Chocolate and caramel slice

This recipe is from Exclusively food, a great website with many tempting recipes that I wish to try. This recipe has been calling to me for a while - I love caramel. I cannot begin to describe how amazing the base smelt while baking... the irresistible combination of butter, brown sugar and coconut. 

While the recipe is a three step process, it is a really easy slice to make with great results. Everyone loves this slice.

Ingredients:

Base
1/2 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
2/3 cup desiccated coconut
2/3 cup self-raising flour
85g butter, melted

Caramel centre
30g butter
2 tablespoons golden syrup
1 can sweetened condensed milk
 

Chocolate topping
150g milk or dark chocolate
1 tsp oil

Method:
Preheat oven to 160 degrees Celsius (fan-forced). Grease and line a 20cm square cake pan. I like to create an overhang with the baking paper to ensure easy removal of the slice from the pan once baked.

Base
Add the brown sugar, coconut, and flour in a large bowl and stir lightly until well combined. Add in the melted butter and stir to combine before pressing the mixture into prepared pan - a back of a spoon or your fingertips are the easiest ways.

Pop in the oven and bake for 10-12 minutes, or until lightly golden on outside and slightly puffed in the centre.

Set it aside to cool while you make the caramel.

Caramel filling
You can do the caramel a couple of ways, either in a saucepan or in the microwave.

Saucepan - Over medium heat add butter and golden syrup to a small heavy-based saucepan and stir occasionally. Add the condensed milk once the butter has melted and stir continuously for about 10-12 minutes. Mine was done it 10 - is is ready when the caramel has thickened.

Carefully spread this over the base and put it back in the oven for 10-12 minutes. Again, mine was done in 10. It is done when the caramel has darkened around the outside, forming a 1/2 cm frame.

Leave to cool.

Chocolate topping

Chop the chocolate into small pieces and put in a microwave safe bowl. Microwave on medium for a minute. Check and stir. Microwave in 30 bursts on medium until melted. Be careful not to burn it. Stir in oil. The oil makes the chocolate easier to slice through once set.

Apple crumble slice for Dad

Dad has relatively simple tastes when it comes to baked goods. Chocolate (no white chocolate), banana or apple cinnamon.

This apple crumble slice can be served hot or cold. It has a buttery biscuit base, apple and cinnamon filling, with a brown sugar and cinnamon crumble topping. It is definitely not a pretty slice - the topping making it a little messy to serve, but it smelt great baking in the oven.

Ingredients:

Apple filling
3 apples, peeled, cored and finely chopped
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 tablespoon cinnamon
2 tablespoons cornflour
4-5 tablespoons butter

Base
1 1/2 cups plain flour
1/3 cup sugar
Pinch of salt
1/2 cup butter

Crumble topping
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/3 cup plain flour
1/4 cup unsalted butter
1 tsp cinnamon

Method:

Melt butter in pan and add apples, stirring for two minutes. Add sugar, stir until dissolved. Add cinnamon and stir thoroughly, then add corn flour to thicken. Cook for a further five to seven minutes. You want to have the apples just cooked - not soft and mushy. Keep warm while you make the base. you want to add this to the base straight from the oven.

Preheat the oven to 176 degrees C. Grease and line a 20 x 20 cm cake pan. Cut the baking paper bigger than the baking pan so you have some overhang for easy removal of the slice after baking.

For the base, place the flour, salt and sugar in a large bowl and whisk to combine. Add the butter and use an electric beater on low to mix until it resembles sandy crumbs. Use your hands if it's easier!


Tip the mixture into the baking pan and use your fingers to press the mixture evenly into the bottom of the pan. Pop in the oven and bake for 16-20 minutes, until golden brown at the edges. Watch closely after 15 minutes, but mine took closer to 20.

While the base is baking, get the crumble mixture ready. Mix butter, sugar, flour and cinnamon in a small bowl. You want to pour the mixture onto the base while still warm from the oven, so have it ready! Spread apple evenly over base. Sprinkle the crumble on top.

Return to the oven and bake for another 10-15 minutes, until crumble is golden. Leave to cool before slicing.