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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As always your recipes are scrumptious….I have made the
date slice, but I hadn’t any dates, only figs so I used them…
Delicious…. !!
Thanks so much Lizzie! Great substitution idea with the figs too, sounds yum!
Hi there! Could I use plain all purpose flour and then just use a leavening agent like baking powder or soda instead of the self raising flour? I don't usually keep that on hand. Thank you from Canada!!
Hi Lola, sure you can! To make your own self raising flour the ratio is 2 tsp of baking powder to every 150g of plain flour. Just sift them together then use as normal. For the 200g of flour for this recipe you will need 2 + 2/3 tsp of baking powder.
Thank you for the response and doing the math for me!! Haha!!
Pleasure Lola!
1 x cup dates =238g
1 cup flour = 132g
surely 1 1/3 cups of flour equals 181g so I'll give you 200g for that
please explain if I have got it wrong before I waste the costs of ingredients and power
Hi Margaret! 1 standard cup of flour (Australian cups) weighs 150g and standard 1/3 cup measure is 50g. That's how I arrived at 200g. The amount of chopped dates that the recipe calls for is 1 1/2 standard Australian cups (which weighs 200g). Hope this helps. I am in the process of reverting previous baking recipes to just show grams, there are a few though!
The date slice is delicious! Such an easy recipe and it turned out perfect.
Thanks Nicole!
Thank-you so much for this great scone recipe. My previous scones have always been a disaster, this one is a 5 star winner!
Wanted to try a date recipe and came across your recipe. Had my doubts while it was baking as I had to leave it in oven about 10 minutes longer. They turned out delicious and look like yours. Thank you!
That's great Fran! You are so welcome!
Didn't have any dried dates so I used dried plums AKA prunes. A friend had received prunes in a food basket and gave me a bag. Never heard of golden syrup here in the US so I looked up how to substitute it with molasses and honey. Just took this out of the oven it smells great!. Okay couldn't wait for it to cool off it also tastes awesome thank you for giving me a way to use up a bag of prunes
Pleasure! A+ for improvisation too 🙂
Hi Lucy I made theses yest with a bit more Ing , i added peacan nuts and coconut 🥥,I also added the dates to the butter with little water to make them more mushy ,I actually squish the dates once soft , gives a lovely chewy texture , they come out delish 🌸🌺
YUM! My cupboards were running a bit bare so I had to compromise and made this with half SR, half plain flour, about 120g dates, some lemon juice instead of rind, and a bit of coconut too - and it worked! Really delicious, held its shape and perfect with a cuppa!
Thanks Lucy!
Hi Lee-Ann, I made this date slice a couple of days ago and it was delicious! Unfortunately, it crumbled so much that we had to eat it with a spoon. I followed the recipe exactly... any tips that might help the slice be less crumbly and hold its shape.
Hi Maree, so sorry it crumbled! But I’m glad it tasted good though! The slice is supposed to be on the crumbly side, but it that much - sorry! Maybe another 10 - 20 grams of butter into the mix will help, you should be able to see it holding together better when you press it into the baking tin. Hope this helps!
We love these! They are our most made lockdown bake! So easy to do with children too! Thanks.
Hi Lucy, so glad you enjoy them! Thank you for letting me know, comments like yours make my day!
Thanks again, L x
Could I add glazed cherries and dates
Sure Karena!