Sweet Potato, Date and Nut Squares

The original of this recipe was found in The Sweet Potato Lover's Cookbook, 1998.

• Ready In: 1 hr 20 mins
• Serves: 24

Ingredients

• 1 1⁄2 cups sweet potatoes, canned, drained, well-mashed
• 1  cup unsalted butter, softened
• 2  cups brown sugar, packed
• 2  large eggs
• 1  teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1⁄4 cup milk
• 2 1⁄2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1⁄2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1⁄4 teaspoon salt
• 1⁄2 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1⁄2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1⁄2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1  lb dried dates, pitted, cut into quarters (I use Medjool dates.)
• 1 1⁄2 cups  almonds, chopped

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F & spray a 9"x13" baking pan with nonstick vegetable spray.
2. Place the mashed sweet potatoes in a large bowl & set aside.
3. In another bowl & using an electric mixer, cream together the butter & sugar before adding the eggs & vanilla, mixing to combine.
4. Add this egg mixture & the 1/4 cup of milk to the mashed sweet potatoes & beat well to combine.
5. In another bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, cloves, nutmeg & cinnamon.
6. Place the dates & nuts in another bowl, tossing them with 1/4 cup of the flour mixture.
7. Add the remaining flour mixture to the sweet potato mixture & blend, then fold in the dates & nuts.
8. Pour the batter into the prepared baking dish & bake for 60 minutes or until a toothpick stuck in the center comes out clean.
9. Cool on a wire rack before cutting into 24 small squares.