It’s Friday, my favorite day to bake something special for the weekend. Today, I’m excited to share a simple and delicious recipe for Date Squares or date Slices, also called Mabrousha.
Some people even call it Maamoul Squares, and it’s a beloved dessert across many Arab homes. These squares are soft, sweet, and packed with the rich flavor of dates and spices.
I love making these Date Squares or date Slices for tea time because they’re easy, comforting, and full of tradition. The dough is sticky yet soft, making it perfect for holding a sweet, flavorful date filling.
I like adding walnuts to my filling, which brings a lovely crunch and nutty flavor. It’s a small touch, but it completely transforms the taste and texture of the classic version.
You start by spreading a thick layer of dough into a pan. Then, a soft, spiced date paste covers the dough, followed by a sprinkle of walnuts.
Finally, you grate the chilled dough over the top to create a beautiful crumbly finish.
After baking, the squares turn golden and slightly crisp on the outside. Inside, they stay rich, soft, and perfectly spiced with cardamom and cinnamon.
They slice beautifully into squares and are ideal for serving at gatherings or as a homemade gift.
Date Squares or date Slices is a dessert that brings back memories of family, weekends, and cozy afternoons. I hope this easy and authentic recipe becomes a favorite in your kitchen too.
Where can i get the date paste?
If you don’t know where to get a date paste to fill these squares, you can make date paste at home, check out the recipe Date Paste Recipe for Cookies .
Let’s get baking and fill your home with the warm, sweet aroma of homemade Date Squares!
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Date Squares or date Slices
Ingredients
- For dough:
- 4 and 1/2 Cups all purpos flour
- 2 Eggs
- 1 Cup sugar
- 1 Tsp vanilla extract
- ¾ Cup vegetable oil
- 2 tbsp baking powder
- For filling:
- 350 g date paste
- 1 tbsp soft butter
- ½ tsp ground cardamom
- ½ tsp ground cinnamon
- ¼ cup walnut optional
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 180°C. Grease a square pan and line it with parchment paper.
- In a bowl, mix eggs, sugar, vanilla, and oil until smooth.
- Add 4 cups of flour and baking powder. Mix and knead into a sticky dough.
- In another bowl, knead date paste with butter, cardamom, and cinnamon until soft.
- Take two-thirds of the dough. Add the remaining ½ cup flour to the rest.
- Knead the smaller portion until firm. Wrap and chill for 15 minutes.
- Spread the larger dough portion evenly in the prepared pan.
- Spread the softened date paste over the dough. Sprinkle walnuts if using.
- Grate the chilled dough over the date layer to cover it fully.
- Bake for 30–35 minutes until golden brown.
- Cool for 10 minutes on a wire rack.
- Cut into squares and serve.
