No-Bake Date Squares

A classic South African teatime treat, these date squares or fingers, depending on how you slice them, come together in 15 minutes. Marie biscuits are widely available online otherwise use any tea or butter biscuits.

Recipe:

• 1 cup/226g butter

• 1 cup dates, finely chopped

• 1 tsp vanilla paste or extract

• salt (pinch)

• 1 cup/200g sugar

• 2 eggs, beaten

• 11/2 packets (300g) Marie biscuits(cookies, ) broken into smaller pieces

• desiccated coconut, to serve

Line a loaf pan with parchment paper. Melt the butter and sugar in a pan. Slowly whisk in the eggs over medium low heat. Stir in the dates and cook the mixture for a few minutes until thickened. Remove from the heat and add the vanilla.

Carefully stir in the biscuits(cookies), coating well with the date mixture.
Pour the mixture into a loaf pan, pressing down with a spatula. Allow to cook for 2 hours. Dust with shredded coconut and slice.