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chocolate fridge cake with pecan and meringues

servings
16

method

This chocolate cake is wicked! And even better, you don't need to do any baking.

Break the biscuits into small pieces directly into a large bowl. Add the pecans, pistachio nuts and cherries and mix together. Put the rest of the ingredients into a separate heatproof bowl and put on a low heat over a pan of simmering water until the butter and chocolate have melted.

Combine the biscuit mix with the chocolate mixture. Line a 30 x 20 cm plastic container with cling film, leaving plenty of extra film at the edges to help turn the cake out later. Whack everything into the container, place in the fridge to firm up, then turn out and cut into chunky slices.

This cake can be kept in an airtight container for a few days, and it actually improves in flavour!

ingredients

• 200g digestive biscuits
• 110g whole pecans, roughly chopped
• 110g pistachio nuts, peeled
• 10 glace cherries
• 2 ready-made meringue nests, smashed up
• 150g unsalted butter
• 1 tablespoon golden syrup
• 200g dark chocolate

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tried this recipe or a similar one? share your tips...

1. by rigby on Tue 15 May 2012 @ 11:04

YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!!!!!!!!

2. by Astrid on Fri 27 Apr 2012 @ 08:12

This would have been easy, had'nt it been for the glace' cherries. I can't get them in Norway....can I leave them out, or is there an alternative?!

3. by pouline on Tue 10 Apr 2012 @ 09:22

its AMAZING everyone who looks at this MAKE IT NOW OR WHENEVER YOU CAN

4. by pouline on Tue 10 Apr 2012 @ 09:19

i am going to make this cake it looks lovely i can't wait

5. by Les Souchieres on Wed 30 Nov 2011 @ 20:03

i made this the other day. Very easy to make; i substituted the maple syrup for the golden syrup. It is SOOOOO good with an expresso after lunch or a glass of milk after dinner - it's simply sinful.

6. by Gemma on Wed 23 Nov 2011 @ 11:37

Just made this fab cake now and its currently setting in the fridge, Hope it turns out as good as it looks, wish me luck Xxx<br />

7. by MsChipper on Sun 20 Nov 2011 @ 16:00

Hi Jamie, I was just surfing around for recipes and I found this person's recipe eerily similar to yours : http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/food/article-1379575/Recipe-Williams-chocolate-crunch-cake.html#comments Would this be considered as copyright infringement or something similar to that?

8. by millysally on Fri 11 Nov 2011 @ 15:25

OMG! I am so trying this out LOL!

9. by Dan on Fri 21 Oct 2011 @ 05:38

I'll try this dessert~ it looks Yummy~ :9

10. by Belen on Sat 08 Oct 2011 @ 20:43

I did it today, but it did not look like the picture at all, i used the exact amounts of ingredients but it was very small, not for 16 servings like Jamie said.<br /> Any comments about it?

11. by maja on Thu 06 Oct 2011 @ 14:09

its very goooooooooooooooooooooood<br />

12. by India on Mon 26 Sep 2011 @ 12:01

How long does it take to set in the fridge?

13. by amanda_gr on Tue 06 Sep 2011 @ 17:43

tasty...i love it...

14. by Natalia on Sun 21 Aug 2011 @ 20:48

I've looked through the comments and found out that there's something like this dessert in Latvian, Romanian and other cuisines. In fact, in Russia we also make chocolate fridge cakes with biscuits, rolled in the form of a "chocolate salami' - one of the brightest childhood memories =)

15. by adsfasdf on Tue 09 Aug 2011 @ 13:39

it looks pretty much like Latvian sweet roll 'salda brunete'

16. by qqq on Tue 09 Aug 2011 @ 13:38

it looks pretty much like Latvian sweet roll 'salda brunete'

17. by sofia on Sat 21 May 2011 @ 19:18

i have made the cake , melt the meringue with the chocolate mixture , but the truth is it looked nothing like the picture. i thing the next time i will try it with the double amount of chocolate. The taste was great!!!!!!!

