Queen Anne Squares

Saturday 29 April 2023

 

Queen Anne Squares



It won't be very long now before the Coronation of King Charles. Many people all over the world will be taking the opportunity to celebrate the occasion in one way or another. 


It could be by having a street party, a special breakfast a luncheon or a tea party. Personally I opt for a tea party!  I thought it would be fun today to share a teatime treat that you might enjoy serving.  The very Royal,  Queen Anne Squares.



Queen Anne Squares 





Here in the Maritimes these lovely squares are usually served at Christmas time as part of a Christmas Dainty plate.  A Dainty Plate is something you would have seen at wedding and baby showers many years ago. 

They were plates composed of a variety of sweet cookies and squares. All cut into bite size and meant to be enjoyed with finger sandwiches and copious amounts of hot tea.

Whether you are a Royalist or not, this is going to be a very historic occasion, and not one that many people will get to enjoy more than once in their lifetime.  It deserves to be marked in some way.



Queen Anne Squares 




Queen Anne Squares are a wonderful sweet treat deserving of being served on such an auspicious occasion.  With their brownie type of base, sweet coconut macaroon filling and chocolate buttercream frosting, they always go down a real treat.

They are very sweet  so they should be cut into small 1-inch squares.  You might be forgiven  for eating two of them however, as they really are that delicious.


This recipe I am sharing with you has been adapted by one found on Lord Byron's Kitchen.


Queen Anne Squares 






I took the opportunity on this day to serve these delicious squares on my Grandmother's Woodworth's wedding plate.  It was given to her and her husband on the occasion of their wedding in August of 1928.

It was a gift from her last sister Adelaide and her husband Ralph (Connell).  I am so grateful to have this plate.  It holds a lot of meaning for me.  I am the only one of my siblings who actually remembers our grandparents.

My Grandmother actually took care of me for a while when I was a baby. As a new mother and a very nervous mother my mother practically had a nervous breakdown when I was an infant.  I guess I cried constantly.

Queen Anne Squares 





My father came home from work one day just in time to catch my mother getting ready to shake the Dicken's out of me. He was able to grab me away from her and then decided that they would take me to my grandmother's to live for a while, so that my mother could get a rest and maybe my grandmother could calm me down some.


I would live with my grandmother until my mother got ready to move to Germany when my father was posted there with the Canadian military about a year later.


Hence the close bond I had with my grandmother and indeed  my mother's youngest sister,  Freda, who was always like a sister to me.


Long story short, special treats deserve special plates!  I also dragged out some of my Beatrix Potter figures that were a gift from a much beloved friend, as well as my tea cozy which was a gift from another friend, and a small Beatrix Potter book my sister gave to me.



Queen Anne Squares 






WHAT YOU NEED TO MAKE QUEEN ANNE SQUARES

Simple baking cupboard ingredients. There is nothing too out of the ordinary here. I think it is so magical that you can put these simple things together and come up with something so delicious! 


For the brownie bottom:
  • 2/3 cup (151.5g) butter, melted and cooled
  • 2/3 cup (145g) soft light brown sugar, lightly packed
  • 1 cup (140g) all purpose plain flour
  • 4 TBS (28g) unsweetened cocoa powder (not drink mix)
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 large free range egg
For the macaroon filling:
  • 14 ounces (397g) sweetened condensed milk
  • 2 cups (152g) sweetened flaked coconut
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
For the frosting:
  • 2 cups (260g) icing sugar, sifted
  • 3 TBS (20g) unsweetened cocoa powder (not drink mix)
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 3 TBS (46g) whole milk
  • 1/4 cup (57g) butter, softened
  • desiccated coconut to decorate (optional)
Queen Anne Squares 






Make sure all of your ingredients are at room temperature before you begin. I always take them out about half an hour prior to beginning. Its just something I've always done.


Make sure you use sweetened condensed milk and by that I mean milk which has been heated with sugar and reduced to a thick and creamy sweet product. I do not mean evaporated milk.


The most popular brands are Nestles, Carnation and Eagle Brand.


Also do not use chocolate drinking mix.  You need to use baking cocoa powder. They are not the same thing. The drink mix has been mixed with milk and sugar. Cocoa powder is just dried and powdered cocoa beans and is not sweet at all.

 

Queen Anne Squares 






HOW TO MAKE QUEEN ANNE SQUARES

These are very simple to make. Just follow the instructions to the letter and you won't have any problems.


Preheat the oven to 350*F/180*C/ gas mark 4. Butter an 8-inch square baking tin and line it with some baking parchment, making sure you have an overhang to lift the squares out with after. Set aside.


To make the brownie bottom, stir together the melted butter, brown sugar, vanilla and egg until well combined.


Sift in the cocoa powder and flour, Stir until well amalgamated.


Pour into the prepared baking tin, smoothing it over evenly.




