Copycat cook: Apricot and coconut slice

I know the title says 'apricot' and the picture says 'cranberry' - but keep reading it will make sense, I promise!

A piece of museli slice is one of my favourite afternoon treats so I am always on the look out for a nutritious and filling home-made slice.  When this appeared on my facebook feed it caught my attention and I was keen to give it a go. 

Serve Size:  Recipe suggests 24 serves, this might be the case if you were only serving it to young children.  I cut mine into 16 serves.

Prep & cooking:  Recipe states 45 minutes. This must include prep and baking time. This sounds about right, by far the most tedious part is chopping the dried fruit. The stickiness always drives me mad.  I used the suggested pan size but mine looked considerably thinner than their picture.


Ingredient list:  All standard ingredients if you are into baking at home.  Dried fruit may require a trip to the shops for some.

Ease of use:  I never enjoy bringing out a saucepan to make a slice, so I completed the first step in a microwave-safe glass bowl and continued to use this bowl to combine the rest of the ingredients.  Gotta cut down on the dishes when you can.

Substitutions: I used prunes instead of dates and used a combination of cranberries and dried apple instead of dried apricots, just because that is what I wanted to use up from the pantry.  I also used a little more than the 1/2 cup stated in the recipe.  I used rice malt syrup instead of golden syrup to reduce the sugar load a little and I used Nuttelex for the spread.  I didn't make the icing as I can never bring myself to top a healthy snack with a load of sugar.


Taste:  Pretty good, I love cranberries (but the apricot would be great too!)  It's pretty sweet with the dried fruit and it has a nice texture with the coconut.  I love lemon...in anything.

Pre-schooler rating: He liked it, didn't love it.  I had to encourage him to eat it.

Would I cook it again: Yep, when I want a healthy snack and don't want to look up another recipe.  But is it my ultimate healthy slice recipe, nope, still looking...

Overall rating: 3.5/5

Recipe:  Coconut-apricot slice The Australian Healthy Food Guide

1/2 tablespoon golden syrup
4 1/2 tablespoons reduced-fat table spread
1/3 cup caster sugar
5 Weet-Bix or Vita Brits, crumbled
1 1/2 cups self-raising flour
1 1/2 cups shredded coconut
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 egg
1/2 cup chopped dates
1/2 cup chopped dried apricots
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1 lemon, zested
1/3 cup boiling water
Icing 1 lemon, juiced
1/2 cup icing sugar

Instructions

Step 1 Preheat oven to 180°C. Lightly grease lamington tin (approx 25cm x 30cm). Place syrup, spread and sugar into a saucepan and melt, stirring, over medium-high heat. Add crumbled Weet-Bix and flour. Mix well. Add remaining ingredients, except water. Stir until combined. Mix in hot water.

Step 2 Using wet hands, press into tin. Bake for 30 minutes. Cool in tin.

Step 3 Make icing: in a small bowl, mix lemon juice and icing sugar. Add a few drops of water, if necessary. Drizzle icing over cooled biscuits. When set, slice into bars.

Have you found your ultimate healthy slice?  I'd love to try your recipe.

Happy baking.

Keep smiling
Dani xx