What does dates do in baking?

Dates can be used as a sweetener in baking either added in whole, as a syrup, or made into date sugar, which can be bought at markets or made at home. They can be chopped and added to cookies, breads, and other baked goods to add a touch of sweetness and texture .

Where do date squares come from?

Date Squares recipes first started appearing in bakeries and in brand-sponsored cookbooks like the Purity Cookbook and the Five Roses flour cookbook as early as the 1920s , but rose in popularity in the 1930s, particularly in the prairie provinces where the dessert is known as Matrimonial Cake.

Do dates need to be soaked before baking?

Prepare it Dried dates are ready to use straight away - just slice off from the block or pick as many of you need from the box, but you can also soak them in a liquid like tea or various types of alcohol, to boost flavour and moisture .

Which dates are best for baking?

Deglet Noor Dates They have a firm texture and somewhat nutty taste. However, the date's flavor is not too intense or overpowering, making them ideal for baking. Deglet Noor dates are also easy to work with and mix into dessert batters due to their drier consistency.

What are date balls made of?

Place dates, sugar, and margarine in a large saucepan over low heat; cook and stir until sugar dissolves. Remove from heat and fold in crispy rice cereal, pecans, and vanilla extract until evenly mixed. Roll date mixture into 1-inch balls using lightly greased hands; allow balls to cool.

What are date bars made of?

Combine oats, flour, brown sugar, walnuts, salt, and baking soda in a large bowl. Add melted butter; mix until blended. Pour 2/3 of the oat mixture into an 8-inch square baking dish, pressing over the bottom and sides. Spread the date mixture over the oats; crumble remaining oat mixture evenly on top.

What are the dots inside dates?

Dates white dots on them… Dates will sometimes form sugar crystals under or on top of their skin. It simply means that the dates are maturing . You will want to either consume them soon or store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator or freezer.

What can dates replace in baking?

If you are making a cookie or recipe that doesn't call for much liquid, date sugar is probably your best choice. Date sugar is the whole date, dried and ground into a powder. It can be used to substitute white sugar 1 for 1 while decreasing the dry ingredients called for in your recipe by 25%.

Why do you use dates instead of sugar?

While dates are a concentrated source of sugar, they're considered lower glycemic than other refined sugars. The fiber in dates helps balance out the sugar preventing such a drastic blood sugar spike . This along with the additional nutrients make dates a great sugar replacement!

Are dates better than added sugar?

Natural sweetener Dates are a source of fructose, which is a natural type of sugar found in fruit ( 1 ). For this reason, dates are very sweet and also have a subtle caramel-like taste. They make a great healthy substitute for white sugar in recipes due to the nutrients, fiber, and antioxidants that they provide .

Do dates reduce temperature?

Therefore, it is important to consume dates in moderation, regardless of the season. Another concern is that dates are known to be warm in nature. This means that they can increase the body's internal temperature , which can be uncomfortable during the hot summer months.

Newfoundland Date Crumbles - my best recipe from 40 years of baking! (2024)

Newfoundland Date Crumbles (or Date Squares). A recipe every local family knows and loves. The secret is having the right proportion of butter in the crumble and this recipe gets it just right.

The Best Newfoundland Date Crumbles

Not just Nanny Hynes’ favourite square, another universal Newfoundland treat common to almost every family cookbook is Newfoundland Date Crumbles.

There are many recipes out there for these popular squares but this is the best recipe I have ever used.

Date Crumbles was one of the first recipes ever posted on Rock Recipes back in 2007

The secret to a good crumble is the proper amount of butter in the recipe. Many recipes use too little, resulting in a dry end product where the crumble doesn’t hold together properly.

I’ve seen them so dry you could blow the crumble like dust off the top of the square. Not my idea of a great crumble.

The Best Newfoundland Date Crumbles

Looking for more Newfoundland-inspired cuisine?

For other favourite Newfoundland recipes please make a look at our Newfoundland Food Pages. You may also want to check out our entire collection of Newfoundland Favourite Cookie Recipes.

Like this Date Crumbles recipe?

Be sure to browse the photo index of over 200 cookies and cookie bar recipe is in our expansive Cookies Category.

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The Best Newfoundland Date Crumbles

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Yield: 36 cookie squares