Blueskin Nurseries Café’s walnut, date and ginger slice

ingredients

• • 2 cup chopped, pitted dates
  • 1/2 cup crystallised ginger, chopped
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1 cup chopped walnuts
  • 125 gram butter, softened
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla essence
  • 1 1/2 cup standard flour
  • 1/2 cup fine rolled oats
  • 2 teaspoon baking powder

• Icing

  • 2 tablespoon butter
  • 2 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 2 1/2 tablespoon golden syrup
  • 2 cup icing sugar
  • walnuts and ginger to garnish

method

• • 1

    Preheat the oven to 180ºC. Line the base and sides of a 31cm x 20cm slice pan with baking paper.

  • 2

    Place the dates, ginger and water in a non-stick pan. Cover and heat until the dates soften and the mixture is gooey. Set aside to cool. Stir in the walnuts.

  • 3

    Whiz the butter and sugar in the bowl of a food processor until smooth. Add the eggs and vanilla. Add the dry ingredients and mix until combined.

  • 4

    Spread the mixture into the prepared pan. Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes, or until a skewer inserted in the centre comes out clean.

  • 5

    Meanwhile, prepare the icing. Place the butter, ginger and golden syrup in a pan and heat until melted. Do not boil. Remove the pan from the heat and sift in the icing sugar, adding enough water to make it spreadable. Ice the slice while it is still warm. Garnish the top with the walnuts and ginger and slice.

notes

Blueskin Nurseries Café, State Highway 1, Waitati, Otago (15 minutes north of Dunedin), ph (03) 482 2633 or (03) 482 2828, www.blueskinnurseries.co.nz. Open Monday-Friday 8.30am-4pm, and weekends 8.30am-4.30pm. Manager: Sally Brown.