Best Date Squares Ever

Ingredients

• 4 cups chopped pitted honey dates
• 0.75 cups orange juice
• 0.5 teaspoons lemon juice
• 2 cups whole wheat flour
• 2 cups quick-cooking oats
• 0.75 cups brown sugar
• 0.5 teaspoons baking powder
• 0.5 teaspoons baking soda
• 0.5 teaspoons salt
• 1.5 cups unsalted butter , melted and cooled

Instructions

1. 1

   Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Grease a 9x11-inch baking pan; line with parchment paper.

2. 2

   Heat dates, orange juice, and lemon juice in a large saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring often, until dates are soft, about 6 minutes.

3. 3

   Whisk whole wheat flour, oats, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together in a large bowl; stir in melted butter. Press 1/2 oat mixture evenly into the prepared pan.

4. 4

   Spread date mixture evenly over oat mixture; sprinkle remaining oat mixture evenly over date mixture and press lightly.

5. 5

   Bake in the preheated oven until golden, about 20 minutes. Cool in the pan to room temperature, about 30 minutes. Refrigerate until chilled before cutting into squares, about 1 hour.