Steps to Make Canadian Date Squares

Canada Squares

Newfoundland date crumbles (or date squares) is a recipe eve.

Recipe Summary Canada Squares

They're all red and white with a hint of maple. When sliced, the cookies reveal a white base, red middle, and white top. They will have you singing 'O Canada' for the rest of the day!

Ingredients | Canadian Date Squares

1 cup all-purpose flour

2 tablespoons confectioners' sugar

½ cup butter

⅓ cup seedless raspberry jam

⅔ cup white sugar

½ cup butter, softened

2 eggs

⅔ cup rice flour

10 drops red food coloring, or as needed

2 cups confectioners' sugar, or as needed

⅓ cup butter, softened

1 tablespoon milk, or as needed

1 teaspoon maple extract

Directions

Preheat oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C). Line bottom and sides of an 8-inch square baking pan with parchment paper; crease corners well.

Whisk together 1 cup flour and 2 tablespoons confectioners' sugar; cut in 1/2 cup butter until mixture resembles fine crumbs. Pat mixture evenly into prepared pan.

Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes; remove to cool on a wire rack, about 15 minutes. Top base evenly with raspberry jam.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).

Beat white sugar and 1/2 cup butter together until fluffy; beat in eggs until fluffy and pale yellow. Beat rice flour into egg mixture until well combined; stir in food coloring until batter reaches desired shade of red. Spread batter evenly over jam layer.

Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 30 minutes. Cool completely in the pan; about 20 minutes.

Beat 2 cups confectioners' sugar and 1/3 cup butter together in a bowl with an electric mixer until smooth; stir in milk and maple extract. Spread icing evenly over cooled bars.

Hold edges of parchment paper; lift squares out of pan to a cutting board. Slice into 1-inch squares with a very sharp knife.

Substituting almond extract for the maple is delightful for a marzipan-flavored square. Paste food coloring works best. Other colors may be used for other holidays, such as red and green for Christmas, or pink and blue for a baby shower.

More maple extract may be added, but it will tint the white icing slightly.

Info | Canadian Date Squares

prep: 30 mins cook: 50 mins additional: 35 mins total: 1 hr 55 mins Servings: 32 Yield: 64 1-inch squares

TAG : Canada Squares

Desserts, Cookies, International Cookie Recipes, Canadian Cookie Recipes,