Christmas Chocolate Biscuit Figures

Ingredients

• BISCUIT MIXTURE
• 120 g sugar
• 30 g cocoa powder
• 200 ml milk
• 70 g butter
• Finely grated zest and juice of 1 mandarin
• 300 g plain butter biscuits, crushed
• 40 g cashews or other nuts, chopped
• CHOCOLATE COATING
• 100 g dark chocolate
• 100 g milk chocolate
• 10 ml neutral vegetable oil
• DECORATION
• 100 g white chocolate
• Green oil-based food colouring
• Red oil-based food colouring

Method

1. Combine the sugar and cocoa powder in a saucepan.
2. Gradually stir in the milk.
3. Heat until the mixture comes to a gentle boil.
4. Add the butter and stir until melted.
5. Add the mandarin zest and juice.
6. Remove from the heat.
7. Stir in the crushed biscuits and chopped nuts.
8. Mix until evenly combined.
9. Leave the mixture to cool until firm enough to shape.
10. Divide into approximately 20 portions.
11. Shape the portions into Christmas trees, stars, baubles or other festive figures.
12. Refrigerate for several hours until firm.
13. Melt the dark chocolate, milk chocolate and vegetable oil together.
14. Coat the chilled figures with the chocolate glaze.
15. Leave the coating to begin setting.
16. Melt the white chocolate gently.
17. Divide and colour portions red and green.
18. Pipe decorative details over the coated figures.
19. Chill until completely set before serving.