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Squares: Date Squares

Source of Recipe


Gourmet Magazine, December 2002






List of Ingredients



• 2 cups all-purpose flour
  
• 1/2 tsp. salt
  
• 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
  
• 1/4 tsp. freshly ground nutmeg
  
• 1/4 tsp. ground clove
  
• 2 sticks (1 cup) unsalted butter, softened
  
• 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
  
• 2 large eggs
  
• 1 tsp. baking soda dissolved in 1/4 cup hot water
  
• 1 cup (4 oz.) walnuts, finely chopped
  
• 1 lb. (2 cups) dried pitted dates, finely chopped with an oiled knife
  
• 2 cups confectioners sugar
  






Instructions



1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
   
   
2. Grease a 13-by-9-by 2 inch metal baking pan, then line with foil, leaving a 2 inch overhang on 2 opposite sides, and butter foil.
   
   
3. Whisk together flour, salt and spices in a bowl and set aside. Beat together butter and granulated sugar in a bowl with an electric mixer at medium-high speed until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes in a standing mixer (preferably fitted with a paddle attachment) or 6 minutes with a handheld. Reduce speed to low and add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition.
   
   
4. Add baking soda mixture and mix until combined.
   
   
5. Add flour mixture, walnuts and dates and mix until just combined.
   
   
6. Spread batter evenly in baking pan and bake in the middle of oven until a tester comes out clean, 50 minutes to 1 hour.
   
   
7. Cool in pan on rack for 15 minutes.
   
   
8. Carefully lift date mixture out of pan using foil overhang and transfer to a cutting board. Cut into 1" squares and peel from foil.
   
   
9. Toss warm squares a few times in confectioners sugar, then transfer to a rack to cool completely.
   
   
10. Sprinkle with more confectioners sugar just before serving.
    
    
11. YIELD: 9 1/2 Dozen 1" Squares