CHOCOLATE YULE LOGS
Makes 2
300g dark chocolate, chopped 100g butter, chopped
1 egg, lightly beaten
¹⁄³ cup caster sugar
2 tsp vanilla bean paste
125g pkt bite-size chocolate
wafer biscuits, halved
½ cup shelled pistachios
½ cup roasted, peeled hazelnuts ½ cup toasted almonds
1 tbsp Kahlua or Frangelico Icing sugar, for dusting
1. Place chocolate and butter in a medium glass heatproof bowl and place over a medium saucepan of gently simmering water, making sure bowl does not touch water. Stir until melted and smooth.
2. Add egg, sugar and vanilla. Cook, stirring, for about 5 minutes or until sugar has dissolved. Remove bowl from heat with dry tea towel.
3. Place biscuits and nuts in a large bowl. Add chocolate mixture and Kahlua. Stir until well combined. Place two 60cm-long pieces of plastic wrap on bench. Spoon mixture evenly along the centre of each piece of plastic wrap to form 25cm-long logs. Roll up to form logs. Twist ends and tie in knots to seal.
4. Place on a tray. Chill overnight. After the first hour, before chocolate has set, gently roll logs on bench to form round shape.
5. Unwrap and dust with icing sugar. Wrap in baking paper and twist the ends for a decorative gift. Keep refrigerated. Allow to stand out of fridge for 15 minutes before slicing to avoid cracking.