Granny's Matrimonial Cake. Whether this date recipe is Canadian or Scottish, the result is delicious. Made healthy with less sugar, these old fashioned date squares are sandwiched in an oat shortbread crumble crust. Plus discover readers' ideas where it got its interesting name.
Dates Recipe that's a Wedding Cake?
Each time I make these oaty date squares, I ask myself why I don't make them more often. Granny called this date recipe "Matrimonial Cake" and it was my personal favourite of all my childhood baking in Scotland.
It was wonderful to be back in Scotland celebrating my cousin, Lindsay's wedding to Eddie in Edinburgh.
Lindsay is the life and soul of every family party and at Christmas time, before you know it after Auntie Catherine lights up her homemade Figgy Pudding with brandy, there's no snoozing by the fire. You can pretty much guarantee that Lindsay puts you into a team as she's organised party games, quizzes and prizes. Eddie, you're in for a most fun-loving life together and wish you both matrimonial bliss for a long, healthy and happy vie en amoureux.
As they say in Scotland to wish the married couple well, "Lang may yer lum reek" (long may your chimney smoke)!
Back home in France - as the honeymooners had found the sunshine - we were unexpectedly snowed in. For the first time in five years, Paris was briefly coated in a giant duvet of snow and with the girls' lycée closed, it meant I turned to Granny's Black Book of Scottish Recipes for our golden sunshine in the cosy kitchen.
Still in wedding mode, it had to be Matrimonial Cake!
Why is it called Matrimonial Cake?
Goodness knows why the recipe is called "Matrimonial Cake". Do you know of its origins? If you do, then please leave a comment below this post - I'd love to hear from you.
Its name is probably just because it was served at weddings. It's ideal for a winter wedding, as dates are easy to keep in store. My theory is that it's simply so deliciously addictive that it had to be kept for weddings or special occasions.
Already there are many ideas below from you as to why it got its name. Here are some wonderful readers' examples:
- it was a popular budget wedding cake made during the Depression
- like matrimony, you had to mix the rough with the smooth
- the cake was so simple, any newly-wed could make it
- it was a matrimony cake recipe after a lot of dates
- a date between two sheets (oh-là-là !)
- any more? Tell us below.
Where Do Date Squares Come From?
All I know is that this date square recipe is popular in Canada, with some Canadians mentioning that the recipe originally came from Scotland.
This is when I wish I could have asked Granny tons of questions today, as this recipe probably has a lot more to it than meets the eye. All I know is that before life with Grandpa, she'd left Scotland and lived in Canada for about 3 years with a most adventurous life as nanny to five children of a business tycoon of a canning factory, originally from Kinlochleven in Scotland. Mr & Mrs Stewart loved entertaining and while travelling in their private plane, Granny had full control of their children, taking them on holiday, baking, sewing etc. and keeping up with the glamorous life.
When she baked these date squares with us, who knows what was running in her mind of memories? Questions were taboo back in these days but knowing this now, I'd be dying to know the children's names. Were they named after her own 5 children later: Ronald, Shirley, Irene, June and Catherine?
So, these date squares or Matrimonial Cake looks like it came from her previous life in Canada.
Whatever its origins, this Matrimonial Cake is just as addictive as I remember it. Now my own children ask for this recipe, now that they're away from home.
For more treats, see teatime (goûter) recipes
Matrimonial Cake: Healthy Recipe with Dates and Oats
As Granny's recipe used cups, I've double-checked the quantities to also provide measures in French grams.
As always, I've reduced the sugar to make this a healthy recipe. Oats also provide a good amount of soluble fibre.
Granny mentions using lemon juice so I'm sticking with it. She even added a bit more which made the date paste turn a bit pinkish in colour - so appropriate as a Valentine dessert recipe.
I see in other Canadian recipes that they use orange juice instead plus even some zest but I prefer keeping it simple as I remember it. If you feel some zest coming on, then go for it!
Once the delicious shortbread-like oat crumble is pressed in to the bottom of the tin and spread with the date paste, just drop on the crumble topping. Only gently pat it down so that the effect is a bit crumbly on top.
Granny didn't use much crumble on top - if you like a lot then increase the crumble recipe but the magic is the recipe below. This meant that you could still see the date nectar underneath. The crumble was more of a slightly sparse hint - which is why we craved even more!
Don't have dates for Matrimonial Cake?
