Description
Indulgent Date Slices bring Middle Eastern sweetness to your dessert table, blending rich dried fruits with nutty undertones. Crumbly pastry and caramelized dates create a perfect harmony you’ll crave with afternoon tea or coffee.
Ingredients
Scale
Cake Base Ingredients:
- 350 grams (12.35 ounces) self-raising flour
- 200 grams (7.05 ounces) dark muscovado sugar (or brown sugar)
- 150 grams (5.3 ounces) ground almonds
- 150 grams (5.3 ounces) chopped walnuts
- 2 large eggs
- 1.5 teaspoons ground cinnamon
Fruit and Liquid Ingredients:
- 250 grams (8.82 ounces) stoned and chopped dates
- 350 milliliters (11.8 fluid ounces) boiling water
- Grated rind and juice of 1 lemon
Topping and Binding Ingredients:
- 40 grams (1.4 ounces) softened butter
- 225 grams (7.94 ounces) sifted pure icing sugar
- Walnut pieces for decoration
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 180°C (160°C fan-forced) and prepare a baking tray with parchment paper for easy release.
- Combine chopped dates, melted butter, and boiling water in a mixing bowl. Allow the mixture to soften and cool completely, creating a rich, moist base.
- Vigorously whisk eggs and sugar until light and fluffy, then gently fold into the date mixture to create a smooth, even batter.
- Incorporate ground almonds, roughly chopped walnuts, flour, and cinnamon into the mixture, ensuring all ingredients are evenly distributed.
- Transfer the batter to the prepared baking tray, spreading it evenly and smoothing the top with a spatula.
- Bake for approximately 30 minutes, checking for a golden-brown color and a firm texture when gently pressed.
- Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely on a wire rack, which helps set the texture and intensify the flavors.
- Prepare a zesty lemon glaze by mixing powdered sugar with fresh lemon juice until smooth and spreadable.
- Drizzle the lemon glaze over the cooled slice, creating an even layer of tangy sweetness.
- Sprinkle additional crushed walnuts on top for extra crunch and visual appeal.
- Once the glaze has set, slice into neat squares and serve.
Notes
- Swap butter with coconut oil for a dairy-free version that maintains rich flavor and tender texture.
- Toast nuts before adding to enhance their nutty depth and create a more complex taste profile.
- Reduce sugar content by using alternative sweeteners like honey or maple syrup without compromising moisture.
- Use gluten-free flour blend for a celiac-friendly adaptation that keeps the slice’s delightful crumbly consistency.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Snacks, Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: British
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 335 kcal
- Sugar: 27 g
- Sodium: 140 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 3.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0.1 g
- Carbohydrates: 44 g
- Fiber: 4.5 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 55 mg