I love to bake but I also like to keep it simple in the kitchen so if I can find a shortcut I use it! Can you see a theme with my food recipes? Sweets are my favourite thing to cook in the kitchen, I do make savoury recipes but making sweets feels therapeutic.
I don’t know who owns SAO these days (is it still Australian owned?), but to me a SAO biscuit is ‘Aussie AS’. My after school snacks most days throughout the 80’s were a plate of SAO biscuits with lashings of butter and Vegemite or peanut butter. Squishing two together so the filling oozed out in little tendrils was mandatory and then I’d lick them off. When my boys were little they would have a SAO with fritz and tomato sauce, that is until I started making vanilla slice with them…now it’s the only way they will eat a SAO.
Vanilla slice! Uhuh I married a guy who is extremely partial to custard, he also likes green cordial…I think being 8 must hold great memories for him LOL. If I make him a custard tart or vanilla slice then he’s happy as a pig in shitand I can pretty much have him wrapped around my little finger…as long as I have a good supply!
So how do you make vanilla slice with SAO biscuits? Easy…here’s how…
HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED…
Packet of SAO biscuits (yes you can use the homebrand ones)
Custard powder.
4-6 tablespoons of castor sugar (sweeten to taste)
Vanilla.
750mls cold milk.
LET’S MAKE THIS…
Make up custard powder according to directions…for 750 ml of milk I add about 7 tablespoons of custard, you want it to end up thick and yellow when cooked.
Add sugar and vanilla and stir well.
Simmer on the stovetop or cook in the microwave until thick…I choose microwave! You may need extra custard depending on the size of your tin, leftovers won’t go astray.
If using the microwave cook for a few minutes then remove and stir well then pop back in microwave. Repeat until thick. Then grab a whisk and give it a few beats to ensure consistency is evenly smooth.
Line a square cake tin or slice tray with SAO biscuits. I use this old battered tin that fits 9 very well (takes a good amount of custard), you might have a bit of left over space or gaps but that’s ok, the custard will fill them and you can trim excess when cool. Make sure the sides of the tin are high enough for your slice because no one likes a streamlined skinny custard slice! NO ONE!
Now pour custard over the back of a spoon to cover the biscuits, keep the spoon low ( in contact with biscuits) so the custard doesn’t force biscuits to move around too much.
Make sure you keep note of roughly where biscuits are because now you are going to pop the tops on, add SAO biscuits over the top so you have a base then custard and a top. See pic. If your biscuits move just guide them back into place with a knife.
Cover with cling film and let stand until cool enough to pop in the fridge. The clingfilm will trap some steam and help to soften the biscuits. The longer you leave the slice before eating the softer the SAO gets…perfection.
Onto the icing.
Make a bowl of your favourite icing, I make a butter icing using 1 1/2 cups of icing mix and roughly 125 g of good real butter, I prefer a local organic butter. Now beat with a wooden spoon until it starts coming together. Add a dash of vanilla and a dash of milk ( I use full fat) then beat well. If your mix is too runny add more icing mix to thicken it.
Once slice is set ( 4 hrs or overnight) remove from fridge and while still in the pan spread the icing over the top. We don’t like lots of icing so only spread a thin layer then top with shredded coconut ( great texture with the smooth custard)
Return to fridge for an hour then slice, you will feel where the biscuit squares are, use them as a guide. Once the first one is out of the pan it’s easy. Trim edges of excess custard and serve with a cuppa.
What do you think?…will you give them a go?
Happy Straya Day for tomorrow.
Hi Jen
Your custard slice looks SO good. Reminded of a friend who used Arnotts Lattice biscuits instead of the Sao. Love your blog and think you are one inspiring lady. Happy Straya Day yourself!
Thanks Rhondda I’m going to try making them with lattice biscuits x
you’ve got those custard squares nailed jen!
my ex mother-in-law used to make them, she was a custard queen!
my ex loved them and green cordial too!?!?
I’m not a sweet tooth! … but like to look at sweets1 soo pretty!
my mother loved making sweets! never anything bought!
and love dark chocolate! had to ween myself off after christmas treats!
lol m:)X
Sweets are sooo pretty Merilyn! X
On my goodness. That slice looks amazeballs. I love custard – I often whip it up in the Thermomix – it’s so easy! I’m definitely going to put these on my list to try. Vanilla Slice is the best!
Thermomix…nice one Sam! Let me know how you go x
Nom nom nom perfect to share for Aussie day n so simples ☆
Uh uh, yummy Jen x
Jen you are just amazing! I understand why you have the perfect family, it is through your baking!
Another great recipe that I will have to try. Thank you for sharing, <3
Thanks June, the family are pretty great but were not perfect LOL. Xx
I use 6 tabs custard powder, 2 tabs raw sugar & vanilla extract with 1 litre of milk; makes a thick mixture. Have used Lattice a biscuits, but they take a lot longer to be ‘cutable’. Use milk coffee biscuits successfully now. With chocolate icing & sprinkles. Very easy and very popular.
Thanks Tania I’ll have to try with different biscuits
I’ve never seen this before what a revelation! x
Make them Erin
My Mum loved this recipe,such fond memories of these. Will have to give it go. Thanks for reminding myself on how good they arexxx
What a lovely memory Maggie. I hope you make them x
thanks Jen, will try this when I am home. I used a similar recipe some years back, but using a small packet of egg custard..this sounds just as good and easy..lol..
OOhh, I tell you, this Melbourne city is bad, bad, bad..wasn’t supposed to be a buying trip at all, but three pair of shoes later!!!!..lol..off to brunch and a movie tomorrow, with eldest son, while hubby and youngest sone enjoy their last day of tennis. Happy Straya Day Jen, to you and your family..xx
Tennis and shoe shopping you are livin the dream Ann! Enjoy your brunch and movie x
Yum! Ive been doing it this way for years. Except I use one of the Cottee’s pudding packets and betty crocker icing. SO easy and delicious. Always a hit x
Oh my gosh Jenni !! Yum – am so going to make these. Thank you !! Hope you & your family had a fab day x
Thanks Gaye, we did x
Just came across this old favourite. Took me back to my childhood. My mum used to make this Sao Vanilla slide with pink icing and coconut. I used generic cracker biscuits and I am now just waiting for it to cool down. Thanks again for the recipe. Regards from one Jen to another.
Yum my favourite dessert slice – have not tried Sao only lattice but I’m willing to change.
I think I’ll whip up a batch tomorrow.