Strawberry Jelly Slice
An Original Recipe by Lorraine Elliott
Preparation time: 20 minutes plus 3 hours chilling time
Cooking time: 5 minutes
Serves: 6-12
For Base:
- 225g/8ozs. plain biscuits
- 140g/5ozs melted butter
- 3 tablespoons raw sugar
For Filling:
- 400g/14ozs tin sweetened condensed milk
- 1/2 cup lemon juice (juice of 2 lemons)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 3/4 cup/185ml/6flozs. water
- 2 teaspoons gelatine powder
- 250g/8.8ozs. strawberries
For topping:
-
85g/3oz. packet strawberry jelly crystals
-
1 cup/250ml/8.8flozs boiling water
-
100ml/3.5flozs cold water
Step 1 - Line the base and sides of a square 20x20cm/8x8inch tin with parchment. Process the biscuits until you get a fine, sandy texture. Add the melted butter and sugar and mix to combine and then press down in the base of the tin. Place the tin in the freezer to firm up.
Step 2 -Whisk the condensed milk in a bowl with the lemon juice and vanilla and set aside. Sprinkle the gelatine powder on top of the water in a medium sized microwave proof bowl and then place in the microwave in 15 second bursts on high until liquid. Stir the gelatine into the milk mixture and mix well and pour over the base. Chill for 10 minutes and then gently place the strawberry halves on top (note: I had very large strawberries so I cut the berries in thirds and only used the outside pieces as you want the strawberries to be submerged in the jelly layer on top). Place the tray in the fridge for 1-2 hours and allow to set firm.
Step 3 -Make the jelly while the second layer is chilling. Place the boiling water in a jug and whisk in the jelly crystals and stir to dissolve. Add the cold water and allow to become completely cold and then pour over the second layer and allow to set completely. Once set cut into squares or rectangles.
Strawberry jelly using real strawberries
-
3 teaspoons gelatine powder
-
1.5 cups water
-
1/4 cup caster sugar
-
1/4 cup strawberry puree, strained for pips
-
Red or pink food colouring
Place 1/2 cup of the total water in a medium bowl and sprinkle gelatine powder over. Heat in the microwave for 30 seconds or until liquid. Then heat the remaining water with the sugar and dissolve the sugar. Add the strawberry juice, colouring and then the gelatine and pulse for a few seconds. Pour the jelly mixture over the base and allow to set.