Not everybody likes fruit…… No really they don’t. There are people that wouldn’t dream of crunching into an apple or putting time aside to peel an orange…. that’s a lot of commitment right there.
But this delicious chocolate and date slice, will surely convince any fruit hater to at least have another bite.
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Chocolate and Date Slice – you wouldnt even know it was fruit
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 12 slices 1x
Description
This chocolate and date slice combines rich chocolate with sweet dates, creating a delightful treat that even fruit skeptics will enjoy.
Ingredients
- 400g dried dates
- 1 1/2 cups (360 ml) water
- Zest of 1 lemon
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 cup (120 ml) chocolate pieces (50-70% cocoa)
- 1 cup (240 ml) flour
- 1 cup (240 ml) brown sugar
- 185g (6.5oz) diced cold butter
- 1/2 cup (120 ml) desiccated coconut
Instructions
- Put the chopped dates into a pot with the water, lemon zest, and baking soda. Bring to a gentle boil and simmer for around 15 minutes or until the water has evaporated.
- Take the pot off the heat and stir in the chocolate pieces until melted and combined with the date mixture.
- In a separate bowl, mix the flour, brown sugar, and diced cold butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
- Press half of the crumb mixture into the base of a lined baking tin.
- Spread the date and chocolate mixture evenly over the base.
- Sprinkle the remaining crumb mixture over the top, followed by the desiccated coconut.
- Bake in a preheated oven at 180°C (350°F) for 30 minutes or until golden brown.
- Allow to cool in the tin before cutting into slices.
Notes
- Store the slices in an airtight container for up to a week.
- You can substitute the chocolate pieces with dark chocolate chips for a richer flavor.
- Serve with a dollop of cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream for an indulgent dessert.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Chocolate
- Cuisine: Australian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 24
- Sodium: 80
- Fat: 12
- Carbohydrates: 35
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 3
- Cholesterol: 30
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use chocolate chips instead of chocolate pieces?
Yes — the notes specifically suggest substituting dark chocolate chips for the ½ cup of 50–70% chocolate pieces if you want a richer flavor. The chips melt just as easily when stirred into the hot date mixture off the heat. 
Why does the date mixture need to simmer for 15 minutes?
The 400g of dried dates simmer with 1½ cups of water, lemon zest, and baking soda until all the water has evaporated. This softens and breaks down the dates into a thick, jammy paste that spreads evenly over the crumb base and holds together when sliced.
How long do the slices keep?
Store them in an airtight container and they will keep for up to a week, as noted in the recipe.
Delicious!
Oh this is a great slice put into smaller tin so nice and thick cafe style !!