown sugar 
  • 1/2 teaspoon xanthan gum (if not included in your flour) 
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder 
  • 1 cup butter 
  • 1 package vanilla sugar 
Method 
  1. Cook the filling until it is soft, smooth and spreadable; add more water if it gets too thick.
  2. Remove from stove and let cool slightly while you prepare crumbs. 
  3. Mix all dry ingredients together, then cut or rub in the butter until you have uniform crumbs. 
  4. Place half the crumbs into a 9 x 12 inch baking dish, pat down. 
  5. Cover with date filling.
  6. Cover with remaining crumbs and pat down lightly.
  7. Bake at 350 degrees until lightly browned, about 30-40 minutes. 
  8. Let cool completely before cutting. 

6 comments:

  1. These are my absolute favourite tea time treat of all time!!!
    Have a lovely day baking up all sorts of deliciousness,
    Andrea

    ReplyDelete
  2. Please, what is a package of vanilla sugar? I live in California and have never heard of this. Thank you in advance for the information as this is one of my favorite desserts.
    Sandy

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Vanilla sugar is sugar pre-flavoured with vanilla -- so nice to use when you are mixing crumb toppings that have no liquid to add liquid vanilla to ... here is the one I use https://www.walmart.com/ip/Dr.-Oetker-Vanilla-Sugar-1.88-oz-Pack-of-12/19475071

      Delete
  3. What could you substitute for the vanilla sugar?

    ReplyDelete
  4. What size is the package of Vanilla Sugar? If I use powdered vanilla instead, what amount would you recommend (by weight or volume), and would I need to add extra sugar as well, or it is a negligible amount of sugar?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You can leave the vanilla sugar out -- but to measure substitution amounts, it would be what equals about 1 teaspoon of liquid vanilla. and yes.. the amount of sugar is negligible.

      Delete

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