This was one of the most disappointing things I have ever baked. I don’t know what I did wrong but it was very time consuming and very ugly. My second (top) shortbread layer split and I had to patch it up a abit. But hey, it tasted delicious but I won’t be making this again any time soon.

Adapted from “Ladies, a Plate” by Alexa Johnston..

shortcake:

170g/6oz butter
115g/4oz sugar
1 egg
250g/2 cups flour
1 tbsp cocoa
1 tsp baking powder

caramel filling:

390g/1 tin condensed milk
100g/4 tbsp golden syrup
115g/4oz butter
1/2 cup sugar
vanilla to taste

icing:

120g/1 cup icing sugar
2 tbsp cocoa
1 tbsp butter

Preheat the oven to 400F/200C and line a 12×8 tin. Make the filling by combining filling ingredients in a saucepan over low heat until all mixed together.

Cream the butter and sugar together and beat in the egg. Add the sifted dry ingredients and vanilla and mix to a dough. Divide in half and chill for about 15 minutes.

Roll one half out and place in the prepared tin. Pour over the caramel filling. Roll out the second half and place on top.

Bake for 20 minutes of until firm on top. Ice while hot with the chocolate icing, made by combining the icing sugar and cocoa with the butter (melted) and enough hot water to make spreadable. I think a better option would be melted chocolate.

My rolling skills are poor!!

Recipe link – I mixed the walnuts in instead of putting them on top accidentally.

So I have been asked to make a slice for an event coming up. “Any slice will do”. Any slice?? There is like a thousand different slices, that are all awesome. How am I meant to choose??

The way that is best, especially considering I am on a no-eating-baking kick, I will make some slices and take them to my family to vote. I know this family is kind of crazy on the high calorie foods so I’m gonna skip the fruity/lemon/blueberry crumb bars all together… I hope this is a good decision!!

Tonight I will be making:

• Caramel Mocha Nut Slice
• Caramel White Chocolate Macadamia Slice
• Coffee Toffee Bars
• Florentine Slice

I really want to try out Nanaimo bars but I think they don’t quite keep up with the standards of the rest. My flatties and family are gonna be stoked with the leftovers…. off to the supermarket to buy CALORIES kthxbai

edit: decided against caramel white choc macadamia.. maybe next time…

1 cup flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup dessicated coconut
125g butter (melted)

1 can (375g) sweetened condensed milk
2 tablespoons golden syrup
30 grams butter

150g chocolate

preheat oven to 180 degrees centigrade.
combine first 5 ingredients and mix well. press into a lined 20×25cm pan or similar and bake for 10 minutes or until lightly golden.
heat next 3 ingredients in a saucepan, bring to boil and stir for 5 minutes trying not to burn it.
pour over the base and bake for a further 10 minutes.
remove from oven and cool. melt chocolate and pour over the top, smoothing evenly. cool and cut.

Ew excuse crap photo from a crap camera

I finally found my recipe that I used to make these for Christmas 07, so glad because I have been searching for it like crazy on the internet nearly every day since!! Pics taken 07/12/08

base
1 cup self raising flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 cup dessicated coconut
125g butter, melted
2 tablespoons strong coffee
140g chopped walnuts

caramel
2 x 395g sweetened condensed milk
250g brown sugar (1 1/4 cups firmly packed)
125g butter
2 tablespoons strong coffee

ganache
270g dark chocolate
1/4 cup cream
1 tablespoon strong coffee

Preheat oven to 180°C. Line the base and sides of a 30cm x 20cm slice pan with baking paper.
Sift the flour and baking powder into a bowl. Add the brown sugar, coconut, butter and coffee and stir well.
Press the mixture into the pan and bake until golden, about 15 minutes. Cool slightly then sprinkle over the chopped walnuts.
Place the condensed milk, brown sugar, butter and coffee in a saucepan and stir over low heat until thickened, about 10 minutes. KEEP STIRRING, I burnt this quite badly the first time I made it, but it still tasted awesome
Spread the caramel mixture over the base. Return to the oven for 10-12 minutes until bubbling around the edges. Cool completely.
Combine the ganache ingredients in a saucepan and cook over a low heat until melted. Cool slightly before spreading evenly over the top. Refridgerate to set. Cut into slices to serve.
Makes 20 large slices.

From a foodtown magazine, no idea which issue!! (ripped it out)