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Gourmet
December 2002

Date Squares

Active time: 30 min Start to finish: 3 hr

Recipe information

  • Total Time

    3 hr

  • Yield

    Makes about 9 1/2 dozen cookies

Ingredients

2

cups all-purpose flour

1

/2 teaspoon salt

1

/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1

/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg

1

/4 teaspoon ground cloves

2

sticks (1 cup) unsalted butter, softened

1

1/2 cups granulated sugar

2

large eggs

1

teaspoon baking soda dissolved in 1/4 cup hot water

1

cup walnuts (4 oz), finely chopped

1

lb dried pitted dates, finely chopped with an oiled knife (2 cups)

2

cups confectioners sugar

Need to make a substitution?

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Preheat oven to 350°F.

    Step 2

    Grease a 13- by 9- by 2-inch metal baking pan, then line with foil, leaving a 2-inch overhang on 2 opposite sides, and butter foil.

    Step 3

    Whisk together flour, salt, and spices. Beat together butter and granulated sugar in a bowl with an electric mixer at medium-high speed until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes in a standing mixer (preferably fitted with paddle attachment) or 6 minutes with a handheld. Reduce speed to low and add eggs 1 at a time, mixing well after each addition. Add baking soda mixture and mix until combined. Add flour mixture, walnuts, and dates and mix until just combined.

    Step 4

    Spread batter evenly in baking pan and bake in middle of oven until a tester comes out clean, 50 minutes to 1 hour. Cool in pan on a rack 15 minutes. Carefully lift date mixture out of pan using foil overhang and transfer to a cutting board. Cut into 1-inch squares and peel from foil.

    Step 5

    Toss warm squares a few at a time in confectioners sugar, then transfer to a rack to cool completely. Sprinkle with more confectioners sugar just before serving.

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