Thursday, August 13, 2009

Wild Date and Dried Cherry Slice

This is one of thoses dishes that came together solely on the basis of it's main ingredients - the first of which are a new type of date I've recently discovered, Wild Dates

Wild Dates© by Haalo

Much smaller in size to say a Medjool, their colouring varies from cream to amber, a result of being naturally dried. I also find them a bit firmer and the taste is not all upfront sweetness, there's smoky, spicy notes to the flesh.

The second are these dried cherries

Dried Cherries© by Haalo

Tasting somewhat like a cherry lolly, they are chewy and sweet but with a slight savoury note at the finish, it's impossible to stop at just one.

While a slice made with your regular dried fruit is delicious but frankly, a little boring, one made with these amazing ingredients turns into something quite special.

Wild Date & Dried Cherry Slice© by Haalo


Wild Date and Dried Cherry Slice

200 grams plain flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon cardamon powder
100 grams wild dates, seeded and sliced
100 grams dried cherries
50 grams walnuts, roughly chopped
130 grams softened butter
130 grams soft dark brown sugar
2 eggs


Place the softened butter and sugar into the bowl of a mixer and beat until light and creamy. Add the eggs and beat until amalgamated.

Sift the flour with the baking and cardamom powders then drop in the dates, cherries and walnuts, toss until they are evenly coated.

Place these dry ingredients into the creamed butter and on the lowest speed, beat until just combined.

Spoon the mixture out onto a greased and lined slice pan - smoothing the surface with a palatte knife.

Bake in a preheated 160°C/320°F oven for about 30 - 45 minutes or until golden and cooked through.

Remove from the oven and let it cool for a few minutes before removing from the pan - let it sit on a wire rack to cool completely.

When ready to serve, dust generously with icing sugar.

Wild Date & Dried Cherry Slice© by Haalo

Using dark brown sugar gives the slice a more adult taste, a bit like treacle and a fantastic chewy texture. The perfect companion to your coffee or tea.

5 comments

  1. Oh man that looks good, I switch on the coffee machine, ok??

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  2. Ooh, oooh! I will have to try this with dried cranberries and dates.

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  3. This looks SO good! I don't comment on your posts enough I know...but I do read everyone of them. I love your recipes and photography and have told you a number of times I think you should gather everything into a book. Well, now you probably have a series of books. Don't say who would want to buy your books...just look at Julie and Julia. Julie began with a cookbook and a blog. I know your cookbooks would be a hit. Hope you do it someday. *s*

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  4. u've heard about chinese dates, or red dates? chinese ppl love to use them to make sweet or savory soup which is good for blood circulation. when i was a kid, my mom made me drink it every day or two. and I HATED IT! i thot it was the only date in the whole universe that i hv to completely give it up.

    now, i know it's not true. and I LOVE any kind of dried dates (still not chinese dates though :P). and using dates in bakery goods is my favourite. yours looks mouth-watering!

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  5. Sounds like a deal Nina!

    That would be a delicious combination Tanita!

    Thank you Heather - you are always so very generous in your comments, maybe one day!

    Thanks Lululu!

    ReplyDelete

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