My husband has a bit of a rough time. He works relentlessly then comes home, to us.
To me, my messy home and endless questions, to Lu, who follows him everywhere asking, ‘When are we going outside?’ ‘When are we playing?’ ‘What are we playing?’ As well as the gorgeous, but very fragile little man.
So today he pulled the pin. He declared enough. He wasn’t spending the day picking up after me, playing snakes and ladders or consoling the boy. He was heading out. Alone. Going wherever he wants to go, doing whatever he wants to do and returning whenever he feels like it.
There is no denying that he earns it. I kissed him goodbye and smiled as he drove away.
That was four hours ago.
Now I want to ring to him. I want to say ‘Hey, what have you been up too? Have you had fun?’ But I know I mustn’t. He knows it will be killing me.
To pass the time I made him a vanilla slice. I am sure he would rather I vacuum or iron, or do both. His day could be perfect! I best get to it.
Vanilla Slice
Base
2 and 1/2 cups desiccated coconut
10 medjool dates, seeds removed
1/2 teaspoon concentrated natural vanilla extract
pinch of salt
Line a 20cm x 20cm cake tin with grease proof paper over hanging two of the sides to allow for easy removal.
Place the ingredients into your blender or food processor and blend at high speed until it is well combined and coming together.
Press the base mixture firmly into your prepared tin and place in the fridge or freezer to set.
Filling
2 cups raw cashews
1 cup desiccated coconut
2 tablespoons honey
1 teaspoon concentrated natural vanilla extract
pinch of salt
Place the cashews and coconut into your blender or food processor and blend until smooth and well combined. Add the remaining ingredients and pulse until combined. Press the filling mixture firmly onto your base. Place in the fridge to set.
Icing
6 tablespoons coconut oil*
1 heaped tablespoon honey
1/2 teaspoon concentrated natural vanilla extract
*The coconut oil I used had completely liquefied with the heat. Below is exactly what I did to make my icing and it worked perfectly. If you are using solid but soft coconut oil just whip until you achieve the desired consistency and omit the setting in the fridge step.
Using a fork or spoon, combine the ingredients in a cup and place in the fridge for 15 – 20 minutes to thicken. Remove from the fridge and whip the mixture with a teaspoon or fork until it is a beautiful, perfect, creamy frosting consistency. Spread the icing thinly over your slice with the back of a spoon. Return to the fridge to set. Cut and enjoy!!!
45 comments
I find it so warming that you & I sound so alike. Your husband & my husband sound so alike. I’m so excited to try this, can’t wait! It will be on my list tomorrow, as well as my usual daily double batch of chewy chocolate cookies & daily batch of chocolate & coconut cake for the boys’ school lunchboxes. Thank you as always x
Thank you!! I am glad you like the little stories and that you can relate to them. I hope you enjoy the recipe. Be sure to let me know. how you go.
Well I FINALLY made it!!. Absolutely delicious thank you again Bianca!!
Thank you so much. I am glad you like it. x
I hope your husband has recharged his batteries and is back home enjoying his busy family 🙂 looking forward to trying this Vanilla Slice x
Thank you. I hope you like it. Be sure to let me know.
This slice looks amazing! Do you think i could use another nut? I don’t have enough cashews, probably only 1/2 a cup… I’ve got macadamias or almonds?
Thank you. Macadamias would be perfect! Be sure to let me know what you think.
I made them! Loooove them. 🙂
Fabulous!! Thank you for the feedback. xx
Thanks!
Oh I love the pics!!! Thank you so much!! I am glad you have enjoyed the slice. Many thanks, Bianca. x
Hi Bianca,
I found the coconut oils in the icing a little bit too much. Could I flavour with lemon or fresh passion fruit to cut the oil a little or would you suggest less icing all together
Hi Sarah, you can just omit the icing altogether. However, if you follow the quantities above it really is only the lightest smear over the slice. In saying that the passionfruit sounds delicious. Let me know how you go with it. Thanks, Bianca
I have started to work my way through your awesome recipes and am sharing your blog with my friends. Tonight after a lovely day with my daughter, granddaughter and some friends I needed to throw together a quick lunchbox filler and this slice was my choice. I couldn’t resist tasting it for dessert. Like your other raw recipes it rocks! My partner and i are loving working through them all. Thank you for this blog, your recipes and the way you speak from your heart.
Julia
Thankyou so much!! I really appreciate the feedback. I am glad you are enjoying the recipes. x
I made this a couple of weeks ago and although I found it quite nice it was very crumbly, to the point where it fell apart when you picked it up. Did I do something wrong, or this how it’s meant to be? Maybe next time I’ll add some coconut oil.
