Gooey Caramel Date Squares
Soft, buttery oat crumble with a rich, sticky caramel-date filling — sweet, chewy, and absolutely irresistible.
🛒 Ingredients (9×9 inch / 23×23 cm pan)
For the Date Caramel Filling:
2 cups (about 300 g) pitted dates, chopped
1 cup (240 ml) water
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 tablespoon lemon juice
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon butter (optional, for richness)
For the Crumble Base & Topping:
1½ cups (180 g) all-purpose flour
1½ cups (135 g) rolled oats
1 cup (200 g) brown sugar
½ teaspoon baking soda
¼ teaspoon salt
¾ cup (170 g) unsalted butter, melted
Optional Caramel Drizzle:
½ cup soft caramel candies, melted
or
¼ cup homemade caramel sauce
👩🍳 Instructions
1️⃣ Make the Date Caramel
In a saucepan, combine dates and water.
Simmer over medium heat for 5–8 minutes until dates soften.
Stir in brown sugar and lemon juice.
Mash or blend until thick and smooth.
Stir in vanilla and butter.
Let cool slightly (it will thicken more as it cools).
2️⃣ Prepare the Crumble
Preheat oven to 175°C (350°F).
Line a 9×9-inch pan with parchment paper.
In a bowl, mix flour, oats, brown sugar, baking soda, and salt.
Pour in melted butter and mix until crumbly.
3️⃣ Assemble
Press half of the crumble mixture firmly into the bottom of the pan.
Spread the warm date caramel evenly over the base.
Sprinkle remaining crumble on top (don’t press too hard).
4️⃣ Bake
Bake for 30–35 minutes, until golden brown.
Let cool completely before slicing (this helps them set).
5️⃣ Optional Drizzle
Drizzle melted caramel over cooled squares for extra gooey goodness.
Gooey Caramel Date Squares
