Autumn Harvest – Apple, Pear and Orange Chocolate Slice

Celebrate autumn’s bounty of plums, apples and pears with these beautiful desserts.

Serves: 8-12
Preparation time: 25 mins plus cooking time

Ingredients:

• 2 apples, peeled, cored, diced
• 2 pears, peeled, cored, diced
• juice and zest of 1 large orange
• 100g butter
• 100g golden syrup
• 450g dark chocolate, chopped
• 200g shortbread biscuits
• 100g pistachio nuts, chopped
• 100g hazelnuts, toasted and chopped
• cocoa to dust

Preparation:

1. Grease and line a 1L loaf pan with baking paper.
2. Cook the fruit, juice and zest in a saucepan for 15 minutes or until the fruit is soft and the juice is syrupy.
3. Add the butter, syrup and chocolate. Stir until the chocolate is melted and the mixture is well combined.
4. Add the remaining ingredients, except the cocoa. Stir until they’re all well mixed and coated in chocolate.
5. Press the mixture into the pan and refrigerate for 5 hours, preferably overnight, until the mixture is set.
6. To serve: Unmould the slice, dust with cocoa and slice with a knife that’s been dipped in boiling water. Serve with coffee.

TIP: This will keep for up to one week in the fridge. You can wrap any leftover and freeze for up to six months.