No worries if you don't have dates - although it's still best with them. Make a different matrimonial cake with:
- prunes and add some orange zest (I have a prune, orange & Armagnac recipe for macarons in my first book, Mad About Macarons!)
- spread on sweetened chestnut & vanilla paste (Clément Faugier or Sabaton), known as Crème de Marron. See more about chestnuts. Most top patisseries in Paris also sell them in jars.
- no-suet mincemeat - using dates in the ingredients
How Long Do Date Squares Keep?
I can also safely make Granny's Matrimonial Cake and leave it sitting in an airtight box for up to a week.
During winter, I can leave them out of the fridge as it's cool enough but otherwise keep them in the fridge and take them out 30 minutes before eating to enjoy them at their best at room temperature.
Dates Recipe Collection
If you love dates, then enjoy more of these recipes:
- Healthy flapjacks (with fruit and nuts)
- Moist Date and Apple Bran Muffins, more inspiration from Granny's recipes
- Sticky toffee pudding with apple
- Snowballs (coconut no-bake bites)
- Vegetarian mincemeat for mince pies, a Christmas macaron filling - and great as an alternative filling for these date squares.
Matrimonial Cake (Date Squares)
Equipment
- non-stick baking tin 27x19cm tin (7.5 x 10.5 inches) with lip of at least 3cm (1 inch)
Ingredients
Date Filling
- 255 g (9 oz/2 cups) Pitted dates either in a block or separate in packets
- 110 ml (4 fl oz/½ cup) boiling water
- 1 tablespoon soft light brown sugar (optional)
- 1 lemon juice of lemon only
Oat Shortbread
- 110 g (4 oz/½ cup) butter (unsalted) softened
- 100 g (3.5 oz/½ cup) soft light brown sugar
- 90 g (3 oz/1 cup) porridge oats
- 120 g (4 oz/1 cup) plain flour all-purpose
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 good pinch salt (fleur de sel)
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract (or vanilla powder)
Instructions
For the Date Filling:
- In a saucepan, cook together all the ingredients except the lemon juice. Cook gently until soft (about 20 minutes). It's ready when the dates soften into a paste. (If you prefer having a perfectly smooth paste, then blitz it for a few seconds in a food processor.) Set aside to cool then add the lemon juice.
For the Oat Shortbread Crumble:
- Preheat the oven to 180°C/160°C fan/360°F/Gas 4 and grease a baking tin (I use a 27x19cm tin) with either butter or even better, use a non-stick tin.
- Cream the butter and sugar together either by hand using a wooden spoon or better, in a food mixer/processor.
- Add oats, flour, soda and vanilla until well combined.
- Press no more than half of the mixture into the greased baking tin - either with your fingers or using a flat spatula to make the bottom layer even and thin. Spread on the date paste using a spatula and smooth it out until even.
- Top with the oaty shortbread crumbs and gently pat it on top to keep it in place but not too much - it's better to have a crumbly look to the light topping.
- Bake in the oven for about 30 minutes or until the oats are lightly toasted.
- Cool on a wire rack then place in the fridge for about 30 minutes, remove from the tin and cut into squares - or bars, if you prefer.
Notes
Have you made this recipe? Please leave a rated review below - it means the world. Thank you!
If it's Scottish recipes you're after, see Macaroon Bar snowballs, French iced twist to a Cranachan dessert, sticky toffee pudding, Cullen Skink soup and cheese scones.
Christy
I followed the recipe in grams.. but only could cover half of your pan size... I appreciate the grams/cups and various temperature settings.
Jill Colonna
Hello Christy,
I'm so glad you like all the temperature and measurements, as I want to help many cooks who use different methods.
As for the pan size, don't forget I specify in the recipe that we make ours thinly. So if you want a thicker version and use only half of the tin size, I'd suggest doubling the mixture. I'm answering your next question on the lemon juice. It's the juice of a whole lemon.
Hope this helps and next time you enjoy making double quantities. Jill x
Debb
Can you add the option to switch it from metric to US measure?
Jill Colonna
Hi Debb,
I've already included the metric to US measures for you in the recipe. I've been doing this manually, just to check the quantities. J x
Kim
I watched a popular cooking show competition where they were to replicate Canadian Matrimony Bars. They name was given because the bars have a firm foundation, a sweet center and a rocky top! Sounds exactly like marriage!
