How to bake date squares for dessert

Ingredients

1 1/2 sticks (12 tablespoons) salted butter

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 1/2 cups old-fashioned oatmeal

1 cup packed light brown sugar

Date Paste:

1 cup water

2 cups dates, pitted and chopped

1/4 cup lemon juice

Zest of 1 lemon or orange
Directions

In a small saucepan add 1 cup of water, lemon zest and juice

Cook over medium heat until dates are soft (about 10 minutes)

Remove from heat and cool date mixture

For the crumb topping and base, combine flour, oats, sugar and butter and blend until resembles course crumbs

Use 2/3 of the mixture for the bottom of the pan, press down firmly

Spread cooled date paste into pan and cover with remaining crumb mixture

Bake until golden, about 30 minutes

Cool and cut into squares