Slice recipes your granny will want to steal

Biscuits can be fiddly, cakes downright intimidating, but a slice is nice.

Source: Jiwon Kim

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There's a reason why slice recipes get passed down from generation to generation. You can have a slice mixed and in the oven in mere moments. No-bake versions don't even need the oven. Grandmothers across every culture have known this since forever. Most will have a few versatile slice recipes up their sleeve (alongside the requisite hanky) to pull out for unexpected company; hot days when it's too sticky to bake; a quick afternoon tea to celebrate a win; or to make for a Sunday morning treat with a cup of chai.

If you're advised to "press firmly into the tin", you know you're making a good slice, granny-style. Be sure to share these recipes with yours.

Gur cake

In the early twentieth century, a square of gur cake from the baker would set you back a halfpenny. Source: Donal's Kitchen Hero

Use your stale bread to make this Dublin favourite. The prepared bread forms layers that sandwich a sweet, fruity mix. After an hour in the oven, the stale bread is transformed into a dense pastry that provides just the right amount of give when you bite into this moreish slice.

Marshmallow chocolate crackle

Combine melted marshmallow, vanilla, butter and a few other choice ingredients and spread into the tin. Source: The Chocolate Queen

This no-bake chocolate sweet is everything we love about a slice. It's like chocolate crackles went for a stroll and decided to take the easy rocky road. That road leads to an afternoon treat that takes ten minutes tops to prepare.

Louise cake

Rumour has it that Louise cake was created to honour the wedding of Queen Victoria's daughter, Princess Louise in 1871. Source: Alan Benson

This is one that Kiwi nannas will already know. Anyone who grew up in the land of the long white cloud will no doubt have happy memories of this treasured slice. It's a symphony in three parts - a biscuit base of buttery shortbread, and a generous smothering of jam, both topped off with crispy coconut meringue.

Chocolate orange panforte

Panforte is a delectable combination of dried fruits, nuts, spices, honey and, if you are lucky, chocolate. Source: SBS Food

Panforte may translate as "strong bread", but if it bakes like a slice and cuts like a slice, it's a slice, right? As soon as we see the instructions "press firmly into the tin", it's a fair call. Panforte also shares all the humble convenience of a good slice: it's quick and easy to prepare, it's unbelievably good to eat, and it keeps for a month in the pantry.

Sri Lankan love cake

This family favourite calls on preserved pumpkin and lime zest to seal the deal. Source: Sharyn Cairns

Billed as 'cake' but meeting all the criteria for a good slice, the love cake dates back to the Sri Lankan ancient spice trade. The cake itself is made from semolina and many eggs, creating a fragrant, sweet, lightly spiced cake with a moist chewy inside and a crunchy exterior.

Apricot slice

Snack on some guilt-free apricot slice and leave refined-sugary sweets behind! Source: Jacqui Small / Lisa Linder

Danish abrikosskiver is made with a mix of dates, dried apricots, coconut and hazelnuts blended with a little honey and coconut oil. You pretty much throw the lot into a food processor and blitz it. Then do the slice thing and press it into a tin and leave it to set in the fridge.

Chana magaj

This buttery, biscuit-like slice is often served at Hindu festivals. Source: Alan Benson

Chana magaj is sweet, spiced, and textured, the perfect accompaniment to a cup of masala chai. A taste of this sweet slice will whisk you away to the bustling, sandalwood-scented temples of India in a heartbeat.

Nut slice

Source: Jiwon Kim

This isn't the kind of slice your oma/gran/baa-baa would be familiar with, so we think it's time you introduced her. With an amaretti biscuit base, mixed nuts, cardamom and a splash of brandy, this indulgent treat makes for sophisticated snacking or a delightful after-dinner sweet.

White chocolate, blackberry and rosemary mud slice

This slice will quickly help you appreciate the potential of vegetarian and raw cooking. Source: Hardie Grant Books

Often the boundary between cake and slice is nicely blurred. This raw food slice is the perfect example - it's poured, rather than pressed, into the tin, but it still comes out low and lovely and ready for slicing. There's a full tin of butter beans in this recipe, so it's an excellent example of health-meets-indulgence, too.

Merle's slice

CWA champion baker, Merle Parrish, knows a thing or two about a good slice. Source: Merle Parrish

It wouldn't be a true slice list without including at least one Country Women's Association recipe. Merle Parrish's slice is quintessentially CWA, too. It's completely addictive, made with pantry ingredients, and budget-friendly and the lemon drizzle icing gives it that little bit extra.

And while talking citrus, we must not forget Adam Liaw's key lime slice.

Key lime slice

Source: Jiwon Kim

Inspired by the beloved Australian classic slice and the popular American pie made with key limes (also known as Mexican limes or West Indian limes), this refreshing dessert combines zesty citrus flavours with a rich, buttery crust for a unique fusion of taste and tradition.

Apple and sour cream slice

Likely unnecessary information, but you can store leftover apple slice for up to four days. Source: Matthew Evans

Fruit goes so well in a slice and apples are always a favourite. Matthew Evan's slice combines them with sour cream to up the sweet-tart flavour of this great afternoon tea pleaser.

Semolina slice

This recipe uses mahlab, a powerful spice with notes of bitter almond and cherry to add extra dimension. Source: Alan Benson

This is where slice meets dessert because you could happily serve this one for afters at a dinner party. An aromatic sugar syrup, made with rosewater and orange blossom water, lends the yoghurt and semolina slice a heady fragrance.

Rice bar

Race ready with your rice slice. Source: Velochef, Hardie Grant Books

The darling of cyclists for years, salt rice bars are little energy houses, presumably to fuel you smashing the Tour de France. If that's not quite your thing, we can assure you they make a delicious, nutrient-packed treat for us everyday folk too. There's also a savoury version with added bacon right here.

Vanilla slice

Vanilla slice is deceptively simple to make - and utterly delicious when you do. Source: Alan Benson

Despite not mentioning those all-important "press into the tin" words, no self-respecting slice list (for there are surely many) would fail to mention the delightfully sweet and custard-y vanilla slice. So we did.

And if you're a vanilla slice enthusiast, then the next is a must-try.

Lake Bled vanilla slice

Source: Jiwon Kim

This is a recreation of Slovenia's famous Bled cream cake (sold by Lake Bled) by Hayley Thorncraft (owner of Burnt Honey Bakery) , which strongly resembles the Australian vanilla slice – only with a thick layer of Chantilly cream.

Hot chocolate and vanilla marshmallow slice

Source: Jiwon Kim

You can never go wrong with the combination of hot chocolate and marshmallows. Paying homage to your childhood memories, these biscuit slices are sure to be a snack that all Aussies will love.