No bake chocolate biscuit cake
No bake chocolate biscuit cake is otherwise called “doukissa” in Cyprus. My aunties would often make this when we were visiting or even at birthday parties. It is very easy and quick to put together once you get the analogies right. The only thing is the ample freezing time that is required so the chocolate can harden. It’s so delicious and easy to do that I’m sure this will become a permanent cake in your cooking repertoire.
Brandy used
The Cyprus brandy I added for the no bake chocolate biscuit cake is one ingredient I got used to adding since I was living in Cyprus. The brandy is typically added as the original recipe uses eggs in the mix as well, so it acts like an essence to mask any odour from the egg. If you are making this cake and kids will also be eating it then omit it. You don’t need to replace it with anything as my recipe for “doukissa” doesn’t use any eggs.
Balanced flavours
This recipe took me a number of trials to perfect to my liking due to the combination of flavourings. But also due to the variety of sweetness depending on the type of cocoa/chocolate I used etc (see recipe notes). I’m not a massive fan of very sweet desserts and I do like dark chocolate. So if you make this once and you think you would prefer it sweeter then simply add more icing sugar and perhaps a bit less cocoa powder.
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- 250 g Marie biscuits
- 4 tbs cocoa powder, just over 1/3 cup, see notes
- pinch salt
- ¾ cup icing sugar, 100g
- 200 mL thickened cream (heavy cream), see notes
- 1 tbs brandy, optional
- 75 g unsalted butter
- 150 g baking dark chocolate melts 43% cocoa, see notes
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Crush the biscuits into small pieces (they don't have to all be the same size) into a bowl. Mix in the salt, icing sugar and cocoa powder. Add the thickened cream in 2 parts slowly, mixing the ingredients until they are well combined and then pour the brandy. Set the bowl aside.
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Add the chocolate melts with the butter in a bowl, heat it in the microwave for 1 minute and then take it out to stir. Place it back in the microwave in 10sec intervals if needed, stirring after each time, until all the chocolate is melted. Pour and stir the melted chocolate in the bowl with the biscuits. Stir enough so that all biscuits are well coated.
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Prep the loaf pan (see notes) by lining it with cling wrap if needed. I use a silicone loaf pan (19x8x7cm) so I do not add any cling wrap as I can just peel off the mold. Pour the chocolate/biscuit mixture in the mold and spread it out, pressing it down to even out.
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Cover the chocolate/biscuit mixture with a layer of baking paper on the top. Smooth it out more if needed by pressing softly with your fingers. Then wrap the mold with cling wrap and place it in the freezer for at least 6-8 hours.
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To serve simply take it out of the freezer and remove from the mold. You may add shredded coconut or crushed almonds on top to decorate. Cut in slices and enjoy straight away. Store any leftovers, well covered, in the fridge for up to 2-3 days.
1. For the cocoa powder I used the Bournville ccoa by Cadbury. If I used raw 100% cocoa powder then I ended up using a lot more icing sugar. So taste the chocolate mixture before you add it to the biscuits as the sweetness will vary depending on the brands used.
2. You only require 200mL of thickened cream, do not be tempted to add more as the cake will turn out too soft. You can use any remaining thickened cream in a separate meal.
3. Instead of dark chocolate melts (43%) by Cadbury, I’ve also used the baking dark chocolate (45%) block by Cadbury and that worked just as well.
4. If you do not have a suitable container/mold, you can lay a large piece of cling wrap, pour the mixture onto it and use the cling wrap to form a log shape.
Can this be kept in the fridge or must it go in the freezer after being cut? Also, I want to make it in a roubd tin – do I line it with parchment paper as I dont think it’s possible to use cling. Also can it be covered in ganache to decorate?
Yes you can
I made this cake for my son’s birthday and it was so good 😊 I doubled the amount of sugar stated in the recipe as we all like a sweet biscuit cake in this house. Well done on another wonderful recipe xxx
Hi Kiri! I’m so happy to read your review! Thank you for taking the time to right it as well as your alterations. Glad your family enjoyed it 🙂
Yummy!!! I’ve always made doukissa with eggs so I’m going to give this a whirl … the eggs make me anxious as they’re not entirely cooked??
Is this the same consistency? Soft rather than hard like the English chocolate biscuit cake? Thank you, off to the supermarket to buy the ingredients 😋😋
Yes same here that’s why i don’t add them. Yes it turns out soft although it is in the freezer once you take it out it softens beautifully!