Mrs Atkins' fruit slice

Name: Mrs Atkins' fruit slice
Cook time: 1 h 30 min
Yield: about 20
Cuisine: British
Ingredients: 125g unsalted butter; 1 cup brown sugar; 1 egg, lightly beaten; 225g mixed dried vine fruit; 150g self-raising flour

Stephanie Alexander

April 23, 2019

Time:1-2 hoursMakes:about 20

In The Cook's Companion I passed on the recipe for Mrs Atkins' fruit slice. The slice is delicious and not so long ago, while I was out walking early in the morning along a country road, a passing motorist stopped me to tell me how much the residents at a local hostel loved this particular treat. Oh yes, Mrs Atkins' family reminds me that the timing is critical - a minute too long in the oven and the slice becomes crisp rather than chewy.

Ingredients

125g unsalted butter
1 cup brown sugar
1 egg, lightly beaten
225g mixed dried vine fruit
150g self-raising flour

Method

Preheat oven to 190C and butter a 28cm x 18cm baking tray.
Melt butter in a saucepan large enough to hold all ingredients.
Add brown sugar, stirring over low heat until dissolved. Remove from heat and cool for a few minutes.
Stir in egg, then add fruit and sift in flour. Stir well to mix.
Press into tray and bake for 20 to 22 minutes.
The slice should have developed a caramel crust and will still move slightly when you rest your hand in the centre. If it is positively liquid, cook another three minutes.
Cool a little and mark into 4cm squares with a sharp knife. Allow to cool completely in tray, then cut into squares and store in an airtight tin.