This lazy cake recipe with a rich chocolaty flavor and crunchy texture is delicious and addictive. The best part is that it takes less than 10 minutes to prepare and with minimum effort.
This no bake dessert recipe includes a handful of simple ingredients that can be found in your pantry: biscuits (cookies), butter, sugar, and cocoa powder, combined together then rolled into a log in a plastic wrap, and served after freezing.
No bake recipes are perfect especially during hot weather and easy healthy snacks similar to stuffed dates.
This no-bake Lazy cake recipe is one of the easiest quickest desserts that once you try you will continue to ask for more.
Because this recipe doesn’t require any baking and sits in the freezer it makes it a perfect dessert for a hot summer day that not only the kids will enjoy but also the whole family.
Growing up my mother made this easy lazy cake recipe every time we had a birthday party, the great thing about it, is that you can prepare it ahead of time, and can last in the freezer for weeks.
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What is Lazy Cake?
Lazy cake is a traditional dessert popular throughout the Middle East, Asia, and Europe. Some believe that it originated in the Middle East, while others believe the origin is actually in East of Europe. Today, many different countries around the world make this wonderful cake and call it differently.
In Turkey, it's called Mozaik Pasta (Mosaic Cake). In Italy, it is known as a Chocolate Salami cake, and in Greece as a Kormos or Mosaico.
This easy chocolate biscuit cake has a delicious combination of a strong chocolate flavor from the natural cocoa powder, and the crunch from the cookies, a taste of cold and sweet that impresses adults and kids.
Why do they call it lazy? Probably because it’s very easy to make, requires minimum effort, delicious, and is rich in chocolate.
Equipment
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Large Bowl - For mixing the cookies with the chocolate mixture
Saucepan - To cook the ingredients on stove top
Utility Whisk - To help stir the chocolate ingredients
Sharp knife - To cut frozen lazy cake log
Parchment paper - or wrapping paper to wrap the log
Ingredients
Digestive Biscuits or Marie biscuits - I like to use Mcvitie's brand but any other plain biscuits with a crunchy texture can work.
Unsweetened cocoa powder - Gives a chocolaty taste.
Unsalted Butter - To add richness and help bring all the ingredients together.
Granulated Sugar - For sweetening.
Whole Milk - Milk helps with integrating the mixture together.
Egg - The egg helps hold all the ingredients together.
Cognac - It adds a unique flavor that pairs well with cocoa and cookies.
Instructions
Full ingredients, measurements, and instructions are in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Step 1 | With your hands or a heavy object, cut the biscuits into pieces and set them aside.
Step 2 | In a saucepan and over medium heat melt butter then add sugar, cocoa, egg, and milk.
Step 3 | Keep stirring until the butter is fully melted and everything is well integrated. Set aside for 2 minutes then add cognac.
Step 4 Fold in the chocolate mixture over the biscuit pieces.
Step 5 | Mix everything well together until all pieces of biscuits are well coated with the chocolate mixture.
Step 6 | Pour the mixture over wrapping or parchment paper.
Step 7 | Wrap tightly into a log shape. Place in the freezer for 2-3 hours.
Substitutions and Variations
- You can use graham crackers instead of digestive biscuits.
- You can place the mixture in a round-shaped pan or a loaf pan (make sure to grease it first) then place it in the freezer.
- Adding any nuts such as pistachios or hazelnuts to the mixture can pair well with this recipe.
- Adding berries in the middle of the log, like strawberries or raspberry pairs well with lazy cake.
- For extra chocolaty flavor, you can add ¼ cup of semi-sweet dark chocolate.
- You can use 1 small teaspoon of vanilla instead of cognac.
Storage
- Cut individual slices only for serving and leave the rest in the freezer.
- Or you can cut the log into slices separating them with parchment paper for an easy grab-and-go, then wrap them well and keep them in the freezer.
- Lazy cake can last in the freezer for about 2-3 months.
Pro Tips
- To expedite the process of cutting the biscuits by hand, place them in a zip bag and smash them with a heavy object or a pin roller.
- Avoid using a food processor to break the cookies, it’s best to keep them in small pieces rather than fully crushed.
- You can add an extra layer of foil paper to wrap each log before placing it in the freezer. Foil paper also can help with shaping the log aiming for a smooth edge.
- Biscuits is a common word for cookies, used in the Middle East and other European countries.
- Foil tends to stick to the chocolate and it'll be hard to unwrap. It is best to use wrapping or parchment paper first then wrap with foil.
No, you don't. To help with thickening the mixture you can use 1 tablespoon of cornstarch, and mix it with the cold milk before adding over mixture.
Using a small amount of cognac will give this recipe an extra flavor that combines well with chocolate and cookies. Feel free to substitute with 1 teaspoon of vanilla.
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Lazy Cake Recipe
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 2-3 hours in the freezer
- Total Time: 2 hours and 10 minutes
- Method: No Bake
- Cuisine: Middle Eastern/European
Description
This lazy cake recipe with a rich chocolaty flavor and crunchy texture is delicious and addictive. The best part is that it takes less than 10 minutes to prepare and with minimum effort.
Ingredients
- Digestive Biscuits 1 bag (400 grams).
- ¾ cup unsalted butter ( 1 and a half sticks)
- 6 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder.
- 1 egg
- ¼ cup whole milk
- ½ cup sugar (you can add ¾ for extra sweet flavor)
- 1-2 tablespoons cognac
Instructions
- With your hands or a heavy object, cut the biscuits into large pieces and set aside.
- In a saucepan and over medium heat melt butter, and add sugar, cocoa, milk and egg.
- Keep mixing until the butter is fully melted and everything is well integrated.
- Turn the heat off and let it cool off for 2 minutes then mix in the cognac.
- Fold in the chocolate mixture over biscuit pieces, make sure everything is well coated with the chocolate mixture.
- Pour the mixture over wrapping or parchment paper.
- Wrap tightly into a log shape, And place in the freezer for 2-3 hours.
Notes
- To expedite the process of cutting the biscuits by hand, place them in a zip bag and smash them with a heavy object or a pin roller.
- Avoid using a food processor to break the cookies, it’s best to keep them in small pieces rather than fully crushed.
- You can add an extra layer of foil paper to wrap each log before placing it in the freezer. Foil paper also can help with shaping the log aiming for a smooth edge.
- Biscuits is a common word for cookies, used in the Middle East and other European countries.
- Foil tends to stick to the chocolate and it'll be hard to unwrap. It is best to use wrapping or parchment paper first then wrap with foil.
Sana says
This looks delicious, I love it.
Wafa Shami says
Sahtain.
Lara says
This looks delicious 🤤 i will give it a try today☺️
Wafa Shami says
It is, I hope you'll enjoy it.
Dareen :) says
Incredibly nostalgic and delicious! 😀
Wafa Shami says
Hi Dareen, glad to hear that.