Date and Oat Fruit Loaf

Maggie and Mike's date and oat slices. Breakfast heaven.

Ingredients

Makes about 15-20 squares

• 150g unsalted butter (+ some extra for greasing pan)

• 500g chopped, stoned dates (use Medjool if you can)

• 200 ml water

• 1 tsp vanilla extract

• 150g wholemeal flour

• a pinch of salt

• 200g rolled oats

• 1/2 tsp baking soda

• 2 tbsp wheatgerm (optional)

• 120 g light brown sugar

• 1 tsp molasses

• 2 tbsp of golden syrup

Method

• preheat oven to 180ªC, Gas Mark 4

• butter a 20cm by 28cm tin (and line with baking parchment)

• put dates and 200ml of water in a saucepan, gentle heat and stir occasionally until all the water is absorbed

• stir in vanilla extact

• in a separate bowl mix flour, salt, oats and baking soda (dry ingredients)

• in a saucepan, gently heat butter, add molasses, golden syrup (wet ingredients)

• pour wet ingredients into dry and mix until you get a crumbly consistency

• layer half that mixture into the base of the prepared tin

• then add dates as a middle layer

• ... and sprinkle over the other half of the dough

• bake for about 30 minutes or until golden brown

• let cool in the tin and the slice and enjoy!

• Yum!

Notes

Next stop "Rose Bakery" – https://london.doverstreetmarket.com/rose-bakery