Date and Raisin Oatcake Slice

The slice!  Norbyah - recognise the placemat?!  From my Malaysia visit!  We use them every night.

As part of my 35 List, one goal is to make a new recipe every week.  I'm a little behind due to my hospital stay and having a new one in the house, but this recipe I had to share with you all.

I'm not an overly confident cook and am often afraid to share my end product with others.  But this slice I took along to my friend, Brooke, and she loved it.  She even shared it with her neighbours!  It gave me the courage to keep on trying in the kitchen.

This yummy slice is a home-made, wholesome alternative to commercial muesli bars.

And for those of you with little ones, Amaya loved making this slice with me.  She weighed the ingredients, poured it into the bowl and gave everything a good mix.

It was so yummy warmed up with a small dollop of vanilla bean ice cream.

Ingredients

120ml maple syrup
180ml water
80g seedless raisins
250g fresh dates, pitted and chopped
190g butter (at room temperature)
130g raw sugar
130g brown sugar
200g spelt flour
1/2tsp bicarbonate of soda
200g rolled oats
1/2tsp cinnamon

Method

• Preheat often to 180 degrees (fan forced).
• In a medium saucepan over a high heat, bring maple syrup, water, raisins and dates to the boil.  Reduce heat to medium and simmer, stirring for about 6 minutes until mixture has thickened.  Set aside.
• Using an electric mixer with a whisk attachment, whip butter, raw sugar and brown sugar to a fluffy pale mix, then add flour, bicarbonate of soda, oats and cinnamon.  Fold through to combine.
• Grease a 20cm x 30cm baking tray and line with baking paper.
• Press two-thirds of oat mix into base, then spread date and raisin paste over it.  Sprinkle over remaining oat mix and bake for 30 minutes, or until golden brown.
• Allow to cool completely in tin before cutting into desired shapes.