This is a recipe you will recall from your childhood. Even if you have never made it, I am sure you would have sampled a piece along your way. It is certainly familiar to me.
I was at my sister’s the other day. She had a small gathering to introduce her new twin grand daughters – Indie and Isabella – to everyone. This chocolate slice was one of the offerings. I had a piece, or two, and started reminiscing. I was sure mum had made it. If not, another family member had. It was yummy. I commented as much and before I knew it, a pen, piece of paper and the recipe were thrust into my hands. So, I wrote it out.
[My sister also instructed me to write out her scone recipe. She is always telling me she makes the best scones. I will give the recipe a go and see if I agree with her.]
Anyway, here I am stuck in our barely furnished Perth house, whilst Maus is looking after Bridgetown, with very little to entertain me. Everything that could entertain me has gone. There is not a cookbook (nor any other book for that matter) in sight. It would be funny if we don’t get tenants and we have to bring it all back. If that happens, it will surely be the subject of another post. I am philosophical about the economy. If you live in a boom/bust state you cannot expect it to be always booming.
Anyway, here I am with nothing to do. Maus did suggest I could clean the windows. As I said … here I am with nothing to do when I remembered Vick’s recipe. I decided to go shopping for the ingredients. There is not much in the way of ingredients here either.
I have no idea the source of the recipe but I wouldn’t be surprised if it is a Women’s Weekly gem. It is dead easy to make – melt butter and mix with dry ingredients. The kids (and grown ups) will love it.
These quantities do not make a huge amount. I used a 20cm x 20cm baking dish and it was barely enough. My sister tells me if you want to fill a lamington tray you will need to triple the ingredients. You may also need to increase the cooking time a wee bit.
Ingredients:
- 125g butter
- 1 cup self-raising flour
- ¾ cup fine desiccated coconut
- ½ cup sugar
- 2 tbs* cocoa
Method
- Line a 20cm x 20cm baking dish with baking paper.
- Preheat your oven to 180°C.
- Sift the flour and cocoa into a bowl.
- Add the sugar and desiccated coconut, mix to combine.
- Melt the butter.
- Mix together and then press firmly into your prepared dish. I scored the slice before baking as I figured it would not crumble as much when I cut it. It seemed to work.
- Bake for 15 minutes in your preheated oven.
- When cool, prepare icing and spread over slice.
Chocolate Icing**
- 1 cup icing (confectioners’) sugar
- 2 tbs* cocoa
- 40g butter, softened
- 1 tbs* milk
Sift icing sugar and cocoa together into a bowl. Add the butter and milk. Using an electric mixer on low speed, mix until the ingredients are combined. Increase the speed to medium. Beat for a further 2 minutes.
*These are 20 mil tablespoons.
**This recipe is from taste.com.au.
Passion Fruit Garden 
Yes, it’s out of one of the WW cookbooks, I had a peanut butter cookie on the weekend at a café and immediately thought of the one’s I used to make from my WW biscuit cookbook, it had grated lemon rind in it too – so delicious that I am going to whip some up over the next weekend! Gotta love the tried and tested ones that taste of love. I’d do anything but the windows too … unless it was the bathroom of course – yuk
Hi Jenny, what WW book is it in? I have never seen the printed version. When it comes to biscuits and slices you can’t beat the WW recipes.
Hi Glenda, it’s in “The Big Book of Beautiful Biscuits” book. quantities differ slightly though: 1 cup plain flour, 1/2 cup sugar, 1 cup coconut, 1 tb cocoa, 185g butter, 1/2 ts vanilla. Icing is 1 cup icing sugar, 2 tb cocoa, 30g butter 1.5 tb hot water. And what a perfect time to get this book out from the back of the cupboard, it’s where my peanut butter biscuit recipe is!
Thanks Jenny, I will make these quantities next time and see if it makes any difference.
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I remember that slice too – it’s very yummy. Isn’t it uncomfortable when you find yourself in a bookless space – it feels more than empty.
Hi Jan. It is really weird – but interestingly, even though we have got rid a pile of stuff I am still surviving quite well. You really don’t need all that stuff.
I agree – we are going through a similar process of de-stuffing and it can start to feel quite liberating.
Yes I remember a similar slice too, my frugal Mum made it often, thanks for the reminiscence. Just checked, I have it in my old file of handwritten recipes, but alas no source.
Hi Sandra. I betcha it is a WW, though I did do a “eat you books” search with the ingredients and nothing came up. I may check the web again.
Simply. Fabulous!
Have a glorious weekend Glenda.
🙂 Mandy xo
Thanks Mandy
Oh yes I remember this very well. Everyone used to make this in our childhood. Lots of memories here.
Hi Sherry – it is funny how recipes gain momentum.
I make a similar one from the 60s, inherited from my mother, which includes Vita Brits. These slices are always popular and are iconic Aussie slices.
Hi Francesca. I have bought the Vitabix to try it out.
Hi Glenda, I don’t think I’ve ever tasted this one, but it sounds wonderful. Old fashioned and yummy!
Hi Liz, I am surprised. I think Francesca is right in that it is from the 60’s.