date slice on a plate
Traybakes

Date Slices

Dates are a firm favourite in the Traybakes’ household and there is usually a packet of Medjool dates in the fridge for on-the-go sweet snacking. I’ve already got one date traybake recipe in the archives and there are several more recipes for traybakes and breads/cakes still to come. And now we have this recipe for Date Slices. We like dates!

This latest traybake is another simple recipe.  Dates, oats, flour, sugar, butter. Then you have a tin full of Date Slices. These make a perfect teatime or even lunchbox treat – chewy, sticky, sweet and oaty. Yum!

It really is a remarkably easy bake and would be a good one for little hands to help with in the kitchen. You make a crumble mixture with the oats, sugar, flour and butter and then sandwich it together with softened dates and vanilla.

Be sure to press down on the base layer firmly, this will provide a nice base for the traybake. Then, be careful when you’re spreading the date mixture over the top of the base crumble layer – be gentle, so the mix doesn’t move around too much. Then the top layer is simply sprinkled over the top and pressed down to finish off the ‘crumble sandwich’.

Date Slices

Sweet and full of oats and dates, these Date Slices are a perfect teatime or lunch box traybake. Simple, straightforward and easy to bake.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Course Dessert, Snack
Servings 9 squares

Ingredients
  

  • 8 oz or 225g dates, chopped
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 4 fl oz or 125ml water
  • 1 tsp baking soda (bicarbonate of soda)
  • 6 oz or 175g sugar
  • 4 oz or 110g plain four (all-purpose flour)
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 4 oz or 110g quick-cook oats
  • 4 oz or 110g butter

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 325F/160C and line an 8"/20cm square tin.
  • Chop the dates into small pieces and place them in a small saucepan with the water.  Bring to a boil and cook until soft. Then stir in the vanilla and set aside to cool.
  • Sift the flour with the baking soda and baking powder. Stir in the sugar and oats. Then rub in the butter, lightly.
  • Press half the mixture evenly into the base of the tin. Spread the dates over this (trying not to disturb the oat mixture too much) then cover with the other half of the crumb mixture and press down firmly.
  • Bake for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown.
  • Remove from the oven, mark into slices while still warm and then leave in the tin until cool and enjoy!

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