Kathy Tsaples’ Celebration Chocolate Log

Kormos me Sokolata, Loukoumi ke Halva

(Celebration Chocolate Log)

We asked Kathy for a recipe that would be perfect for Easter. Naturally, she didn’t didn’t disappoint…

Prep 1 hour, plus overnight Serves 10–12

 

Ingredients:

125g dark chocolate

125g milk chocolate

90g butter

150g caster sugar

3 eggs

1½ tbsp cocoa powder (unsweetened)

1 tsp instant coffee

1½ tbsp vanilla extract

6 traditional Greek kourabiethes, broken into chunks

100g pistachio kernels, lightly toasted

45g whole almonds, toasted

1 cup plain halva, roughly diced

1 cup dried figs, roughly chopped

½ cup rose-flavoured loukoumi (Greek Delight), chopped icing sugar, for rolling

 

Tip:

Start this recipe a day ahead.

 

Method:

Melt the chocolates together in a bowl over a pot of simmering water, making sure the bowl doesn’t touch the water. Set aside.

Cream the butter and the sugar until light, fluffy and creamy. Beat in the eggs, one at a time.

Stir the cocoa and the coffee into the melted chocolate. Add this to the butter and egg mixture and combine well. Stir in the vanilla extract.

Add the biscuits, pistachios, almonds, halva, figs and loukoumi and mix well. Refrigerate for approximately 30 minutes.

Remove from the fridge. Lay a long sheet of cling wrap on the work bench. Spoon the mixture onto the cling wrap in a large sausage shape, wrap tightly and roll to form a neat cylinder shape. Twist the ends tightly and refrigerate overnight.

The next day, unwrap the log and roll it in icing sugar.

Serve on a platter decorated with beautiful green leaves to make it look like a log on the forest floor.

About Kathy Tsaples

Kathy Tsaples grew up in Richmond, Melbourne, the daughter of Greek parents, and cites her favourite childhood memories as the ones formed at the family dinner table. She’s the owner of Sweet Greek – a Melbourne store selling delicious Greek cakes, pastries, pies, and ingredients. But there’s more to Sweet Greek than just the food. It’s become a community of its own, based around a mutual love of Greek cuisine.

We’re very lucky to have Kathy contributing some of her favourite recipes to the Peter’s Blog this year. Click or tap here to see more.

Kathy’s also the author of two cookbooks – Sweet Greek, and her latest, Sweet Greek Life. They’re both available from Peter’s – click here to take a closer look.