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    Home » Recipes » Courses » Desserts » Bars and Squares

    Date Slice (Matrimonial Cake)

    Published: Jan 31, 2023 by Terri Gilson · Modified: Aug 25, 2023 · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This post may contain affiliate links · 2 Comments

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    Jump to Recipe
    4 date squares piled up on a piece of parchment paper with a blue flowered oven mitt in the background

    Date Slice is a classic Canadian dessert. Also known by the names date square, matrimonial bars, squares or slice, matrimonial cake, date crumble, and date bar, this recipe is my Grandma's recipe and it's by far, the best date square I have ever tasted!

    4 date squares piled up on a piece of parchment paper with a blue flowered oven mitt in the background

    This simple recipe is especially popular at Christmas time, although these date bars are great for any time of the year. It's often served at Christmas markets, family reunions, bake sales, church gatherings, bridal showers, and funerals. It pairs perfectly with a cup of coffee or tea! This recipe was the inspiration for my Rhubarb Squares.

    Jump to:
    • 💭Why is it called Matrimonial Cake?
    • 🥘Ingredients
    • 🔪Instructions
    • 💭Top tip
    • 📖Variations & Substitutions
    • 👪 Serving Size
    • 🍽Equipment
    • 🌡️Storage
    • Date Slice Recipe (Matrimonial Cake)
    • 🍁More Canadian Recipes

    Although this date slice is known as Matrimonial Cake in many circles, you're more likely to run into it at a funeral, rather than a wedding, in Western Canada anyway.

    💭Why is it called Matrimonial Cake?

    Well, because like Italian Wedding Soup, the matrimonial name has more to do with the 'wedding of flavors' than an actual wedding! And although these squares are frequently served at bridal showers, they really have nothing to do with weddings. Nor are they served at weddings.

    matrimonial cake on muffin liners on green cake stand

    There is debate over the origins of the date slice, date square, or Matrimonial Cake (as it is known in Western Canada) or Date Crumbles, as it is also known by in some parts of Eastern Canada. Some attribute it to Scottish heritage. However, it's traditional in Quebec (French influences) and is also well-known in Newfoundland (Irish influences). You can read more about the origins of date squares HERE.

    Dainties

    Growing up in Western Canada (Winnipeg) we called slices, squares, or any baked treats or goodies "dainties." But this isn't the only thing we prairie dwellers had our own names for. Here are a few more:

    • Booter - When snow or water gets in your boot or footwear
    • 2-4 - A case of 24 beer
    • Gotch (aka "gitch") - Underwear

    We truly have a dialect of our own on the Canadian Prairies. You can read more about Canadian prairie dialect HERE.

    🥘Ingredients

    For this date slice recipe, you'll need simple ingredients you're likely to have on hand in the pantry and fridge:

    ingredients in date squares in glass bowls, labelled

    I think it's the fresh lemon juice and zest that perfectly balances the sweet in this recipe.

    • 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour (plain flour)
    • ½ tsp baking soda
    • 1 ½ cups quick oats
    • 1 ⅓ cups brown sugar
    • 1 cup unsalted butter
    • 1 ½ lb fresh dates, pitted  (3 ¾ cups)
    • 1 cup + 2 tablespoon hot water
    • ¼ cup + 2 tablespoon white sugar
    • ¼ tsp salt
    • 1 ½ tsp vanilla extract
    • 1 ½ tsp lemon zest, finely grated
    • 3 tsp lemon juice (fresh)

    🔪Instructions

    Prep: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (176 degrees C) and spray a 9x13 inch pan with non-stick cooking spray

    dates, lemon juice, sugar, salt, lemon zest and water in a saucepan

    Place dates, hot water, white granulated sugar, lemon juice, lemon zest and salt together in small saucepan and cook over medium heat until dates are soft and water is absorbed. This will take about 5-10 minutes.

    cooked date mixture with spoon in it, cooling on trivet

    Remove from heat, add vanilla extract and let cool

    flour mixture in glass bowl with wooden spoon

    Combine flour, baking soda, brown sugar, and oats together in a large bowl.

