Recipe

Matrimonial Cake (date Bars) Recipe

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Ingredients

1 c Brown sugar; packed
1 1/2 c Rolled oats
1 1/2 c Flour, all purpose
1/4 ts -Salt
1/2 ts Baking soda
3/4 c Butter; softened

Directions

Step #1 --FILLING----- 2 c Dates; sliced, pitted 1/2 c Sugar, granulated 1 ts Lemon juice 3/4 c -Boiling water "This recipe in some old cookbooks is called Date Sandwich Cake.
Step #2 Other variations are Raisin Squares or Fig Squares.
Step #3 --.
Step #4 --.
Step #5 Date Squares (Matrimonial Cake, if you happen to come from the West) are a real nostalgia treat.
Step #6 The fillings in the 30s recipes was extremely sweet.
Step #7 Today's versions reduce the sugar in the filling, since the dates are sweet enough, & are often microwaved.
Step #8 Raisin Puff, an old favorite in P.
Step #9 --.
Step #10 --.
Step #11 is somewhat similar, with raisin filling sandwiched between layers of soft cookie dough instead of an oatmeal mixture.
Step #12 " Filling: In saucepan, until the dates are soft, stirring often, sugar, lemon juice & water over medium heat, cook dates, about 15 mins.
Step #13 Let cool.
Step #14 In a bowl, sugar, rolled oats, mix flour, baking soda & salt; mix in butter until mixture is crumbly.
Step #15 Pat half onto bottom of 9 inch square pan.
Step #16 Spread filling evenly over the top.
Step #17 Sprinkle top with the remaining flour mixture, patting lightly.
Step #18 Bake in a 350F oven for 30 to 35 mins or until nicely browned.
Step #19 Let cool; cut into squares.
Step #20 MAKES: 36 SQUARES VARIATION: Mincemeat Squares : Use 2 c mincemeat instead of date filling.
Step #21 SOURCE: _A Century of Canadian Home Cooking: 1900 Through the 90s" by Carol Ferguson & Margaret Fraser.
Enjoy the MATRIMONIAL CAKE (DATE BARS) recipe