Just as the title suggests this is a really simple Easy Date Slice recipe. I'm a big fan of sticky date pudding, so I decided to make bars (or as we call it here in Australia "a slice") with the same flavours. They are super moist with a slightly dense but crumbly texture.
If you like dates, you'll LOVE these. The first batch went down a treat with the taste testers (my parents).
I shouldn't be surprised that this was a recipe mum and dad enjoyed - especially my mum who loves sticky date pudding...there was the infamous incident of my now husband sharing a slice of sticky date pudding (1 dessert 2 spoons style) with his prospective mother-in-law one evening when the four of us were out to dinner.
He thought he was doing the right thing when the idea was floated - maybe she wants dessert but doesn't want to eat it all? She would feel guilty leaving some on the plate? I assume that's what went through his chivalrous mind - he's like that, a total gentleman.
To this day Peter still laughs about how little of that sticky date pudding he actually got to eat, and refuses to share a dessert now with anyone at all - me included! I think it's a case of once bitten...
Please enjoy my version of sticky date in moist, crumbly, tender slice.
Looking for another quick and easy date recipe? Why not give my Easy Date Scones a go! Moist, fluffy date scones in an easy mix recipe, no need to rub the butter into the flour - just mix and into the oven!
PS When I mentioned to mum that I was going to include an anecdote about her (getting editorial permission!) in this post, I didn't even need to tell her which story I was going to use - she guessed straight away!
Lee-Ann ♥
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Some of my other simple Melt & Mix recipes:
Chocolate Peanut Butter Bites with Pretzels
Chocolate Coffee Fudge (No Thermometer)
Table of Contents
📖 Recipe
Easy Date Slice Recipe - Melt & Mix
Ingredients
- 200 g chopped dates dry not fresh
- 200 g self-raising flour - sifted
- 70 g light brown sugar
- 150 g salted butter cubed
- 2 tbsp. golden syrup
- rind of 1 lemon - finely grated
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 180c or 350f.
- Grease and line an 18cm x 18cm or 7inch x 7inch (base measurement) baking tin and set aside.
- Combine butter, sugar and golden syrup in a medium heatproof bowl (place a piece of kitchen towel/paper on top but not touching the contents - this will save your microwave from splatters).70 g light brown sugar150 g salted butter2 tbsp. golden syrup
- Microwave on high for 1 - 1 ½ mins until butter is melted, remove from microwave and mix to melt sugar and combine.
- Meanwhile place flour, dates and lemon in a medium bowl, mix to combine.200 g chopped dates200 g self-raising flour - siftedrind of 1 lemon - finely grated
- Add melted butter mixture to dates and flour, and mix well to combine.
- Bake for 13 - 15 mins, until top is golden brown.
- Allow to cool in tin for 30 mins before cutting into 12 squares.
Notes
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Would they come out too thin if using an 8" or 9" square pan? I seem to have 100 pans already but no 7" tin.
Thanks,
Anne Keating
Hi Anne!
I used 7” square (base measurement - flipping the pan over and measuring the bottom). I think 8” would be ok, it will probably need a shorter cook time so just check a few mins early.
Good luck 😉
If 1 cup of flour is approx. 128gm, how is 1&1/3 cups 240gm?
Hi Karen, thanks so much for spotting that! It should read 200g not 240g (1 Aust standard cup of sifted flour is 150g plus 1/3 cup is 50g) I have updated the recipe! Thanks L x
How much butter for us not on the metric system? Thank you. I really want to make this and the scones!
Thanks Danna ❤️
What is answer?
Hi Betty! Sorry, I missed this one! 150 grams is equivalent to 5.291 ounces. Hope this helps!
Hi Lee Anne,
Love dates so always looking for new receipes. I made a date slice with crumble topping only last week.
Was an instant hit with visitors.! Thanks for sharing. Will make it tomorrow.
Thanks Shobna! I love dates too and date slice with crumble topping sounds awesome! Must investigate!
I have made these date bars twice now and they are utterly delicious. My son claims not to like any dried fruit, but devours these with a ferocity usually reserved for chocolate chip cookies.
The first time I made them I didn't have any lemons so I used Orange zest instead, which was delicious. I have made them with lemon zest this time and my kitchen smells divine.
I have also changed things up a little and made them with apricots, sultana and Orange zest, I'm really looking forward to trying one of those with a cup of tea later.
Hi Hazel, choc chip cookie ferocity is high praise indeed 😂!!! And loving the orange zest idea, and your latest apricot/sultana variation sounds great. Thanks for taking the time to comment, L x
Hi Lee Ann
I wonder if the dates in the slice hard n dry as I see most date recipes soak the dates in hot water w baking soda to soften them.
Hi Angeline!
Even though the dates are "dried" as opposed to fresh, they are really still quite moist - at least the ones I buy here locally are! The recipes that I've seen that soak the dates with baking soda/bicarb soda tend to be for puddings. I did have a reader from Pinterest comment that they "microwaved the dates for a minute with a tablespoon water" if that helps!
Let me know if you give it a go, I'd love to know how it went - plus other readers may be interested too!
Lee-Ann x
Quick and easy. Love it
Thanks Julie!
Hi there.....this is going to be deliceous. BUT how come I can't use Medjool Fresh Dates?
Hi Colleen! I can't see a reason why you can't use Medjool fresh dates in the recipe, although I personally haven't tried it with fresh dates. I didn't want there to be any confusion over what sort of dates I used - and I went with dried dates for both cost & availability.
I'd love to know how it goes for you! Thanks for taking the time to comment, L x
I was thinking the same.
Would love to try this recipe, but can I use date paste instead?🤔 Thanx for posting
Hi Mo, I haven’t tried it with date paste personally, I don’t think I’ve even seen it on the shelves in Australia! Sounds yummy! If the paste is just pure dates then the flavour profile should be the same, but the texture would just be a bit different. If you give it a go I (and other readers) would love to know how it went!
Thanks so much for taking the time to write in, L x
Made it today using date paste and although the end result didn't look as appealing as yours, the taste was excellent. Definitely a keeper. I mixed the date paste with the flour using my hands to ensure they were well blended, then added the sugar mixture. I used the same amount of ingredients, including the date paste.
Hi again Mo, thanks for letting me know! Really happy the date paste worked! Glad you enjoyed the recipe. And I LOVE being someone who can come up with a “keeper” for you!!! Makes my day! L x 💕😀
Would love to try this recipe, but can I use date paste instead?🤔