Queen Anne Squares








To make the macaroon filling, stir the vanilla into the sweetened condensed milk to combine and then stir in the coconut, mixing everything thoroughly.


Spoon the mixture over the brownie mixture, taking care to keep the mixtures separate. (The best way to do this is to make small tablespoon sized dollops all over the base and then gently smooth it out with a palate knife.)


Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes. Remove from the oven and leave to cool in the pan completely.


Using an electric hand whisk beat all of the icing ingredients together until well combined. Spread evenly over the coconut layer. If desired you can sprinkle a bit of desiccated coconut over top to decorate.


Place in the refrigerator to chill for at least one hour before lifting out of the pan using the parchment paper. Cut into squares with a sharp knife. Store covered in the refrigerator.





Queen Anne Squares 






These really are delicious, but as I said they are very sweet.  A little bit does go a long way.


Every bite delights with a bit of brownie, macaroon and that sweet icing mingling together in your mouth. I would not add anything else to these, they are perfect as they are.


The brownie base has a tendency to want to stick in the pan a bit so do make sure they are well chilled before you cut and remove them. 



Queen Anne Squares




Some other sweet squares and bites on here that are worthy of a King's celebration are:


GINGER CRUNCHIES -  With a spicy ginger shortbread base topped with a sweet ginger glaze and candied ginger garnish these are a real treat for the ginger lover!  Crisp, buttery and short. These are fabulously tasty! 


PEPPERMINT PETTICOAT TAILS -  A large shortbread round, marked into wedges prior to baking and broken into crisp wedges when done. Lightly flavored with peppermint, buttery, short,  and coated with sugar, these are the ultimate teatime treat!




Yield: makes 16 squares
Author: Marie Rayner
Queen Anne Squares

Queen Anne Squares

Prep time: 28 MinCook time: 30 MinInactive time: 1 HourTotal time: 1 H & 58 M
Normally a Christmas thing these delicious squares would be fabulous served as part of a Coronation Tea Party menu! Brownie bottoms, coconut macaroon middles and a creamy chocolate frosting.

Ingredients

For the brownie bottom:
  • 2/3 cup (151.5g) butter, melted and cooled
  • 2/3 cup (145g) soft light brown sugar, lightly packed
  • 1 cup (140g) all purpose plain flour
  • 4 TBS (28g) unsweetened cocoa powder (not drink mix)
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 large free range egg
For the macaroon filling
  • 14 ounces (397g) sweetened condensed milk
  • 2 cups (152g) sweetened flaked coconut
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
For the frosting:
  • 2 cups (260g) icing sugar, sifted
  • 3 TBS (20g) unsweetened cocoa powder (not drink mix)
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 3 TBS (46g) whole milk
  • 1/4 cup (57g) butter, softened
  • desiccated coconut to decorate (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350*F/180*C/ gas mark 4. Butter an 8-inch square baking tin and line it with some baking parchment, making sure you have an overhang to lift the squares out with after. Set aside.
  2. To make the brownie bottom, stir together the melted butter, brown sugar, vanilla and egg until well combined.
  3. Sift in the cocoa powder and flour, Stir until well amalgamated.
  4. Pour into the prepared baking tin, smoothing it over evenly.
  5. To make the macaroon filling, stir the vanilla into the sweetened condensed milk to combine and then stir in the coconut, mixing everything thoroughly.
  6. Spoon the mixture over the brownie mixture, taking care to keep the mixtures separate. (The best way to do this is to make small tablespoon sized dollops all over the base and then gently smooth it out with a palate knife.)
  7. Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes. Remove from the oven and leave to cool in the pan completely.
  8. Using an electric hand whisk beat all of the icing ingredients together until well combined. Spread evenly over the coconut layer. If desired you can sprinkle a bit of desiccated coconut over top to decorate.
  9. Place in the refrigerator to chill for at least one hour before lifting out of the pan using the parchment paper. Cut into squares with a sharp knife.
  10. Store covered in the refrigerator.
Did you make this recipe?
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Queen Anne Squares



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5 comments

  1. Hi Marie - thank you so much for sharing this recipe - these look so delicious and very festive to cheer on the Coronation of King Charles - only a week from now.

    I must tell you that I truly love your blog and thank you so much for all of these wonderful recipes and hints and tips about them. I read everything and really appreciate all of your hard work and efforts that you share with us.
    I made the Parmesan Chicken recipe that you posted just a bit ago and it was delicious - sorry I’m sort of slow thanking you. There are so many that I want to try to make. I really love that so many are made for two people and I’m learning so much from you.
    Thank you!

    Barb R.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much Barb! I am so appreciative of your sweet comment! I will be cooking a few more bits and pieces over the next week for the coronation as well. I, for one, am very excited about it. I was not born yet when the Queen took the throne, so this is a first for me! I am so happy you are enjoying the Parmesan Chicken! Thank you so much! xo

      Delete
  2. This one definitely looks like a keeper!

    ReplyDelete

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