date square

{{Short description|Canadian date cookie}}

{{Infobox prepared food

| name = Date squares

| image = Date Squares.jpg

| image_size = 250px

| caption =

| alternate_name = Matrimonial cake, date crumbles

| country = Canada

| region =

| creator =

| course =

| type = Dessert

| served =

| main_ingredient = Dates, oatmeal

| variations = Partridgeberry squares

| calories =

| other =

}}

{{Canadian cuisine}}

A date square is a Canadian dessert or bar cookie made of cooked dates with an oatmeal crumb topping.{{cite web|url=https://www.chatelaine.com/recipe/desserts/date-squares-recipe/|title=Old-fashioned date squares}}{{cite web|url=http://southernfood.about.com/od/dessertrecipe1/r/bl11209a.htm|title=Best Ever Date Bars With Crumbly Oat Crust|publisher=|access-date=2008-07-09|archive-date=2010-11-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101112085042/http://southernfood.about.com/od/dessertrecipe1/r/bl11209a.htm|url-status=dead}} In the western provinces and states it is known as matrimonial cake.{{cite web|url=http://www.theoldfoodie.com/2008/07/matrimonial-cake.html|title=Matrimonial Cake}}{{cite web|url=http://apps.plotandscatter.com:8080/dchp2/Entries/view/matrimonial%252520cake|title=Matrimonial Cake}} In Eastern Canada it can also be known as date crumbles.{{cite web|url=https://www.rockrecipes.com/newfoundland-date-crumbles/|title=Date Crumbles|date=4 October 2007}} It is often found in coffee shops as a sweet snack food. Sometimes nuts are added to the base layer or crumb topping, or other alterations.{{cite web|url=https://www.starbucks.com/menu/food/bakery/blueberry-oat-bar|title=Starbucks Blueberry Oat Bars}} There can also be candied peel added to the date stuffing for a contrasting texture.{{cite web|url=http://www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,1710,158191-255204,00.html|title=Date And Nut Squares - Recipe - Cooks.com|first=The FOURnet Information|last=Network|website=www.cooks.com}}