Date and Walnut Brownie Squares with Syrian Spices

By AislePrompt Editorial · ·

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are developed and reviewed.

Sweet and nutty date and walnut squares with warm cinnamon and nutmeg, reminiscent of a cherished Syrian family recipe. This Middle Eastern-inspired recipe, ready in about 45 minutes, layers pitted dates, chopped, walnuts, chopped, all-purpose flour into a dessert worth slowing down for — great for weekend baking, holiday tables, or any time you want a sweet payoff at the end of a meal. Each serving lands at about 140 calories and feeds 16, so it slots into a weekend bake or a special-occasion dessert tray. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Prep: 15 min Cook: 30 min Serves 16 Middle Eastern cuisine 140 cal/serving
Build a week of meals around this recipe → Shop this recipe on Instacart → Shop equipment ↓

Ingredients

The bakeware we’d bake this in → Best Bakeware Sets in 2026: Top Picks + Buying Guide

Affiliate disclosure: AislePrompt may earn a commission on qualifying purchases made through Amazon links, at no additional cost to you. See our policy →

Equipment for this recipe

Tools this recipe's steps call for, with a link to each on Amazon.

More Bakeware & baking tools → Shop all kitchen tools →

Instructions

  1. Step 1: Preheat oven to 350°F and grease an 8-inch square baking pan.
  2. Step 2: In a medium bowl, whisk together 1 cup all-purpose flour, 1 tsp ground cinnamon, 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg, 1/2 tsp baking powder, and 1/4 tsp salt.
  3. Step 3: In a large bowl, beat 2 large eggs with 3/4 cup granulated sugar until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes; add 1/2 cup melted unsalted butter and 1 tsp vanilla extract and mix until combined.
  4. Step 4: Stir the dry flour mixture into the wet ingredients until just combined, then fold in 1 1/2 cups chopped pitted dates and 1 cup chopped walnuts.
  5. Step 5: Pour the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top with a spatula.
  6. Step 6: Bake for 25-30 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean and edges are set.
  7. Step 7: Allow to cool completely in the pan on a wire rack before cutting into 16 squares.

Related recipes