A sticky, chewy date and oat slice, packed with sweet dates, oats and coconut. Ready in 25 minutes and perfect for lunch boxes and afternoon snacks.
I think a good oat slice makes the perfect afternoon snack. It's filling enough to keep you going until dinner, while the sticky dates make it sweet enough to satisfy those afternoon cravings.
I have my friend Claire to thank for this date slice recipe. She didn't give me the recipe - instead, she gave me a date and coconut slice she had bought at a cafe and asked me to recreate it!
I love a challenge, and after a few attempts I think I've finally cracked it.
Why You'll Love this Date Slice
- Sticky, sweet and deliciously chewy.
- Made with simple pantry staples.
- Perfect for lunch boxes and afternoon tea.
- Easy to make and ready in around 25 minutes.
- A satisfying snack that will keep you going until dinner.
Ingredients for oat and date slice
This oat and date slice recipe uses the following ingredients:
- Rolled oats
- All purpose flour / plain flour
- Brown sugar (see below)
- Shredded coconut
- Pitted dates
- Butter
- Honey
While this slice does contain brown sugar, the combination of sugar, honey and dates is what gives it its delicious chewy texture. Reducing the sugar significantly can make the slice drier and more crumbly.
If you prefer, you can experiment with replacing some of the sugar with maple syrup.
How to make a date oat slice
This is really such a simple recipe - it takes just minutes to mix all the ingredients together.
First mix the dry ingredients together in a large bowl.
Next melt together the butter, honey and dates until the dates are soft.
Next mix this mixture into the dry ingredients and put into the tin to bake.
I use a loaf tin for this as it fits the ingredients perfectly. You could also double the recipe and use a larger tin.
Line the loaf tin with baking paper to make sure it doesn't stick. This also makes it easy to lift it out for cutting.
Bake for 18-20 minutes then allow it to cool in the tin before cutting the sticky date slice into squares.
This slice travels well and is perfect for popping into school lunch boxes or taking to work as an afternoon snack.
How to Store Date & Oat Slice
Store the slice in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
It can also be frozen for up to 3 months. Simply thaw at room temperature before serving.
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Date and Oat Slice
Equipment
- Measuring Spoons and Measuring Cups
- 9 x 5-Inch Nonstick Loaf Pan
Ingredients
- 1 cup rolled oats
- ½ cup all purpose flour (plain flour)
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ½ cup shredded coconut
- ½ teaspoon baking soda (bicarbonate of soda)
- 1 cup dates approx. 8 large pitted dates
- ½ cup butter (125g)
- 2 tablespoon honey
Instructions
- Pre-heat the oven to 180C / 350F. Line a bread loaf tin with baking paper.
- In a large bowl, combine the oats, flour, sugar, coconut and baking soda. Set aside.
- Roughly chop the dates and add to a saucepan with the butter and honey. Cook over a low heat until the butter is melted and the dates are soft.
- Pour the butter/honey/date mixture into the bowl of dry ingredients and mix well.
- Tip the mixture into the prepared bread tin and press down gently.
- Bake in the oven for 18-20 minutes until golden brown.
- Allow to cool in the tin and then remove and cut into squares.
Could these be frozen?
Hi Harriet - I haven't tried freezing them but I see no reason why not. I would probably but them between baking paper in an airtight container before putting in the freezer.
I ended up slicing them and freezing on a baking sheet so they weren’t touching. Once frozen I stored in a freezer bag. Took them out a little before eating and They tasted just as good
Great to hear! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Hey! I made this was so tasty! (I added some mixed spice seasoning too!) how would this go without the sugar? Would I need to substitute with something else or add some more dry ingredients.
I’d love to make this regular but would like to reduce our sugar intake. Would love some help!x
Hi Holly - I actually messed around with this recipe quite a lot trying to reduce the sugar before I published it. I just couldn't get it right, it always ended up too crumbly. So in the end I decided the half cup of sugar had to stay! You could try increasing the honey instead but I did try that too. Sorry I can't help further but if you find a good solution, I'd love to hear it!
Could some of the sugar be replaced with apple purée or stewed apple?
These look delicious! Do you use he old-fashioned oats?
Thanks
Yes just old fashioned oats 🙂
Hi, not fond of coconut...what else could I use?
It’s great for school lunches and it’s so quick and easy to follow
Can someone share the ingredients in metrics please?
I halved the sugar and substituted walnuts for coconut and they turned out great! Delicious snack. Thank you!
Easy and quick to make.
I halved the sugar and found it still too sweet - honey, dates and brown sugar - too many sources of sweetness. I will be trying again with no sugar and see what happens.
Easy to make and full of healthy ingredients. I sprinkled the top with pistachios and choc chips
I doubled the recipe and did not add any sugar at all. Perfectly sweet enough without it!
I wish I had seen your tip beforehand and omitted sugar completely! They were far too sweet!
Great taste, but really doesn't need the sugar, it's already got dates and honey so experiment with reducing it or omitting it entirely.
Also lends itself to different add ins like seeds or crushed nuts 👌👌
Can I make this gluten free by substituting the flour?
I haven't tried this gluten free but I think it should probably work. Let me know if you try it!
this was SO delicious!! i used maple syrup instead of honey and added some yummy nut mix and choc covered blueberries....i just devoured my first piece. thank you!!
Thanks Chris! Chocoloate covered blueberries sound like a great addition, yum!
I loved this recipe! So healthy and deliciously more-ish.
I added 2 tablespoons of home made date caramel to the mixture in the saucepan - it really pushed up the date flavour and added or the "chewyness"
Yum! Sounds like a great addition 🙂