The combination of dates, lemon and coconut is a marriage made in Heaven.

I feel like the past few weeks I've been on a marathon cooking !! And I'm sharing all the delicious ones with you.

Prep + cooking time 1 hour and 10 minutes + cooling time
Makes 16

Ingredients

1 2/3 cups ( 250g) plain flour ( I use lighthouse brand)
150g cold butter, chopped coarsely
1 egg beaten lightly
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon finely grated lemon rind
3/4 cup caster sugar
3/4 cup desiccated coconut
1/3 cup coarsely chopped walnuts
1/4 cup shredded coconut

Date filling

1 1/2 cups pitted dried dates, chopped coarsely
1/2 cup caster sugar
2/3 cup ( 160mls) water
1/3 cup (60mls) lemon juice

Method

1. Make Date filling
Bring dates,sugar and the water to the boil in a medium saucepan. Reduce heat; and simmer, stirring about 3 minutes or until dates are pulpy. Stir in juice and cool.

2. Preheat oven 180°C / 160°C fan-forced.
Grease a 20cm x 30cm rectangle pan. Line bottom and long sides with baking paper, extending it about 5cm over sides.

3. Sift flour into a large bowl; rub in butter. Stir in combined egg,vanilla and rind . Then stir in sugar, desiccated coconut and walnuts..

4. Press half the mixture into pan firmly. Spread Date filling mixture on top.

5. Add shredded coconut to the remaining mixture then sprinkle over top of Date filling.

6. Bake in oven for about 35 minutes. Cool in pan before cutting into 16 slices

This slice will keep in an airtight container for 3 days