I’m wondering if you could call this an Australian Tarte Tartin. The main difference from the French version is that this one has a sponge base and not pastry. This recipes uses apricots and walnuts in the topping, but you could use apples or even pears if you wanted to.
Some people might argue that this is a summer recipe, but others, like my father, would disagree. He enjoyed a bowl of ice cream every night – summer or winter.
I have no idea how this got the name ‘Dutch’ tart, it’s one of the mysteries of Mum’s old recipes. It’s made in a swiss roll tin, a tray that has slightly raised edges (about 2 to 3cm deep) and has dimensions of roughly 23 x 33xm, so it’s hardly a tart, more of a slice really, but who can argue with their Mother….
DUTCH TART
Rub 60g butter into 1 cup plain flour. Mix to a stiff paste with milk. Roll out to fit swiss roll tin. Spread with raspberry jam. Top with cake mixture.
Cake mixture: 5 tablespoons butter, ½ cup sugar, 1 cup self raising flour, ½ cup milk, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 1 teaspoon mixed spice, 1 tablespoon chopped dates, 1 tablespoon sultanas, 2 tablespoons walnuts. Cream butter & sugar. Add sifted flour and spices, mix in dried fruits and walnuts and milk. Spread on top of pastry. Bake moderate oven 180o for 30 mins. When cool spread over lemon icing.
This a classic slice recipe, not just for my family, but for many Australian families. I’ve started with Mum’s original handwritten version and then added the typed version from my own recipe collection. On the side I’ve added the metric conversions. To be honest I’m not sure when Mum first started making it but I’ve dated it from the 1950s . I do know though that it still tastes great.
Biscuit and slice recipes that don’t require creaming the butter and sugar are always among my favourites. They are that much easier to make and usually use less bowls which equals less washing up, always a good thing. This is a simple recipe for Date Bars although I notice that the method misses out on adding the margarine – I’d just melt it and add it when mixing in the dates and walnuts.
When microwaves first appeared on the scene we were told you could cook anything in them and I think this recipe dates back to that time. I now find the microwave indispensible, but use it mainly as a tool to cook vegetables, melt butter or chocolate, defrost meat and to make white sauces. I found that the traditional oven was better for casseroles, roasts and baking in general, but there’s no denying this recipe would cook more quickly this way and could be worth trying.
Beb's Recipe Drawer 