Date Squares

A tea-time treat.

 

For 15 pastries:   125g softened butter 125g caster sugar 1 tsp vanilla flavouring 250g plain flour 3 tbsp milk 1/2 baking powder  180g dates, stoned and grated 1tbsp olive oil 4 tbsp water

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1. • Prepare the dates:  in a pan soften the grated dates with 4 tbsp water and 1 tbsp olive oil for 5 minutes, stirring every so often.
   • Prepare the dough:  in a large bowl, beat the softened butter, sugar and vanilla flavouring till pale.
     
   • Fold in the flour, baking powder and milk and mix to form a ball.
   • Pre-heat oven to 180°.
   • Take ½ the dough and roll out into a rectangle 3mm thick on a sheet of baking parchment 30X40cm.  Spread the date mixture over it.  Crumble the remaining pastry over the top and press down lightly with the flat of your hand.
   • Cook for 30minutes.
   • After removing from the oven, sprinkle with icing-sugar.
   • When cold cut into squares or rectangles
   
   

 

 

Variation:  Flavour the dates with 1 tsp ground cinnamon.

See Recipe of Date crescents.