Jill Colonna
Love that Kim! Thanks for sharing that nugget x
Mary
My Nanna has a very similar recipe for date squares, which she called Matrimonial cake....but with alot more brown sugar in the date filling and the crumble!
She told me it was called Matrimonial cake because during the Great Depression it was used as a wedding cake....dates were easy to come by and less expensive than making the usual fruit cake! (she lived in Western Canada on the prairies) ?
Jill Colonna
Hi Mary,
Thanks so much for your Nanna's story for Matrimonial cake during the Great Depression. My Granny's was also with more sugar but I only adapted this to our less sweet taste these days. Here's to your date squares and keeping the family stories alive!
Janette
I think it should be less baking soda, maybe half baking powder-half baking soda; otherwise delicious!
Jill Colonna
Thanks so much for your feedback, Janette. I used these quantities as they were from my Granny's notes, so this recipe is rather sentimental!
Jan
I know this recipe as my grandmother’s Matrimony Cake. Her heritage is also Scottish. I changed the recipe by using only lemon juice as the cooking liquid and not adding sugar to the date mixture. Dates have enough sugar and it results in a sweet/tangy burst of flavour. Gran’s recipe is almost double yours, but I’m sure we both end up with pretty much the same thing.
Jill Colonna
So happy you like this, just like your grandmother's recipe, Jan. I keep to this quantity, as making too much means I'll just eat it! Love that lemon.
I'm like you on the sugar with the dates - I only added a token tablespoon in keeping with Granny's recipe but I don't use it - hence why I say it's optional.
Mary
Please stop with the cm. No one even in Canada uses metric for baking. Thx.
Jill Colonna
Hello Mary,
I have updated this to include inches for the baking tin. As you can see, I had included cups and ounces already in the recipe so nobody is left out. My audience is not just from Canada but from many other countries in Europe that uses grams. Your comment is very disheartening as I work really hard here to provide so many of my recipes to you - all for free!
CHARLIE
Making this tomorrow with dates. What a iddot above about the measurments . I greatly appreciate the conversons you do for us people who are not super smart and high society like the previous person. Thx from us regular people.
Jill Colonna
What a lovely comment to start the week, Charlie. Thanks for the smile. It's a great pleasure! Enjoy your matrimonial cake - happy baking! Let me know how you like the recipe x
Peter Burgess
Silliness. Canadians use whatever they find convenient. I remember adopting the metric system in the 1970s. I personally convert recipes from cups into grammes because weighing is faster and more precise than using measuring cups. I even weigh liquid ingredients over 30 ml / 2 tbs.
Jill Colonna
So happy to hear this, Peter. Thank you! Here's to metric being so consistently precise - and let's just hope that, some day, everyone will realise just how much easier it is to adopt it.
Patti Ellison
Bless you, Jill, for being so accommodating. I can’t wait to try your Granny’s recipe!
Jill Colonna
Great - le me know if you make them, Patti. Have a delicious weekend!
FLORENCE A POTRATZ
My Grandmother and Mum made this I loved them to much lol. I remember them saying the name Matrimonial Cake happened in the depression as it was the cheapest cake to make so everyone used it for their wedding cake. But what ever the reason it was delicious.
Jill Colonna
I've heard of this version too. Love that this has been a family tradition to make it with your Grandmother and Mum. Here's to love and baking!
-AO. | -karen.
I tried clicking "Reply" to your kind note but my browsers just didn't care to do that today. Thank you for getting back to me about oats. I certainly learned a lot about them before i messaged you, and was leaning toward BRM Scottish (Pinhead) Oats or BRM Old Fashioned Rolled Oats. As it is, since i adore grandmothers, i'll use rolled oats for my first batch (according to the original recipe), and Scottish Pinhead oats for my second. In my world, there's no such thing as too many date squares, as they are (boringly) known here, so two batches is not at all onerous. Thank you for your great newsletters, your books, and for knocking around with Carol in Paris - such fun reading! Best regards, -AO./-karen.
Jill Colonna
You're really into oat cuisine, Karen. Sounds good and thanks for your lovely words - made me giggle too. I wouldn't use pinhead oats, as will be too small IMHO. I'd still recommend rolled and old fashioned.
-AO.
