Traditional Peppermint Slice Food

PEPPERMINT TRAYBAKE

Steps:

• Generously grease a 28x18cm tray with butter and set aside. In a pan, melt the butter, sugar, cocoa and chocolate.
• Meanwhile, crush the disgestive biscuits, either in a sandwich bag with a rolling pin, or blitz in a blender. Add to the melted mixture and stir until combined.
• Transfer the base mixture to your prepared tray and using a wooden spoon, press the mixture into the tray, ensuring you get right into the corners and have an even finish. Place the base into the fridge to chill for 1 hour.
• Once the base has cooled, prepare the filling but sifting the icing sugar into a large bowl. Add 1 tsp of hot water at a time until you have a spreadable consistency; 3-4 tsp of water should be enough but add more or less as required.
• Add the peppermint extract and green food colouring (optional) to the icing and mix until well combined. Spread the icing evenly over the biscuit base and return to the fridge for another 1 hour to set.
• Once the filling has set, remove from the fridge and set aside. Over a bain marie (or in short bursts in the microwave) melt the dark chocolate before pouring and evenly spreading on top of the filling. If desired, top with some crushed Mint Aero.
• Allow the peppermint slice to set in the fridge for at least 1 hour but ideally overnight. Once set, cut into your desired size. To prevent chocolate from cracking, allow traybake to reach room temperature before cutting and use a knife soaked in boiling water.

PEPPERMINT SLICE

Steps:

• Pre-heat oven to moderate-hot (180 degrees celsius, fan-forced).
• Grease a slice tin (28 x 18cm) and line with baking paper, leaving extra on each side (to pull the slice from the tin once cooked).
• Mix all ingredients together. Press into slice tin and level out with the back of a spoon.
• Bake for 20 minutes.
• Beat butter until a pale colour.
• Add icing sugar gradually, beating after each addition. Beat until fluffy.
• Add peppermint essence and green colouring and beat again.
• Once base is completely cooled, spread peppermint filling evenly over the base.
• Melt chocolate by placing in microwave and heating with 20 second bursts (stirring between each burst).
• Pour melted chocolate over cream filling, tilting tin from corner to corner to spread chocolate completely over the peppermint filling.
• Place in fridge for 15-30 minutes. Ideally, the chocolate shouldn't be completely set when cutting (it will crack as you're cutting if it's too hard).
• Once set, remove slice from tin by lifting edges of baking paper, cut into squares and return to the fridge. (And if you've left the slice in the fridge for longer, just let the slice rest at room temperature for half an hour before cutting into squares.)