Mary Berry’s Date Slices are a timeless British treat, perfect for teatime or as a wholesome snack. Combining naturally sweet dates with a buttery oat crumb, these bars offer a perfect balance and crispness. Easy to prepare and irresistibly delicious, this recipe is ideal for baking beginners and pros alike.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Classic Mary Berry recipe with reliable results
Uses simple pantry ingredients for easy preparation
Perfect texture with soft date filling and crunchy oat topping
Ideal for lunchboxes, afternoon tea, or dessert

Ingredients Breakdown

Date Filling

Chopped Dates (225g): The star of the filling—naturally sweet and sticky, they create a jammy center.
Water (125ml): Helps soften and break down the dates while cooking.
Vanilla Extract (1 tsp): Adds a smooth, fragrant note to the date mixture.
Baking Soda (1 tsp): Reacts with the dates and water to soften the fruit and thicken the mixture.

Crumb Layers

Plain Flour (110g): Forms the base structure of the crumble topping and bottom layer.
Quick-Cook Oats (110g): Adds texture and a rustic touch to the crumbly layers.
Sugar (175g): Sweetens the oat and flour mixture and balances the tartness of the dates.
Baking Powder (1 tsp): Provides slight lift and lightness to the crumble.
Butter (110g): Rubbed into the dry ingredients to create a crumbly, golden topping and base

Tips and Tricks

Use fresh or properly thawed dates for the best texture.
Rub the butter in quickly to avoid melting it with your hands, ensuring a crumbly topping.
Press crumbs firmly but don’t compact too hard to maintain a crisp texture.
Store slices in an airtight container for up to 5 days.

Variations and Customizations

Add a handful of chopped nuts like walnuts or pecans to the crumb for extra crunch.
Mix in a teaspoon of ground cinnamon or mixed spice for warming flavor.
For a healthier twist, substitute half the sugar with honey or maple syrup and use whole wheat flour.

Pairing Suggestions

Enjoy with a cup of English breakfast tea or fresh coffee.
Serve with a dollop of whipped cream or vanilla yogurt for dessert.

Storage Instructions

Keep date slices in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
For longer storage, freeze wrapped slices for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge.

Mary Berry’s Date Slices

Author: easysweetmeal
Total Time: 45 minutes
Yield: 12 slices 1x

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Description

Buttery oat crumble meets sticky-sweet date filling in this timeless treat! Perfect with tea or as a lunchbox snack—simple, wholesome, and irresistibly cozy

Ingredients

Scale

225g chopped dates
1 tsp vanilla extract
125ml water
1 tsp baking soda
175g sugar
110g plain flour
1 tsp baking powder
110g quick-cook oats
110g butter (cold, cubed)

Instructions

1. Prepare the Oven and Tin

Preheat the oven to 160°C (325°F).
Line an 8-inch square baking tin with parchment paper, leaving some overhang for easy removal.

2. Cook the Date Filling

In a small saucepan, combine chopped dates and water.
Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the dates become soft and mushy (about 5-7 minutes).
Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract. Set aside to cool.

3. Make the Crumb Mixture

In a large bowl, sift together the plain flour, baking soda, and baking powder.
Add the sugar and oats, mixing well.
Rub in the cold butter cubes using your fingertips until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.

4. Assemble the Date Slices

Press half of the crumb mixture firmly into the base of the prepared baking tin.
Spread the cooled date filling evenly over the base layer.
Top with the remaining crumb mixture, pressing it down firmly but evenly.

5. Bake and Cool

Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, or until the top is golden brown.
Remove from oven and slice into bars while still warm.
Allow to cool completely in the tin before lifting out the slices.

Notes

For clean slices, wipe your knife between each cut.
This recipe is perfect for batch baking and gifting during holidays.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Category: Dessert
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American