Valeska
No it shouldn’t be crumbly, for us it is just how it looks in the photo. I would suggest increasing your blending time and by al means try the coconut oil. I am glad you enjoyed the taste. I hope you have better luck with the recipe next time.
[…] are also many other recipes on the website that would work really well, the Vanilla Slice and Choc Peanut Butter Bars would have been […]
I tried this over the weekend and had trouble with the base being crumbly too. I didn’t however use “medjool dates”, just the regular dried dates available in bulk at the Katoomba Co-Op. Do you think that’s why it didn’t stick together? Also happy with the flavour. They have been eaten regardless. I easily converted this recipe for the Thermomix also.
Hi Tara, yes, I think this would be the problem, if you are not using medjool dates you would need to soak them and double the amount used. If you get a chance to try again with medjool please let me know how you go. I am glad you still enjoyed the taste! Thank you for the feedback. Bianca. x
The important question is, was he happily surprised when he came home to this and your smiling faces?
Yes, I think so. x
Just made this Bianca, DELCIOUS! I had to add about 3 more medjool dates and about a tablespoon of coconut oil for the base to start to come together, but otherwise followed to a tee. I also added a drop of beetroot juice to the icing to make it a nice light pink colour. Time to put the kettle on…
I love this!! Thank you for the feedback, I am sure many others will also find it helpful. I am glad you liked it. x
[…] are truly delicious and pretty convincing alternatives to the traditional treats. Like the Vanilla Slice from Wholefood Simply. […]
Made this morning. Awesome!!! I used shredded coconut instead of desiccated and actually didn’t have enough for both the base and filling so used half oats and added some chia seeds as well. Worked perfectly. Will be making plenty more times I’m sure!
Thank you!!! It is lovely of you to take the time to write. The tips are really helpful and most of all I am glad the slice has been enjoyed!! Be sure to let me know how you go with any other recipes that you try. Thanks again, Bianca. x
Hi Bianca, I want to make this for a friend but her little guy can’t have honey. Are there any other sweeteners you would recommend?
Yes you could use maple syrup. I hope it is enjoyed.
Hi Bianca, this was my first ever time at trying one of your recipes. I love reading them, they all sound delicious and tonight decided to make this… I found the filling very sweet so added juice of half a lemon and I’m in seventh heaven! Thanks for continuing to inspire me, I can’t wait to try other recipes now! X
Thank you so much!! I really appreciate that! I would love to hear how you go with anything else that you try. Bianca
hi again 🙂 is there any substitute for coconut LOL my kids really hate coconut, so I am struggling to make healthy things for them 🙂
HI Nat, I have only made it this way but you can try extra cashews or even rolled oats? I hope this helps.
May try oats as already needing to substitue the cashews for macademias or almonds, as I am allerrgic too cashews …
thank you xx
I made these for a Christmas party I went to with friends. and WOW! They were lucky to survive the drive over there they were so beautiful! All my friends really enjoyed them and cldnt believe they were made from scratch. Thankyou so much for this beautiful recipe, I can’t wait to try more!
That is great to hear!!! Thank YOU!!! I really appreciate the feedback. Be sure to let me know how you go with anything else that you try. x
Can you use Rice Bran Syrup or Agave instead of honey in some of the steps?
Sure can. I hope you enjoy it. x
Medjool dates are really high in sugar…..can we use anything else? Also, a large number of your recipes require great quantities of medjool dates…..is this just for sweetness? (ps just discovered your page….loving it…)
Thank YOU Gracie, I am glad you like my little space. If you would like to send me a message either via the contact page or FB I would be happy to send you a list of our date free recipes, we have many and I have been intending to place them into a category of their own but haven’t gotten to that. Also, with this recipe you could use the vanilla layer on the top deck slice? I hope this helps.
I love, love, love this recipe. So quick and easy and tastes amazing. I have made it twice already, the first was to a tea/snack afternoon at a friends house and because myself and my family are on the paleo wholefood lifestyle it was perfect as it topped every other snack on the table, it looked and tasted great, thank you Bianca. Im just discovering your website recently and im so happy to have been told about it by a friend.
Thank YOU so much Tracey!!! That is great to hear!! I really appreciate the feedback and I am glad the recipe was enjoyed. Be sure to let me know how you go with anything else that you try. x
Thankyou. Love the recipes. Can you freeze the vanilla slice?