Desserts Recipes - Vanilla Slice Recipe

Preheat the oven to 210°C/425°F/Gas mark 7.

Grease 2 baking trays and line the base and sides of a shallow 23cm/9in square cake tin with aluminum foil, leaving the foil hanging over on 2 opposite sides.

Divide the pastry in half, roll each piece to a 25cm/10in square about 3mm/1/8in thick and place each one on a baking tray.

Prick all over with a fork and bake for 8 minutes. Trim each pastry sheet to a 23cm/9in square. Place one sheet top­side down in the cake tin.

Combine the sugar, corn flour and custard powder in a saucepan. Gradually add the cream and stir until smooth. Place over a medium heat and stir constantly for 2 minutes, or until the mixture boils and thickens.

Add the butter and vanilla essence and stir until smooth. Remove from the heat and whisk in the egg yolks until combined.

Spread the custard over the pastry in the tin and cover with the remaining pastry, top-side down. Allow to cool.

To make the icing, blend all the ingredients in a mixing bowl. Lift the slice out, using the foil as handles, spread the icing over the top and leave it to set before carefully cutting into squares.