Chocolate Peppermint Slice

This is from the Family Circle's Complete Muffins Cookies and Cakes cookbook.

• Ready In: 45 mins
• Serves: 24

Ingredients

• Base

• 2⁄3 cup self raising flour
• 1⁄4 cup  cocoa
• 1⁄2 cup  desiccated coconut
• 1⁄4 cup sugar
• 140  g unsalted butter, melted
• 1  egg, lightly beaten

• Filling

• 1 1⁄2 cups icing sugar, sifted
• 30  g Copha, melted (white vegetable shortening)
• 2  tablespoons milk
• 1⁄2 teaspoon  peppermint extract

• Chocolate topping

• 185  g dark chocolate, chopped
• 30  g Copha

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 180C (350F). Lihtly grease a shallow tin 18 x 28cm (7 x 11 inches) and line with baking paper, leaving the paper hanging over two sides (to make it easier to remove later).
2. Sift the flour and the cocoa into a bowl. Stir in the coconut and sugar, then add the butter and egg and mix well.
3. Press the mix firmly into the tin, bake for 15 minutes, then press down with the back of a spoon and leave to cool.
4. For the peppermint filling, sift the icing sugar into a bowl. Stir in the copha, milk and essence. Spread over base and refrigerate for 5-10 minutes until firm.
5. For the chocolate topping, put the chocolate and copha in a heatproof bowl. Melt over simmering water (making sure water does not touch the bowl). Spread mixture evenly over the filling, refrigerate for 20 minutes or until firm.
6. Carefully lift the slice from the tin, using paper as handles. Cut into pieces with a warm knife to give clean edges. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.