Good morning from Maine USA - Jill, i "met" you through Carol's ParisBreakfast newsletter and i have your TTiP cookbook, all just wonderful. I'm wondering what the best substitute for porridge oats would be. I can get Bob's Red Mill Scottish Oats which are quite finely milled (much of the package contents is more like flour than flakes), or Bob's Red Mill Steel Cut Oats (quite rough and sharp and chunky), and i can get BRM rolled oats. Any advice would be terrific. Thanks so much!
Jill Colonna
Hello and welcome to the website, AO (sorry can't see any name here). Thanks for pointing out the different types of oats. All sound good really but I have consequently updated the recipe to say porridge or rolled oats - especially as Granny says rolled oats in the original recipe! The best crumb is one that's not too fine but not too coarse and large either so somewhere in between is just fabulous! Let me know how you like them x
Nancy Stuart
Jill, this is a family favorite for my family. I’m from Canada and the story from my grandma and mother is that this cake was made by young women to show their beaus they could bake. To make really good matrimonial cake, there are several steps that could be difficult and if you couldn’t master them your chances of getting a marriage proposal would diminish. If you made it well, a proposal would quickly follow. In the central provinces of Canada food was a big deal. You often fed many workers during harvesting etc and word got out about who could cook and who didn’t. Workers would hurry through those jobs where the woman wasn’t a great cook.
Jill Colonna
Love this Nancy - thank you so much for sharing this story. This is the first I've heard about showing you could really cook well. Have a lovely festive season.
Pat
Its called matrimonial cake because “you have to take the rough with the smooth “
Jill Colonna
Absolutely love this, Pat. Thanks for sharing x
Carey
I was just looking to see if there was a recipe that matched my Grandma’s and found your post. Her name was Peggy(Margaret) and was Canadian, and her Mom was born in Scotland- I have her handwritten recipe- Matrimonial Cake, and it looks very close to yours.
Jill Colonna
That's wonderful to hear and thanks for coming here to tell me, Carey. I hope you try the recipe and tell me what you think, compared to that of your Grandma, Peggy. Isn't that amazing that you also have the Canadian and Scottish connection with this recipe?
ANN TOFFOL
Hello Jill - I love your recipes and conversations. I am also a Franco-Scot living in Libourne now, but in France (Paris) for more than 40 years. This is a recipe our family have always made, ever since we lived in Winnipeg for 3 years - so definitely Canadian/Scottish. I always "knew" that it was called matrimonial cake because of the quantity of dates - presumably leading up to matrimony ! A very un-French recipe at first sight, but I've never met a French person who didn't love it ....... Merry Christmas to you and your family, Ann
Jill Colonna
Hello Ann - how lovely to hear from you and thank you for that beauty on quantity of dates leading to matrimony. Hadn't heard that one - that's brilliant! So glad you popped in and do join in the more French recipes and articles if you have time. Sending you and your family best of wishes in lovely Libourne. Cheers and Santé!
Brenda
Can mincemeat be substituted for prunes
Jill Colonna
I'm sure it can, Brenda, although I dare say it will end up being a different name to Matrimonial Cake. Let me know how you get on!
Patricia Kerridge
Matrimonial cake my granny told was called so because in marriage you took the rough with the smooth!!
I’ve made it for years,my memory is shorter than it used to be and my cook book is in a box in the garage having recently moved!!Thankyou for the recipe.
Jill Colonna
What a lovely story - thank you for sharing that with us. I'm so happy I've helped out with this recipe, Patricia.
Pat
P.S. I’ve used stewed Saskatoon berries for the filling with rave reviews
Jill Colonna
Thanks so much for sharing your insights to Matrimonial Cake, Pat, and for your previous message. Now I'm dying to try Saskatoon berries. Sounds intriguing!
Pat
In Western Canada, pre 1950, this was the most popular treat for weddings and bridal showers - hence the name. In other parts of Canada, it’s just called “date squares”. When my brother worked on the oil rigs, some evenings he’d announce “I’m going to make some matrimonial cake.” Westerners would cheer, while others would say “HUH WHAT?”
John
When I was old enough, my mother told me it was called matrimonial cake because it was a date between two sheets.
Mareena Boosamra-Ball
Thanks so much for this recipe! My Mom used to make this when I was a child in Canada, but all I had was the ingredient list, which also includes lemon, but no measurements. Merry Christmas!
Jill Colonna
So happy that you've now got the measurements to make it yourself again. Merry Christmas to you and all your loved ones.