Raw Strawberry Cream Slice with Almond Brownie Base

Prep time- 20 mins, plus soaking and freezing time
Serves 8-10

Ingredients
Base:
1 1/3 cup blanched almond meal
1/3 cup cacao powder (or cocoa)
1/2 cup shredded coconut
10 Medjool dates, pitted
2 Tbsp coconut oil, melted*

Strawberry Cream Filling:
2 cups raw cashews, soaked 4 hours
1 cup fresh strawberries, hulled
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
1/2 cup coconut milk
1/4 cup coconut oil, melted*
2 Tbsp pure maple syrup (optional)
To serve; 1 punnet strawberries

Method
Grease and line a 8 inch square cake tin, and set aside.
Add almond meal, cacao and coconut to a food processor and pulse to form an even crumb. Add dates and coconut oil, and pulse until you have a sticky dough. Press base into lined pan, taking time to ensure you get an even layer. Set aside.
Drain cashews, then place in blender with remaining filling ingredients. Blend on high until silky smooth, then pour over base.
Freeze slice for 2 hours, then move to the fridge to set overnight. When you're ready to serve, top with chopped, fresh strawberries (you can press the berries into the filling, or simply layer on top**), then slice and enjoy.
Melt coconut oil over a low flame, and allow to cool for 5 minutes before using in the recipe

As the cut berries will only last 12 hours, it is recommended to only serve as needed. The slice will last for 4-5 days in an air-tight container in the fridge, without the fresh berries.

Queensland Strawberry Growers: "Help Make September Strawesome"

A 'perfect storm' of weather conditions in Queensland's key growing regions has meant there is now an abundance of fresh strawberries available for Aussies to enjoy. 

A series of unseasonably warm, dry and sunny days followed by cool crisp nights has seen strawberries flood supermarket shelves as prices plummet. 

• Combined July and August rainfall 39.6mm vs. 107.6mm (long-term average) 
• Since 8 July – only 10.4mm of rain total
• July average daily maximum temps >1C above long-term averages, August average daily temps 0.6C above long-term averages

This data indicates warmer than average days, with 2/3 less rainfall than usual resulting in large quantities of high-quality berries available. 

Growers are expecting one million punnets per day to leave farms day over the next three weeks. That's seven million punnets a week – laid end to end, that's enough to stretch to the moon and back. 

While consumers will be cheering, strawberry growers are asking Australians to pop an extra punnet or two in their trolleys to help move this short shelf life fruit and show their support for the industry. 

"The strawberries we're supplying are sweet, juicy and in abundance, but the cooler weather down south has seen demand drop. Strawberries are so versatile and also freeze well – take advantage of the price and try a strawberry salsa to accompany meat or fish, or add them to your morning smashed avo with a drizzle of balsamic glaze," said South East Queensland strawberry grower Laura Wells. 

"Strawberries are also packed with vitamin C and folate to help your immunity so they're the perfect snack for your family." 

Facebook.com/QldStrawberries