Base
2 cups chopped dates
½ cup crystallised ginger, roughly chopped
½ cup water
1 cup chopped walnuts
125g butter, softened
1 cup brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1½ cups standard flour
½ cup fine rolled oats
2 tsp baking powder

Icing
2 tbsp butter
2-3 tsp ground ginger
2 heaped tbsp golden syrup
2 cups icing sugar

1. Heat oven 180ºC with the rack just below the middle. Line base and sides of slice pan with baking paper.

2. Place dates and ginger in a covered nonstick pan with water. Stand over high heat until water boils rapidly. After 2 minutes, stir fruit carefully, then leave lid off until water evaporates. Take pan off heat and stand in cold water. Stir in chopped walnuts.

3. Mix butter and sugar thoroughly in a food processor or bowl. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Add dry ingredients and mix until combined. Tip mixture into the cooked date mixture. Stir to mix, then pour into the prepared baking pan. Bake for about 30 minutes or until a skewer in the centre comes out clean.

4. For icing, warm the butter, ginger and golden syrup in pan until melted. (Do not boil.) Remove from heat. Add sifted icing sugar and beat well until smooth, adding enough water to make a spreadable consistency. Ice while slice is warm but not hot. Decorate with extra sliced ginger and walnuts, if desired. When icing is set, cut the slice into fingers with a sharp knife.