    butter cut into flour mixture in a glass bowl with wooden spoon

    Cut butter into dry ingredients with a pastry cutter (or see my trick with cheese grater under Top Tip). Stir until the mixture is evenly mixed and has a crumbly texture.

    flour and oat mixture being pressed into the bottom of a pan with spatula

    For the base layer, spread half of the crumble mixture into the base of the baking tin and pat down with a spatula.

    date filling spread over bottom crust

    Cover with cooled date mixture. * The best way to spread the date puree filling is with a butter knife. Dab the filling onto the crust with a spatula, then carefully spread it out with a butter knife (see HINT below)

    remaining oat flour mixture spread on top of date layer with black spatula

    Pat the remaining oat and flour mixture on top of the date layer with a spatula

    baked date square in 9X13 pan, with blue patterned oven mitt in the background

    Bake for 25 - 28 minutes in a preheated oven or until the oatmeal mixture topping is golden brown.

    *Cool on a wire rack for at least 20 minutes before slicing with a sharp knife.

    Hint: To avoid getting crumbs in the filling, drop dollops of filling all over the crust with a spatula or spoon. Then very carefully spread it out with a butter knife, avoiding getting the dry mixture on the knife. *You have to be very patient while you are doing this!

    date filling being spread with a butter knife

    💭Top tip

    Instead of using a pastry blender, I freeze my butter and grate it into the flour and oat topping/base. It's less messy and helps to distribute the butter evenly into the mixture.

    frozen butter being grated for oat topping

    📖Variations & Substitutions

    • Butter - you can use salted butter instead of unsalted, but be sure to skip the salt in the recipe!
    • Lactose-free - you can make this lactose-free by using a lactose-free butter
    • Gluten-free - use gluten-free flour
    • Dates - you can use regular pitted dates or Medjool dates (they are softer). However, you are cooking them in hot water (which softens them) so regular dates are fine

    👪 Serving Size

    This date squares recipe makes 18 slices. However, you could cut the squares smaller if you'd like more and larger for less. You can also half, double, or triple the recipe by clicking on the blue serving number and selecting the number of servings you'd like. The ingredient quantities will automatically adjust.

    *Use extra large paper muffin liners to serve them!

    date squares in a pan with 2 removed, with blue patterned oven mitt on the side.

    🍽Equipment

    You will need a 9X13 baking pan for this classic recipe. You will also need trivets and a whisk and the usual mixing bowls and spoons and a spatula (affiliate links).

    I love my high-temperature spatulas (affiliate link) because I NEVER have to worry about temperature when cooking when them. They are also dishwasher safe, rated to 600 degrees F, won't fade or discolor, come in multiple colors, and are one single molded piece (so they won't separate).

    🌡️Storage

    Store date slices, in an airtight container, at room temperature for up to 2 days (48 hours) or in the fridge for up to a week in an airtight container. Or freeze them in an airtight container for up to 3 months. You can freeze them in the paper cupcake liners

    date squares in muffin liners in plastic container

    If you love date recipes, then you'll want to check out my 6th generation Old Fashioned Date Nut Loaf Recipe!

    date nut loaf slice on white plate with remainder of loaf and sliced lemons in background

    So if you are looking for bridal shower ideas or simply need a fantastic date slice, you'll love this one! This homemade matrimonial cake is far superior to what you'll find in coffee shops and it's one of our family's favorite recipes.

    4 date squares piled up on a piece of parchment paper with a blue flowered oven mitt in the background
    Food Meandering Logo

    Date Slice Recipe (Matrimonial Cake)

    This Date Slice recipe, also known as matrimonial cake and date square, is a Canadian classic! A delicious, creamy and not to sweet date filling is nestled between an oatmeal crumble base and topping.
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Dessert, Snack
    Cuisine: Canadian
    Keyword: date, matrimonial, squares
    Special Diet: Vegetarian
    Servings: 18 squares
    Calories: 334kcal
    Author: Terri Gilson
    Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 25 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 40 minutes minutes
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Equipment

    9X13 pan
    stack of different colored large 9X12 trivets
    trivets
    whisk
    an array of colorful spatulas
    spatula

    Ingredients

    Crust ingredients

    • 1 ½ cups all purpose flour
    • ½ teaspoon baking soda
    • 1 ½ cups quick oats
    • 1 ⅓ cups brown sugar
    • 1 cup unsalted butter

    Filling ingredients

    • 1 ½ lb dates 3 ¾ cups
    • 1 cup + 2 tablespoon hot water
    • ¼ cup + 2 tablespoon white granulated sugar
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • 1 ½ teaspoon vanilla
    • 1 ½ teaspoon lemon zest, finely grated
    • 3 teaspoon lemon juice (fresh)
    US Customary - Metric

    Instructions

    *Note: Instruction photos will NOT print by default. You need to click 'print' box if you want them to print.

    • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (176 degrees C) and spray a square 9x13 inch pan with non-stick cooking spray

    Filling

    • Cook dates, hot water, white granulated sugar, lemon juice, lemon zest and salt together in saucepan, over medium heat, until dates are soft and water is absorbed. *This will take about 5 -10 minutes.
      dates, lemon juice, sugar, salt, lemon zest and water in a saucepan
    • Remove from heat, add vanilla extract and let cool.
      cooked date mixture with spoon in it, cooling on trivet

    Crust

    • Mix flour, baking soda, brown sugar and oats together.
      flour mixture in glass bowl with wooden spoon
    • Cut in butter with pastry cuttter. Stir until mixture is crumbly.
      butter cut into flour mixture in a glass bowl with wooden spoon
    • Tip: Freeze butter and use a cheese grater to cut butter into the dry mixture
      frozen butter being grated for oat topping

    Assembly

    • Spread half of the crust  mixture into the bottom of a greased 9 inch square pan and pat down with a spatula. 
      flour and oat mixture being pressed into the bottom of a pan with spatula
    • Cover with cooled date filling.
      date filling spread over bottom crust
    • Hint: To avoid getting crumbs in the filling, drop dollops of filling all over the crust with a spatula or spoon. Then very carefully spread it out with a butter knife, avoiding getting the dry mixture on the knife. *You have to be very patient while you are doing this!
      date filling being spread with a butter knife
    • Pat the remaining half on top of the date filling with a spatula.
      remaining oat flour mixture spread on top of date layer with black spatula
    • Bake for 25-28 minutes.
      baked date square in 9X13 pan, with blue patterned oven mitt in the background

    Notes

    *Please see post contents for important recipe information, substitutions, and tips!
    Nutrition Facts
    Date Slice Recipe (Matrimonial Cake)
    Amount Per Serving (1 slice)
    Calories 334 Calories from Fat 99
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 11g17%
    Saturated Fat 7g44%
    Trans Fat 0.4g
    Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
    Monounsaturated Fat 3g
    Cholesterol 27mg9%
    Sodium 150mg7%
    Potassium 309mg9%
    Carbohydrates 60g20%
    Fiber 4g17%
    Sugar 43g48%
    Protein 3g6%
    Vitamin A 319IU6%
    Vitamin C 1mg1%
    Calcium 36mg4%
    Iron 1mg6%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1slice | Calories: 334kcal (17%) | Carbohydrates: 60g (20%) | Protein: 3g (6%) | Fat: 11g (17%) | Saturated Fat: 7g (44%) | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.4g | Cholesterol: 27mg (9%) | Sodium: 150mg (7%) | Potassium: 309mg (9%) | Fiber: 4g (17%) | Sugar: 43g (48%) | Vitamin A: 319IU (6%) | Vitamin C: 1mg (1%) | Calcium: 36mg (4%) | Iron: 1mg (6%)
    Did you make this recipe? Please leave a star rating and review below!
    Rate this Recipe

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Carmella

      January 31, 2023 at 8:30 am

      Hi. I don’t know if I missed it, but where do you add the lemon juice? Thank you

      Reply
      • Terri Gilson

        January 31, 2023 at 10:56 am

        Hi Carmella,
        Sorry I missed it - it's added now. It goes in the saucepan with the dates.
        Enjoy!
        Terri

        Reply

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    I'm Terri, a passionate home cook and baker, an award-winning recipe developer, and a busy working mom who is trying to eat healthy and fit everything into not enough hours in a day! My mission is to share not only my recipes, cooking hacks, and tips with you, but also my secrets to successful weight maintenance.

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