Peppermint slice

This peppermint slice is a traditional no bake deal with, good for after college snacks, bake gross sales, cookie plates and extra. It’s very easy to make with just some substances and has a scrumptious set of flavors.

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Whether you name them bars, tray bakes or slices, making an enormous chunk of one thing that you would be able to then divide into items is a useful manner of creating treats for a crowd.

You can scale them up or down, and adapt the scale of the items to fit your numbers. And in lots of case, like this one, they’re very easy, too. They work for events, picnics, bake gross sales, after college snacks and far more.

What is a slice?

Slices are basically what could be known as a bar cookie within the US, or a tray bake within the UK. You’ll discover a complete vary of slices in Australia the place they’re in style in bakeries as a deal with alongside your espresso or tea. They are available in many sorts, some baked (like my chocolate slice) whereas others aren’t any bake (like lemon slice).

Some are very a lot Australian, drawing inspiration from native candies and cookies, however others produce other origins, notably British. This chocolate peppermint bar is one that’s in style in Australia (in addition to neighboring New Zealand) however so far as I can inform is definitely Scottish in origin. I definitely bear in mind it rising up in Scotland.

That stated, will discover a couple variations between the variations you discover in each locations. In all circumstances, the essential composition is:

cookie-like base
gentle peppermint icing-like filling
chocolate topping.

The Australian model typically has a baked base, much like my chocolate slice, utilizing flour, butter and infrequently coconut. The Scottish model is often unbaked, beginning with crushed up plain biscuits/cookies resembling digestives.

Then whereas the following two layers are a lot the identical in most variations, you would possibly discover Scottish variations topped with mint Aero, a chocolate bar you may discover within the UK.

Ingredients in peppermint slice

This model is basically a Scottish model, however with a less complicated chocolate topping. All you want is:

Digestive biscuits, graham crackers or related – you want a plain biscuit/cookie to kind the majority of the bottom layer. A meals processor is ideal to make crumbs.
Butter – to carry collectively the crumbs and likewise a little bit within the peppermint layer to assist or not it’s a little bit richer.
Cocoa powder – so as to add a little bit chocolate taste to the bottom. Not all variations embrace this, however personally I really feel it is a good match.
Powdered sugar – aka confectioner’s sugar or icing sugar, the core ingredient for the icing-like peppermint layer. It appears rather a lot, however don’t be concerned, it decreased down.
Peppermint extract – this provides the intense peppermint taste to the center layer.
Green meals coloring – you need not use any, but it surely’s the colour most individuals count on with peppermint. I do not like so as to add that a lot, however you’ll be able to skip or add a little bit extra, to style.
Chocolate – chocolate brings this complete slice collectively, works completely with mint and isn’t actually a foul thought. I like to make use of a combination of darkish and semi-sweet chocolate for this. I do not advocate milk as will probably be too candy.
Neutral oil – that is non-compulsory, however just a bit helps the chocolate be a little bit simpler to chop with out cracking as a lot, and likewise provides a slight sheen.

Tips for making this tasty deal with

As I point out, that is very straightforward however just a few issues will assist it work nicely. First, be sure you line the baking pan/tray. This means you’ll be able to take the entire thing out as one piece, making it simpler to chop into items.

Then, be sure you give every layer time to sit back and agency up earlier than you add the following layer. This helps keep away from by chance spreading a number of the layer under into the following. Smooth every layer out as you go to assist them be even.

If you need to scale this down, a half-size will work in a dish about 7 ½ x 5 inches (19 x 14cm). To scale up, you need to use 1.5 instances this recipe, or double for barely thicker layers, to fill a 9 x 13 inch (23 x 33cm) pan.

This peppermint slice is a scrumptious mixture of biscuit/cookie base, gentle fondant-like filling and crisp chocolate. It’s really easy to make and a tasty deal with that is in style with each younger and previous. Bring it to a potluck, snack on it with a cup of tea or actually discover any excuse because it’s nicely value making and having fun with quickly.

