Newfoundland Date Crumbles
Would you like to save this recipe?
We'll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later!
Send this recipe to my email.
Newfoundland Date Crumbles (or Date Squares). A recipe every local family knows and loves. The secret is having the right proportion of butter in the crumble and this recipe gets it just right.
Originally published October 2007.
Not just Nanny Hynes' favourite square, another universal Newfoundland treat common to almost every family cookbook is Newfoundland Date Crumbles.
There are many recipes out there for these popular squares but this is the best recipe I have ever used.
The secret to a good crumble is the proper amount of butter in the recipe. Many recipes use too little, resulting in a dry end product where the crumble doesn't hold together properly.
I've seen them so dry you could blow the crumble like dust off the top of the square. Not my idea of a great crumble.
The other vital component in Newfoundland Date Crumbles is the filling. Opinions and tastes vary. My wife is partial to lots of filling. I am middle of the road when it comes to this topic.
We both agree though, that the thin, near non-existent layer of filling that some commercial bakeries try to pass off as a proper date crumble these days is really unacceptable. Try this recipe and you'll easily see the difference.
Looking for more Newfoundland-inspired cuisine?
For other favourite Newfoundland recipes please make a look at our Newfoundland Food Pages. You may also want to check out our entire collection of Newfoundland Favourite Cookie Recipes.
Like this Date Crumbles recipe?
Be sure to browse the photo index of over 200 cookies and cookie bar recipe is in our expansive Cookies Category.
It's easy to keep up with the latest home style cooking & baking ideas from Rock Recipes. Be sure to follow Rock Recipes Facebook Page and follow us on Instagram. Plus you'll see daily recipe suggestions from decadent desserts to quick delicious weekday meals too.
You can also sign up for our FREE newsletter to know immediately when we add new recipes. You'll get weekly suggestions for great family friendly meals and desserts too!
Rock Recipes a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Our product recommendations are almost exclusively for those we currently use or have used in the past.
Newfoundland Date Crumbles
Newfoundland Date Squares or Date Crumbles is a recipe every local family knows and loves. The secret is having the right proportion of butter in the crumble and this recipe gets it just right.
Ingredients
For the filling
- 18 ounces dates, chopped (about 4 cups) See note below.
- 3 tablespoon butter
- 3 tablespoon sugar
- 1 ½ tablespoons vanilla
- 2 cups boiling water
For the crumble
- 2 cups rolled oats, large(not quick oats)
- 2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 cup unsweetened dried coconut, fine or medium cut
- 2 cups flour
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 ½ cups butter, cut in small cubes
Instructions
For the filling
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking pan and line with parchment paper if you want.
- As noted in the recipe description, some people prefer these date squares with less filling so you can reduce the amounts in the filling by ¼, ⅓ or even ½ if you prefer.
- In a medium saucepan combine and gently simmer until thickened (about 10-15 minutes).
- The filling should be very thick; you will need to watch it carefully and stir constantly in the last few minutes of cooking time.
- Set aside to cool slightly while you prepare the crumble mixture.
To prepare the crumble
- In a large bowl, toss together the rolled oats, baking powder, coconut, flour and brown sugar.
- Using your hands, rub the butter thoroughly through the dry ingredients.
- Divide crumble mixture in half and press half into the bottom of the prepared baking pan.
- Spread date mixture over the base.
- Top with remaining crumb mixture, pressing it together in clumps in your hands and then breaking it into small pieces with your fingers to scatter evenly over the date filling.
- Press down lightly.
- Bake for 40 minutes at 350 degrees F.
- This is a very good basic recipe but I have also had very good variations of date crumbles over the years.
- Orange Date Crumbles: Substitute orange juice for the water in the filling and add the zest of a medium orange.
- Cocoa Date Crumbles: Add 4 tablespoon cocoa to the filling.
- Hazelnut or Almond Date Crumbles: Prepare filling as usual. Add ½ cup ground Almonds or Hazelnuts plus 1 teaspoon cinnamon and ½ teaspoon nutmeg to the crumble.
Notes
UPDATE: I do sometimes make the crumble in a food processor just to speed up the preparation time. However, I do not add the oatmeal to the processor. I take a minute or two to rub it trough the other ingredients once they come out of the food processor. This keeps the whole oats intact.
Recommended Products
Rock Recipes a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Our product recommendations are almost exclusively for those we currently use or have used in the past.
Nutrition Information
Yield
36Serving Size
36 cookie squaresAmount Per Serving Calories 203Saturated Fat 6gCholesterol 22mgSodium 79mgCarbohydrates 26gFiber 2gSugar 16gProtein 1g
Why old fashioned oats and not quick oats? Just curious.
I like the look and taste better. Processed its also tend to make them drier, I think.
i cannot find unseeten coconut can sweetcoconut be used
Yeah, you might want to cu the sugar back in the crumble though.
Well Barry I must say these are delicious . I've made these several time . I have to admit that they are better than my grandmothers . She alway made a batch when she came to visit us from Cape Breton . Thanks again for sharing .
Your recipe sounds delicious, I'd like to make these. Do they freeze well? Thanks
Yes indeed.!
ok, perfect. thx!
Made these for the first time last night brought them to a potluck supper. Everyone found them absolutely amazing. Just finished making another batch tonight. There the best I've ever made this recipe is definitely a keeper. Thanks
I am from St. John's but left when I was still young. My family always made these and my mother still does and have decided to make them myself for the first time.
I was wondering how fine the dates have to be chopped and also wanted to make these ahead of time for Christmas because I will be hosting and have a lot to do. How can I store these to keep them fresh? I was thinking of making them 4-5 days ahead of time and are they still considered fresh?
The dates are chopped into about 1/2 inch pieces. I'd just freeze them beforehand.
I made these and they turned out fantastic! Everyone loved them and they disappeared quickly! Thanks again Barry for all your efforts with your recipes. It is much appreciated!
I posted above and they turned out great 2 months ago but was making them again today and the crumble is resembling a dough type mixture. I don’t know what I did wrong? Is there a remedy for this to get it back into a crumble?
I figured it out. I had to use blocks of margarine and for each block is a half a cup and I used 3 of them when I should have measured the cut up cubes in a measuring cup. I made another batch and turned out correctly this time. I won’t make that mistake again!
Thank you for sharing the recipe!
I would like to make these well in advance. How long will they be nice without refridgerating, please?
Several days at least.
Hi, I am here in London, UK. My father is a Newfie and my grandmother used to make the most amazing date crumbles. When she passed, the recipe got lost and I have never been able to recreate them how she used to. The closest I got was buying them at Bidgoods just outside St Johns. Are your date crumbles gooey when eaten? Thanks!
Gooey? Do you mean the centre. Did you read my description in the complete post? It's pretty thorough.
Have been making date squares for many years but this recipe I can't wait to try.....thx for all the great recipes.
I have been making date squares for years but my old recipe is now going into the garbage!! I made these squares this evening and they are by far the most delicious Date Square I have ever made or eaten! Thank you for sharing such a fabulous recipe. Looking forward to sharing them with my coworkers with our morning coffee.
Just made them yet to tast but look the best one thing when is the best time to cut the squares ?
Filling fantastic but the topping was very crummy. Will have to do some tweaking.