The Cake Doctor

Dear Cake Doctor

I’ve been working so hard that I’m exhausted by 4pm and never have the energy to make it out with friends at the end of the day. Is there something bite-sized that will get my energy levels back up in time to play in the evening?

Love,

Frazzled

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Dear Frazzled

I know exactly what you mean – trying to squeeze friends into a weeknight is tough going, especially when work’s busier than usual. It sounds like you might need something to help you ‘work, rest and play’, but nothing that’s going to take your appetite away before a post-work dinner with friends.

Mars bar slice might be just the prescription! It’s not as rich or filling as a chocolate bar, but will give you the energy boost you need to get you through your afternoon slump. Every bite is simultaneously crispy and gooey, especially if left out of the fridge for an hour or to soften a little after setting. What’s more, it’s extremely easy to pull together, requires little precision (meaning there’s no harm in popping a morsel of chocolate in your mouth as you go), and sets in the fridge – you won’t even need to switch on the oven!

A word of warning though – Mars bar slice is extremely moreish, and you’ll only need a square or two to perk you up. Wrap up the rest, hide in your handbag, and whip out after dinner with your friends. They’ll love you forever.

Love,

The Cake Doctor x

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Complaint: Lacking energy

Prescription: Mars bar slice

Ingredients

5 Mars bars, chopped

80g unsalted butter

5 cups of Rice Krispies (or other puffed rice cereal)

300g milk chocolate

Method

Line a flat tin (like a brownie tin, about 32cm long, 22cm wide and 4cm high) with aluminium foil.

Chop up your Mars bars and pop a piece or two in your mouth to keep energy levels up as you go.

Place the chopped Mars bars and butter in a large bowl over a saucepan of simmering water – and make sure the bowl doesn’t touch the water.

If you’re so pooped as to have lost all patience, pop the bowl of chopped Mars bar and butter in the microwave instead. Zap it for about a minute, then stir, and zap again for about 40 seconds or until almost all melted. Stir until smooth.

Measure out the Rice Krispies and tip into a large bowl. Don’t worry if you don’t have a cup measure – it’s fine to measure roughly using a tea cup.

Tip the melted mars bars and butter over the Rice Krispies. Use two spatulas or wooden spoons to mix the Mars bar and butter mixture through the Rice Krispies until all combined.

Tip the Rice Krispie, Mars bar and butter mix into your prepared tin and press with the back of a spoon or spatula until it sits evenly in the base of the tin (don’t forget the corners).

Then, pop in the fridge while you melt the chocolate topping.

Either place the chocolate in a bowl over a saucepan of simmering water, or zap in the microwave in short bursts, stirring in between each.

Now, remove the tin of the base from the fridge and pour the melted chocolate evenly over the top. Spread with the spatula so it reaches the corners and is smooth on top.

Carefully cover your tin with more aluminium foil and leave to set in the fridge for a few hours.

Once the chocolate topping’s set, remove from the tin, peel off the foil, and place on a board for cutting.

Now, cut up into bite-sized squares or larger bars.

Leave it out of the fridge for a little bit so the chocolate softens a little before devouring with gusto. Just a mouthful of mars bar slice will get your energy levels back up in no time!

Love,

The Cake Doctor x