When you’ve got kids in the house, it’s a good idea to have a stash of baked goods ready to whip out at any moment, so that you can meet everyone’s snacking needs throughout the day. These healthier caramel slices are incredibly easy to make, and always prove popular with kids (and adults!) of all ages. They will keep for up to two weeks when stored in an air-tight tin, and for younger children, you can simply halve the slices to create smaller portions.
Ingredients (to make 12 slices):
For the base:
- 1 1/2 cups of ground almonds (or any nuts of your choice, ground to a fine powder)
- 1/4 cup of pitted dates, soaked in water for 1 hour
- 1/2 teaspoon of salt
For the filling:
- 1 1/2 cups of pitted dates, soaked in water for 1 hour
- 4 tablespoons of nut butter (any nut of your choice)
- 3 tablespoons of unsalted butter
For the topping:
- 2 tablespoons of creamed coconut
- 1 1/2 cups of dark chocolate, broken into pieces
Instructions:
- Line a baking tin 10 inches x 10 inches with baking parchment.
- To make the base, finely chop the dates and add them, along with 1 tablespoon of water, to the ground nuts. Mix in well until thoroughly combined, and then stir through the salt. Pour the base into the baking tin and press down until it is smooth and even.
- To make the filling, place all of the filling ingredients in a food processor and blitz until smooth. Pour the filling over the base layer, spreading it evenly with a spatula.
- For the chocolate topping, melt the creamed coconut and chocolate together in a pan or in a bowl in the microwave. Mix to ensure the two ingredients are well combined, and then pour this over the filling layer.
- Place the baking tray in the fridge for at least 3 hours, until the chocolate topping has entirely set.
- Slice into 12 portions before serving or storing.