20 chocolate coffee beans (optional)
150²µ/5½´Ç³ú plain flour
165²µ/5¾´Ç³ú caster sugar
10²µ/½´Ç³ú cocoa powder
40²µ/1½´Ç³ú glucose syrup
375g/13oz icing sugar, sifted
720g/1lb 9½oz icing sugar, sifted
90²µ/3¼´Ç³ú dark chocolate (70% cocoa solids)
50g/1¾ oz white chocolate, melted (optional)
40²µ/1½´Ç³ú unsalted butter, melted
190g/6½oz unsalted butter, softened
5 free-range eggs
5 tsp coffee extract (or 2 tsp instant espresso powder dissolved in 25ml/1fl oz boiling water, cooled)
2 tbsp Irish cream liqueur