Chocolate Crunch Squares

Continuing my Convenience-Food Challenge, I’m back making something for lunchboxes. This is super-easy as it just gets pressed into a tin, rather than scooping into cookies.

This recipe (or something like it) is one of the first things I ever baked as a child.  It is very simple and super delicious and it doesn't take long to make, which is great when baking with kids.  In New Zealand we traditionally use Weetbix (you can buy similar Weetabix here in the US) and call it Weetbix Slice (slice is what we call a cookie bar), but I've tried it with cornflakes and also given oats a go as well.  The oats were better than the cornflakes I think, the cornflakes went a bit soft after a day or so.  The oats made the bars more chewy and more filling.  You could experiment with your favorite cereal, just make sure it's in little bits (like oats or crushed Weetbix).  I might try Grape Nuts next

Ingredients

Cookie

• 180gms / 6.5 oz butter

• 1 teaspoon vanilla

• 1 cup dessicated coconut (unsweetened)

• 3 Weetabix crushed (or replace with 1 cup of oats, or your favorite cereal - see note above)

• 1 cup plain flour

• 1 teaspoon baking powder

• 3/4 cup sugar

• 1/3 cup cocoa

Icing

• 2 cups icing sugar / powdered sugar

• 2 tablespoons cocoa

• 2 tablespoons of butter

• 1 tablespoon milk

• sprinkles

Getting Ready

Grease  a 20cm x 30cm / 9 inch x 12 inch pan and line with baking paper.  Preheat the oven (normal bake) to 180C or 360F.

Mixing

Cookie:

Sift flour, cocoa and baking powder into a large bowl.  Mix in the other dry ingredients.  Melt the butter, then add the vanilla.  Pour the butter mixture into the dry ingredients and mix well.  

Press the mixture evenly into the prepared baking pan and bake for 15-20 minutes until firm. 

Icing: 

When the pan is out of the oven, make the icing.  Heat the milk and butter until butter has melted.  Sift cocoa and icing sugar together and mix into the butter mixture. Mix until smooth and it's ready to use!

To Serve

Cool the cookie for 20 minutes.  Spread with the icing and shake some sprinkles onto  the icing.  Cut when cool.  Makes about 32 bars.