This oat-laden slice, reminiscent of Anzac biscuits, sandwiches a mixed-spice scented cooked fruit crush of juicy dates and tart cooking apples. It is truly a slice for the whole family – add to lunchboxes, morning, or afternoon teas, served warm with custard as a dessert, or box for gifting.

Ingredients

• 2 cooking apples, peeled and sliced
• 2 tablespoons water
• 2 teaspoons mixed spice
• 1 1/2 - 2 cups well-packed dates, diced
• 350 grams butter
• 2 teaspoons vanilla essence
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 3/4 cups flour
• 1 1/2 cups rolled oats
• 1 1/2 cups well-packed browm sugar

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C. Set the oven rack in the centre of the oven. Line the base and sides of a 20cm x 30cm slice tin with baking paper.
2. Peel the apples, quarter, and core. Place in a saucepan with a couple of tablespoons of water, cover and cook for 8-10 minutes until the apples are soft and can be mashed to a fluff. Cooking apples such as Ballarat’s or Granny Smith’s, normally green-skinned, collapse to a pulpy fluff when well-cooked, while eating apples, normally red-skinned, hold their shape and will need to be mashed or squashed with a potato masher or a fork.
3. Add the dates, mixed spice and 50 grams of the butter and mix with a wooden spoon to make a thick paste. Set aside to cool.
4. Melt the butter with the vanilla essence either in the microwave or in a small saucepan. Mix the baking soda with the water and set aside. Baking soda works best when it is first dissolved in liquid before being added to a batter.
5. Into a large bowl put 2 cups of the oats, all the flour and sugar and rub the mixture through using your hands to mix well. Make a well in the centre and pour in the butter and the baking soda mix. Stir to mix well.
6. Divide the mixture into 2/3 and 1/3. Press the larger portion into the base of the lined slice tin. Spread the apple and date mixture smoothly on top. To the remaining oat mixture, add the last ½ cup rolled oats and use your hand to rub in well. Scatter this on top of the apple, pressing down with a moderately firm hand.
7. Bake in the preheated oven for 40 minutes. The slice should be golden brown. Remove and set aside until completely cold before removing from the tin and cutting into pieces. Keep in an airtight container. Freezes and defrosts well.