Someone asked me recently for a low-fat traybake. Most of my cooking isn’t terribly healthy – I prefer to have a small slice of something delicious rather than a large wedge of something worthy. However, sometimes deliciousness and worthiness can combine, as is the case with these fantastic Date and Coconut Chews.
I was given this recipe by my friend Summer after we spent a very happy day off on a walk with her and her Vicar husband. We took a picnic lunch with us. I brought soup and Summer brought various treats including these. I’m not normally a fan of dates, but these slices are wonderful – chewy and sweet but full of fruit and coconut, which I think cancels out the butter and golden syrup.
Ingredients
- 6oz/170g plain flour
- 3 oz/85g dessicated coconut
- 6oz/170g stoned dates, chopped
- 6oz/170g caster sugar
- 3oz/85g butter (you could use hard marg, but butter is tastier, isn’t it?)
- 2 teaspoonfuls (1 dessertspoonful) golden syrup
- 1 egg, beaten
Melt the butter, sugar and golden syrup (I always do this in the microwave, but you can do it on the stove aswell). Stir the dry ingredients together then add the hot butter mixture and the egg. Mix everything well and then spread out in a lined 9″x11″ (23cmx28cm) tin. Bake for 15-20 minutes at 180ºC (Gas 4, Fan 170ºC).
When cooled a little, cut into 24 slices. I did a little maths and reckon that each slice has about 3.5g of fat. This isn’t quite low enough to classify as ‘Low Fat’ in the US , but I think it’ll do.
[Late Edit: A Twitter pal tells me he’s tried this recipe using prunes instead of dates and rice flour in the place of plain and that it worked really well. Good for those on a gluten-free diet then.]
The Vicar's Wife 
These sound delicious. I’ve been wondering what to do with the packet of dried dates that have been lurking at the back of the cupboard. If I don’t put my glasses on – can I say I didn’t see the sell by date?!
I too have some dates that need using up and as you comment that these might be a little less fattening than some cakes, I shall give them a go. If they are as good as your Whole Orange Cake we will be very pleased!
hopeeternal
‘Meanderings through my Cookbook’
I have just made the date and coconut chew traybake – and it is excellent. It’s as easy to make as flapjacks and I fear it is not even going to make it into the cake tin. It’s disappearing fast!
Glad you like it Harriet – I love these!
This sounds just what I have been looking for. My son has requested that I bake several hundred tray bakes for his mountain biking event. I have done flapjacks to death! ……..adding dried fruit and nuts to some. I have also done some Brownies. Now I want something different, and coconut sounds just the ticket. I’ll let you know.