Recipe video above. An easy Caramel Slice recipe that delivers as promised - a creamy caramel filling that sets perfectly (no more runny caramel!) and chooclate that doesn't crack when you cut into it!
Grease and line a 28x 18cm (lamington pan) / 7" x 11" rectangle pan with baking/parchment paper (Note 2). Have overhang for ease of removal.
Mix together Base ingredients and press into a pan (I use an egg flip)
Bake for 15 minutes until the surface is golden. Cool in fridge if you have time (Note 3).
Caramel
Lower oven to oven to 160°C/320°F (fan 140°C)
Place butter, sugar and vanilla in a saucepan over medium low heat. When the butter is melted, whisk to combine with sugar, then just leave it until it comes to a simmer.
When bubbles appear, add condensed milk. Whisk constantly for 5 minutes (Note 4), until you start getting some big slow bubbles on the base.
Once bubbles start appearing, whisk for 1 minute, then pour onto Base. Tilt pan to spread evenly.
Bake for 12 minutes. Don't worry if you get splotchy brown bits (this happens with ovens that don't distribute heat evenly).
Cool on counter for 20 minutes then refrigerate 30 minutes - bottom of pan should be warm but surface cool (not cold) to touch. (Note 5)
Chocolate
Place chocolate and oil in a microwave proof bowl. Microwave in 30 second bursts, stirring in between, until chocolate is fully melted (takes me 4 x 30 sec).
Pour over caramel, spread with spatula. Then gently shake pan to make the surface completely flat.
Refrigerate 1 hour or until set. Remove from fridge and leave out for 5 minutes to take chill out of chocolate slightly. Then cut into bars or squares to serve!
Notes
1. Desiccated coconut is called "Sweetened Coconut Flakes" in America. It is finely shredded coconut, not the large flakes.2. Sweetened condensed milk - Do not use skim (low fat), caramel will not set. Also ensure you use sweetened condensed milk (thick sweet milk) that comes in cans, NOT evaporated milk.3. Cooling base - creates a neater line between caramel and biscuit layer, I rarely do this (pictured caramel slices weren't cooled!)4. Caramel - If you don't stir constantly, little brown specks will appear, being caramel caught on the bottom of the saucepan. It's not a major problem if you have some brown specks, won't affect flavour just visual. If desperate, strain them out (yes I've done that - mother rang in the middle of caramel making, wouldn't stop talking! 🙄)5. Smooth chocolate - The refrigeration times is such that the caramel is mostly set, cool but not cold. That way the chocolate doesn't set too quickly when you pour it on, so when you shake the pan it will spread out evenly. If you want to make a textured top like the ones in this photo, refrigerate the caramel until fridge-cold - 1 hr+ in the fridge. When the chocolate is poured on, it will firm up faster. As it starts to thicken, use a spatula or knife back and forth across the surface.6. To slice neatly, remove from the fridge 5 minutes before cutting. Run knife under warm (not hot) water, wipe dry then cut quickly. For very neat slices, clean knife between each cut - I did this for the photos. Don't make the knife too hot otherwise the chocolate melts when you cut it and smears into the caramel.7. STORAGE: Airtight container for up to 5 days, but if it's so hot that the chocolate melts, keep it in the fridge and bring to room temperature before serving.8. COCONUT FREE BASE: A few readers have asked if it is possible to make the base without coconut. This recipe won't work without coconut but the shortbread base in my Lemon Bars recipe is a perfect substitute. Please DOUBLE the recipe.9. Nutrition - ignore it. You can eat salads all next week!!?