Chocolate Cherry Slice : Free and Easy Bake-Along #12, Theme

"Chocolate and Cherries" is the Theme for our Bake-Along. We are free to bake anything as long as there are chocolates and cherries. I wanted to bake a cherry pie initially but decided to bake Chocolate Cherry Slice instead. I'm happy that I did, these are so, so, addictive!

These are so goood , stopping at one slice is so hard! The minute I took a bite, it reminds me of some Cherry Coconut Chocolate which a friend bought back from Australia decades ago! I have not eaten it since then, and this delicious slice truly reminds me of that!

As usual, I reduced the sugar to only half, and it is just right, as the milk chocolate is already sweet, believe me, you would not miss out on the other half of the sugar. I did add on about 1/2 teaspoon of orange essence, just so that it would smell nice and to cover the eggy smell, if any, as there is no vanilla extract required in the recipe.

The only thing is, I would add on more cherries the next time I make this, yes, I will make this again! 1/4 cup of cherries are definitely not enough to scatter evenly throughout the pan. And my advise is to line the pan with aluminium foil with two opposite sides extended over for easy removal as once the slice is cool, the chocolate got stuck at the bottom and I have to reheat it in the oven for a short while to soften it before I could slice and transfer them out into a container.

Chocolate, Cherries and Coconut, they are so good together! Yummy!

I can't wait to see my baking buddies, Lena from Frozen Wings and Zoe from Bake For Happy Kids, what they are baking for Chocolate and Cherries bakes. Let's hop over and pay them a visit.

And I'm happy to inform that there will be a linky for all our Bake-Alongs. Feel free to join in and link your bakes at the linky below, and don't forget to leave a comment. We will visit you right back. The linky will stay open for five days. We do hope that you will join in, everyone's invited.

For our next Bake-Along, we will be baking Key Lime Cupcake, from Bon Appetit Dessert cookbook. If you do not have this book, you may get the recipe here. Please do join us in our Bake-Along. We will however be taking a short break and will post it on 21st November. You may refer to my side-bar for our "UPCOMING BAKE-ALONG", this is to provide ample time so that you can bake them anytime and post it on the dates indicated, linking to our linky.

Chocolate Cherry Slice
(adapted from "150 Delicious Squares" from Company's Coming Kitchen Workbooks)
Bottom Layer
8 oz (224gm) Milk (sweet chocolate), chopped

Top Layer
2 large eggs
1/2 cup granulated sugar (I use 1/4 cup)
1-1/2 cups shredded coconut (medium unsweetened coconut)
1/4 cup chopped red glace cherries
1/2 teaspoon orange essence (my addition)
Icing (confectioners') sugar, for dusting

Bottom Layer
Heat chocolate in small, heavy saucepan on lowest heat, stirring often, until chocolate is almost melted. Remove from heat. Stir until smooth. Spread evenly in greased 20x20cm (8x8inch) pan. Chill until firm.

Top Layer
Beat eggs and sugar (and orange essence) in medium bowl. Fold in coconut and cherries. Spread evenly over bottom layer. Bake in 175C (350F) oven for about 25 to 30 minutes until set and golden. Let stand in pan on wire rack until cool.
Just before serving, dust with icing sugar. Cuts into 25 squares.

This linky will stay open until 25/10/2011.