Kerrie Christmas 4 - Chocolate Pistachio Slice with Cream Cheese Topping

'Tis the season for Christmas drinks and get togethers. This is the slice that I take when asked to bring something sweet to share. It is very easily made, cuts well and an alternative to the usual shortbreads, and other traditional Christmas treats. I use more (1 tablespoon) vanilla in the topping. Sometimes I substitute rosewater for the vanilla and a little pink food colouring, add the the rosewater a little at a time and check the flavour.

still in the container, not that the knitting ladies seemed to mind 

Chocolate Pistachio Slice with Cream Cheese Topping

Base

185 g butter, melted

1 pkt Chocolate Ripple Biscuits, finely crushed

1 cup pistachio nuts, finely chopped

Combine butter, nuts and biscuits in a bowl and mix well. Press into a lined slice tin and press down firmly. 

Place in fridge.

Topping

250 g butter, soft

250 g cream cheese

2 teaspoons vanilla extract or more according to taste

1 cup caster sugar

2 teaspoons gelatine

1/2 cup boiling water

Dissolve/ soften gelatine in the boiling water.

Place butter, cream cheese, sugar and vanilla and gelatine mixture into a bowl. Beat until smooth.

Spread topping over biscuit base and return to the fridge to set.

To Finish

2 teaspoons cocoa

1 teaspoon icing sugar

Mix cocoa and icing sugar together.

Use a small sieve/sifter to dust slice with cocoa mixture