Baking for Beginners: Malteser Chocolate Tiffin

I massively over-catered for trick or treaters this Hallowe'en. Having recently moved in a neighbourhood with lots of children, I expected an endless stream of kids demanding chocolate on the 31st. Alas, my only visitors were two tiny boys who quietly lisped 'twick or tweat?' at the behest of their mum, and then proceeded to give me some sweets. I ended up in candy credit, having received more than I gave away.

So for the last few weeks I've been gamely ploughing through mini bags of chocolates, but it's nearly December and enough is enough. I've tipped the last few bags of Maltesers into a bowl and added them to a chocolate tiffin, to make a delicious malty, crunchy, chewy pud. It's incredibly easy - literally five minutes work - and goes beautifully with a cup of tea in the afternoon.

Malteser Chocolate Tiffin

You will need:

• 400g dark chocolate
• 100g butter
• 2 tbsps golden syrup
• 150g digestive biscuits
• 75g dried cranberries (or raisins, or other dried fruit)
• 250g Maltesers

Make it!

1. Line a medium-sized baking tray with greaseproof paper.
2. Break up the chocolate into a glass bowl and add the butter and golden syrup. Gently heat it over a saucepan of boiling water or stick it in the microwave for a couple of minutes, stirring occasionally, until it's melted.
3. Smash up the digestives by putting them in a plastic bag and taking out your frustration on them with a rolling pin. Don't reduce them to crumbs, you want a bit of texture. Add the Maltesers and give them a gentle bashing, if that isn't too much of an oxymoron.
4. Gently stir the digestives, cranberries and Maltesers into the melted chocolate and pour into the baking tray. Leave in the fridge to set.
5. When you're ready for a piece, turn the tiffin out of the tin and allow to come to room temperature before slicing.