Decadent (Vegan!) Date Squares

These squares are such a treat! Wheat free and vegan! Also low in fat and sugar, but they taste just like the old fashioned squares my grandma makes. Yum!

• Ready In: 40 mins
• Yields: 8-16 squares

Ingredients

• Date filling

• 1  cup dates, chopped
• 1  cup water
• 1⁄2 teaspoon vanilla

• Crust

• 1⁄2 cup  rice flour
• 1⁄4 cup tapioca flour
• 1⁄2 cup rolled oats
• 1⁄8 cup sugar
• 1⁄4 teaspoon baking powder
• 1⁄4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1⁄4 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1⁄4 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1  tablespoon canola oil
• 1⁄4 cup applesauce

• Topping

• 1⁄2 cup rolled oats
• 1⁄4 cup  rice flour
• 1  tablespoon sugar
• 1  tablespoon applesauce

Directions

1. For the date filling, combine dates, water, and vanilla in a small saucepan and simmer until liquid is absorbed (approx. 15 minutes). Set aside to cool slightly.
2. For the crust, in a large bowl, stir together rice flour, tapioca flour, oats, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, nutmeg, and cinnamon.
3. Add in canola oil and apple sauce and stir until well mixed.
4. Pat oat mixture evenly into a lightly oiled 8x8 baking pan.
5. Spoon date mixture evenly over the oat mixture.
6. For the topping, in a small bowl, combine oats, rice flour, sugar and apple sauce and stir until it is a crumbly consistency.
7. Sprinkle topping mixture over the date layer evenly.
8. Bake at 350F for 20 – 25 minutes.