diff --git a/C4/Letters.pm b/C4/Letters.pm
index ce8ffda7e1..bfcaacbe90 100644
--- a/C4/Letters.pm
+++ b/C4/Letters.pm
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@ use Koha::Patrons;
 use Koha::SMS::Providers;
 use Koha::SMTP::Servers;
 use Koha::Subscriptions;
+use Koha::Template::Plugin::KohaDates;
 
 use constant SERIALIZED_EMAIL_CONTENT_TYPE => 'message/rfc822';
 
@@ -638,6 +639,10 @@ sub GetPreparedLetter {
         $lang = shift @languages;
     }
 
+    $Template::Stash::SCALAR_OPS->{strftime} = sub {
+        return Koha::Template::Plugin::KohaDates->strftime(@_);
+    };
+
     $letter->{content} = _process_tt(
         {
             content    => $letter->{content},
diff --git a/Koha/Template/Plugin/KohaDates.pm b/Koha/Template/Plugin/KohaDates.pm
index d8c31beec5..e3f39c2eb2 100644
--- a/Koha/Template/Plugin/KohaDates.pm
+++ b/Koha/Template/Plugin/KohaDates.pm
@@ -67,4 +67,14 @@ sub tz {
     return C4::Context->tz->name;
 }
 
+sub strftime {    # used as TT virtual method for scalars, wrapper around DateTime counterpart
+    my ( $self, $value, $format, $locale ) = @_;
+    my $dt = eval { dt_from_string($value) };
+    if ($dt) {
+        $dt->set_locale($locale) if $locale;
+        return $dt->strftime($format);
+    }
+    return $value;
+}
+
 1;