Thursday, October 11, 2012

Hedgehog Slice

There are countless hedgehog slice recipes floating around the world, the recipe that I normally use contains eggs, I have been know to forget to add the eggs in the past and find myself mixing them in at the last moment in a desperate attempt to make good of the recipe. I was delighted to learn that this recipe does not have eggs, a breath of fresh air in my book, knowing that i will not be able to make a mess of it is also simple and fool proof, just the way I like my recipes, no complicated jargon or elaborate processes, just simple and care free.

My first encounter of hedgehog slice was out of a tiny little cookbook produced by the CWA in a small community in South West Victoria called Simpson, a farming town with a pub, a convenience store and two churches. I can remember sitting in the kitchen reading through this book filled with old recipes like mock chicken and passion fruit cordial, I can remember making the hedgehog and believe you me, if I could screw up a recipe any more than I did it would have been a miracle. It is funny the memories that stick with you, that recipe and a small town called Simpson is one of them.

My husband Fred can't stop eating the final product, this coming from a man that is not fussed on sweet treats, I know I have hit a winner with him when he asks why I didn't bring him a slice when I sit next to him on the couch eating my chocolaty treat.

Have fun baking this old favourite everyone, better still get your children involved, let them smash the biscuits with a rolling pin and stir the chocolate mixture in the bowl, you could go one better and even let them lick the spoon.. or you could share the spoon.. maybe a little.. or even hoard it all for yourself.





 

INGREDIENTS
250g pkt plain biscuits
1/2 cup (40g) desiccated coconut
1/2 cup (55g) coarsely chopped walnuts
2 tbsp cocoa
1 cup (150g) dark chocolate melts
100g butter, chopped
395g can condensed milk

CHOCOLATE TOPPING


1 1/2 cups (225g) dark chocolate melts
1 tbsp vegetable oil



METHOD

 

  1. Grease and line base and long sides of a 28cm x 18cm lamington pan.
  2. Place biscuits in a snap-lock bag; squeeze out excess air; place on a hard surface; hit with a rolling pin until biscuits are crushed.
  3. In a large bowl, combine biscuits, coconut, walnuts and cocoa; set aside.
  4. In a small saucepan , stir dark melts, butter and condensed milk together over low heat for 4 - 5 minutes until the mixture is melted and well combined. Cool slightly. Stir mixture into reserved dry ingredients.
  5. Press mixture firmly into prepared pan; refrigerate for 30 minutes or until firm.
  6. TO MAKE CHOCOLATE TOPPING: place chocolate melts in a microwave safe bowl; microwave uncovered on MEDIUM for 1 minute; stir. Repeat process in 30 second intervals until melted, add oil and stir until smooth; spread over slice. Refrigerate for 30 minutes until set. Using a hot knife, cut slice into squares.

HANDY HINT
Instead of chopping walnuts, I buy the bakers walnuts which are already chopped, it saves time and fussing.

Let me know how you went, did you like it as much as I did?

8 comments:

  1. The butter qty is missing from ingredients, step 4 says place melts, butter and condensed milk on low heat...

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  2. Have finally found the perfect hedgehog recipe! Love the consistency so much more than the egg version. Everyone loved it, didnt last long though (eaten!) Thanks, Meg

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  3. I didn't use nuts, just added more coconut. Easy and quick recipe. Love it, thank you.

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  4. I have two questions for you. (1) What are “plain biscuits” in America-speak? Are they like a Nice biscuit or a butter cookie or ?; (2) are chocolate melts like chocolate chips or are they like the flat chocolate discs that we melt and use to make candy or to glaze fruit in US?
    Hope you or one of your commenters can help me understand what these ingredients would be in the US because hedgehogs definitely sound like something my family would love! Thanks.

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    Replies
    1. any biscuit that is plain with no cream in it, i use milk arrowroot, choc melts are chocolate you melt for candy i use nestle melts

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    2. Plain biscuits in American speak anything the tastes a bit like McDonald's cookies. So just a plain vanilla tasting bicky

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