Mocha Squares

Here's a simple and easy recipe for gorgeous Mocha Squares. They are just delicious and make a real treat for the kids or grown-ups.

Ingredients

For the Cake Squares

• 1 1/2 cups unsalted butter
• 170g dark chocolate
• 2 tablespoons instant coffee granules
• 5 large eggs at room temperature
• 2 3/4 cups caster sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

For the Coffee Icing

• 170g plain chocolate
• 115g soft cream cheese
• 2 tablespoons room temp unsalted butter
• 2 tablespoons of strong coffee or espresso
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 1/2 cups icing sugar

Preparation

1. Preheat the oven to 180 degrees.
2. Melt butter and chocolate together until smooth. Stir in coffee granules until dissolved.
3. In another bowl, combine the chocolate/butter/coffee mixture with the sugar. Using the electric whisk until they are well blended. One at a time, at the eggs to the mix, mixing well after each one.
4. Add in flour, vanilla and salt and beat until just combined. Try not to overmix.
5. Pour into a lined cake tin (roughly 13x9x2") and bake for about 40 mins or until a skewer comes out clean.
6. Allow to cool completely in the cake tin and then remove and cut into squares.

     To make the icing:

1. Melt the chocolate until smooth.
2. In another bowl, use the electric whisk to beat together the cream cheese and butter until lovely and creamy. Then add the coffee, melted chocolate and vanilla until well blended.
3. Then gradually add the icing sugar until you have a smooth icing.

Decorate

Depending on how much time I have (and if the children don't eat them first!) I usually spread the icing on top of the squares freestyle or I will pipe the icing into patterns and top the squares with chocolate covered espresso beans which are always a big hit with the grown-ups!