Chocolate squaresI made some yummy chocolate squares this week. Tucking into some soft chocolate sponge topped with luscious chocolate spread has to be the ideal way to celebrate the National Chocolate Week – or any week for that matter...
Sponge 6 large eggs 170 g (¾ cup) xylitol 40 g (⅓ cup) cocoa powder 70 g ground almonds (½ cup almond meal) 30 g Doves Farm gluten-free white bread flour blend (3 tsbp King Arthur gluten-free multi-purpose flour) 1 tsp gluten-free baking powder ¼ tsp salt 1 tsp vanilla extract Topping 100 g (⅔ cup) dark xylitol chocolate 3 tbsp xylitol 1 tsp vanilla extract 150 g (⅔ cup) cream cheese* (for example, Philadelphia or Lactofree) 1. Pre-heat the oven to 190C/375F/gas mark 5. Line a high-sided 33 cm x 26 cm (13 inch x 10 inch) cake tin (a roasting tin will work fine as well) with non-stick baking paper. 2. Sift the cocoa powder, ground almonds (almond meal), gluten-free flour, baking powder and salt into a bowl. Set aside. 3. Put the eggs and the xylitol into a large bowl and whisk with an electric whisk until the volume triples. 4. Fold in the vanilla extract and the dry ingredients. 5. Pour into the baking tin and spread evenly. Bake for about 25 minutes until a skewer inserted into the middle of the sponge comes out clean. 6. While the sponge is in the oven, make the topping. Put the chocolate, xylitol and vanilla extract into a heat-proof bowl and balance it over a saucepan which has some water in it. Heat gently to melt the chocolate. Stir occasionally. 7. When the chocolate has melted, take off the heat. Add the cream cheese and mix thoroughly. Put into a refrigerator for the time being. 8. Take the sponge out of the oven and let it cool to room temperature. 9. Spread the chocolate topping over the sponge. Cut into squares. * Substitutions If you want to make lactose-free squares, use lactose-free cream cheese (e.g. Lactofree soft white cheese) instead of ordinary cream cheese. Copyright © Tarja Moles. Photograph © Tarja Moles. All rights reserved. If you'd like to use this recipe in your ezine or on your website, you’re welcome to do so as long as you use the complete recipe, including the copyright line, and include the following paragraph in its entirety: Tarja Moles is the author of No Naughties: Sweet Treats without Sugar, Wheat, Gluten and Yeast. Visit www.nonaughties.com for free recipes and information on special diets and living with multiple dietary restrictions. Back to Recipes |
Serves 10-12 Gluten-free Wheat-free Sugar-free Yeast-free Soya-free Peanut-free Corn-free Vegetarian Lactose-free* |