Ingredients

Step by step

1. Preheat the oven to 150°C, fan 130°C, gas 2. Line a 20cm square baking tin with baking parchment. For the base, place the biscuits in a large bowl and crush with your hands or a rolling pin. Add the butter and mix to a sandy paste. Press firmly and evenly into the tin. Leave in the fridge to set.

2. Meanwhile, put the dark chocolate and butter in a heatproof bowl over a pan of simmering water and melt, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon. Remove from the pan when melted.

3. Use an electric mixer to whisk the eggs, yolk and sugar until thick and pale. This will take 15-20 minutes. Gently fold the chocolate mixture into the eggs, then the chopped chestnuts, figs and white chocolate. Spread evenly over the biscuit base and bake on the middle shelf of the oven for 25-30 minutes. When ready, a skewer inserted in the bar will come out with lots of gooey crumb attached, and there will be a light crust on top. Cool, then refrigerate until set.

   Tip

   To prepare fresh chestnuts, score each one down one side and place in a pan. Cover with boiling water, bring back to the boil and simmer for 15 minutes. Drain and leave until cool enough to handle, then peel away the outer and inner skins.

4. Remove from the tin and peel off the baking parchment. Cut into bars (or tiny squares to serve with good coffee) and dust lightly with cocoa powder. Let them come to room temperature before serving.

5. Leave whole or cut the bars into small squares and serve with good coffee.