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Sarah L Samuels

Date Crunch

Updated: Jun 30

This traybake is a real classic and I always have dates in my baking cupboard generally to make this recipe. This is one of my Dad’s favourites!


It is an old classic but it is really easy to make and tastes delicious. It has an oaty base topped with sticky dates and finished with more oats.


It can be served warm with ice cream or cream or cold with a cuppa!




Preheat the oven to 180 degrees centigrade (160 fan) Gas mark 4, then line a 9 x 9inch or 23 x 23cm square cake tin with parchment paper. Available on Amazon



Place the water and dates in a pan and simmer for 10 minutes until thickened.




Once it has thickened set aside to cool.




Put the flour, bicarbonate of soda, sugar and butter into a large bowl.



Rub the butter into the dry ingredients. It will be a bit sticky!



Add the porridge oats and rub in again until the mixture starts to clump slightly.



Take two thirds of the mixture and put this into the tin and press down with a small spatula until it is level.




Add the cooled date mixture and flatten until level.





Finally sprinkle on the remaining mixture and press down lightly.



Then bake in the pre-heated oven for 35-40 minutes.




Leave to cool in the tin before cutting into squares.




Date Crunch

Sarah’s servings: 16

Sarah's skill: Easy

Baking time: 35-40 minutes


Ingredients:

250ml Water

200g Dates (stoned and chopped)

200g Plain Flour

1/2 tsp Bicarbonate of Soda

200g Unsalted Butter

200g Soft Light Brown Sugar

150g Porridge Oats


Method:

  1. Preheat the oven to 180 degrees centigrade (160 fan) Gas mark 4.

  2. Line a 9 x 9inch or 23 x 23cm square cake tin with parchment paper.

  3. Place the water and dates in a pan and simmer for 10 minutes until thickened. Set aside to cool.

  4. Put the flour, bicarbonate of soda, butter and sugar into a large bowl. Rub the butter into the dry ingredients. It will be a bit sticky!

  5. Add the porridge oats and rub in again until the mixture starts to clump slightly.

  6. Take two thirds of the mixture and put this into the tin and press down with a small spatula until it is level.

  7. Add the cooled date mixture and using a spatula spread it on top of the oat mixture.

  8. Finally sprinkle on the remaining oat mixture, press down lightly, then bake in the preheated oven for 35-40 minutes.

  9. Leave to cool in the tin before cutting into squares.



Equipment Used






Sarah’s extra slice……


I used dates that have had the stones removed which are much easier to chop up.

Make sure the date mixture is cool before adding to the base oat mix.


You could add some chopped nuts to the topping for more crunch.

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1 Comment


Guest
Apr 08, 2023

I love how you put inches as well as cms for the pan sizes! thank you from an Oregon Brit!

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