Try these different tasty no bake treats:

I exploit this 9×9 inch square baking pan for this that works nicely (and has a lid, useful for storing any leftovers; affiliate hyperlink).

Print Recipe

This straightforward no bake deal with has a scrumptious mixture of chocolate, brilliant peppermint and crumbly cookie base.

Prep Time15 minutes

Cook Time5 minutes

chilling time (approx)2 hours

Total Time20 minutes

Course: Snack

Cuisine: Australian, British

Servings: 16 items, approx

Calories: 344kcal

Author: Caroline

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Ingredients

For base

8 oz digestive biscuits or graham crackers (see notes)
4 oz unsalted butter (4oz is 1 stick)
2 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tablespoon sugar

For peppermint filling/icing

3 cups confectioner’s sugar icing sugar
2 tablespoon unsalted butter softened, or melted then cooled
2 teaspoon peppermint extract can use a little bit roughly to style
2 tablespoon sizzling water approximate, or a little bit extra if wanted
2 drops inexperienced meals coloring can omit or use a little bit extra

For chocolate topping

10.5 oz darkish chocolate or eg half darkish, half semisweet
2 tablespoon vegetable oil or different impartial oil, non-compulsory (see notes)

Instructions

Lightly butter a baking pan/tin that is 9 x 9 in (23 x 23cm) and at the very least 1 in (2.5cm) deep. Line it with parchment, at the very least on the underside and two sides with slight overhang so you may have one thing to raise out when finished. The butter helps the parchment maintain in place.
Crush the cookies/biscuits in a meals processor. They ought to be comparatively superb crumbs. Add the cocoa powder and sugar and pulse to combine. Melt the butter (I discover microwave works nicely, round 20-30 seconds at a time then stir, however may also do on the range) and add. Blend so every little thing is nicely mixed. Scrape down and pulse once more if wanted. If you do not have a meals processor, you can even crush the cookies in a freezer bag with eg a rolling pin, then combine every little thing in a bowl.
Put the combination into the ready pan and press it down evenly, flattening the highest with a spatula or wood spoon. Refrigerate for at the very least half-hour earlier than including the frosting/icing layer.
When prepared, place the confectioner’s sugar right into a bowl and add the softened butter, peppermint extract and inexperienced coloring if utilizing. Add many of the sizzling water and blend nicely, including a little bit extra water if wanted. It ought to be comparatively thick however stirable/spreadable. Scoop the combination over the chilled base and unfold evenly, taking care to not combine crumbs into the icing. Chill for round half-hour or extra to agency up.
Melt the chocolate and oil collectively (I normally place within the microwave for 30-40 second intervals, stir, warmth once more then cease as soon as it’s nearly melted and soften the final utilizing the warmth within the dish). Pour the chocolate over the peppermint layer and unfold evenly, proper to the sides. Try to not over work the chocolate as you will simply make it extra uneven because it corporations up.
Place the pan within the fridge once more to harden for at the very least half-hour, if not nearer an hour, till the highest is dry and agency. Use the parchment across the edges to raise the entire block from the pan after which reduce into items. You could discover it useful to attain first and/or use a warmed knife to assist reduce the chocolate layer with out it cracking.

Notes

In the UK, digestive biscuits are about the most effective for this, and within the US if these should not accessible, then graham crackers work nicely. In Australia and elsewhere, if you cannot get digestives then Marie biscuits or different comparatively plain biscuit/cookie is your best option.
You haven’t got to incorporate oil within the topping, but it surely does assist to cut back the possibilities of the chocolate cracking as you slice. Alternatively, dip or run your knife in boiling water in between cuts to assist reduce by the chocolate layer with out too many cracks.
I used a 9x9in pan for this, however 8x8in (20x20cm) will even work with simply barely thicker layers.
You could make the peppermint layer with room temperature fairly than sizzling water, however will probably be a bit tougher to unfold. You extra need to press it in direction of the sides.