Since I began this site different family members have been waiting with anticipation for this national favourite  to appear. It’s easy to make and I’ve never had it fail.

Ingredients:

• 7 oz/200 gm butter
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla essence
• 1  1/2 cups sifted flour
• 4 tablespoons cocoa
• 2 cups cornflakes
• walnuts

Method:

Cream the butter and sugar and then add the vanilla. Combine the dry ingredients and add to the mixture. Mix well. Put spoonfuls of the mixture on to a cold, greased oven tray.  Press down a little. Bake at 180 C/350 F for 15 minutes (if you are using a fan-forced oven  then you will need to lower the temperature by up to 10 degrees centigrade and/or adjust the time).  Place on a wire rack to cool. Ice with chocolate icing and place a walnut on top. Store in an air-tight container.

Chocolate icing:

• 1 cup sifted icing sugar
• 1 tablespoon cocoa
• 1 tablespoon butter
• dash of hot water

Mix all of the icing ingredients together in a bowl until a thick paste is formed.