18. by Sylbi on Fri 06 May 2011 @ 14:16

Can I make it without golden syrup?

19. by Judy on Sat 02 Apr 2011 @ 18:19

If you can't find digestive biscuits do try McVities Rich Tea biscuits

20. by JANENALY on Fri 03 Dec 2010 @ 02:43

I MADE THIS CAKE THE OTHER DAY BUT SINCE I LIVE IN VENEZUELA COULDN'T FIND ANY OF THE INGREDIENTS.. SO INSTEAD OF PISTACHIO AND PECANS, I USED ALMONDS AND CHESTNUTS... INSTEAD OF GOLDEN SYRUP I USED A PEACH FLAVORED HONEY AND INSTEAD OF CHERRIES I USED DRIED CRAMBERRIES AND OTHER DRIED FRUIT... LET ME SAY IT WAS FABULOUS ANYWAY.

SO THANKS JAMIE EVEN IF IT WASN'T THE EXACT RECIPE.....

21. by RedfoxEstonia on Mon 09 Aug 2010 @ 20:48

pretty much like our "mottled hooch" or "kirju koer". has bisquits, marmalade, chocolate, butter, cocoa and milk in it.

22. by Jil on Sat 13 Mar 2010 @ 04:19

As a Canadian living in the U.S., I was able to find Digestives at any Cost Plus / World Market store. I'm sure graham crackers would work but Digestives do have a different flavor and are worth a trip to World Market. Look for the round cookie packages.

23. by ylenia peresso on Wed 23 Sep 2009 @ 15:21

hi anyone could tell me how much grams are needed for the meringue nests because the ones i bought are walkers in a tub and the nests are quite small.

thanks from gozo, malta.

love these recipes :)

24. by Leila on Thu 23 Jul 2009 @ 18:36

I tried this for the first time today, though I bought Mammoth Pecans and I never cut them and the are poking out everywhere!!

25. by Ash on Fri 26 Jun 2009 @ 14:40

I followed the recipe exactly but for some reason there was way too much biscuits/nuts compared to nowhere near enough chocolate sauce when I mixed the two bowlfuls together...

26. by tintifax on Mon 08 Jun 2009 @ 15:51

what can I use instead of golden syrup? I don't think that's available in austria...would honey work?

27. by chloe tsang on Fri 15 May 2009 @ 20:20

i might make it at my sleepover!

28. by Erika/Germany on Wed 29 Apr 2009 @ 16:29

ich habe alles reingetan, was nicht bei DREI auf dem Baum ist:
pecans, cashews, pistzien, einige halbierte ParanÃ¼sse, kandierte kirschen, kandierten Ingwer/Papaya/Ananas, getrocknete Cranberries, zerdrÃ¼ckte Baisers, KeksstÃ¼cke, in die Schokoladenbutter einen ordentlichen Schuss Rum, alles vermischt + fest in die Form gedrÃ¼ckt, gekÃ¼hlt + 5 Tage stehen lassen =
ein Gedicht ! *schmatz*

29. by Eliza on Sat 25 Apr 2009 @ 15:24

We make this in Romania, but we roll it into a round shape and call it "biscuit salamy". This seems to have a lot more flavor than ours, though, i can't wait to try it. Much love@Jamie, the best chef ever!!!

30. by Andrea on Fri 24 Apr 2009 @ 12:44

In Germany this cake is called "Kalter Hund" (= "cold dog" - go figure!) and there are lots of variations.
None I tried is as yummy as this one though. ;)

31. by Moty on Thu 23 Apr 2009 @ 10:02

Wow!
I become very popular at my work! pepole are in love with that cake!!
Tahnks Jamie!

32. by Abigail on Fri 10 Apr 2009 @ 13:56

I love fooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooood

33. by Tamsin on Sun 01 Feb 2009 @ 18:04

What a fab recipe, so easy and delicious, I decided to press it into a larger shallow dish, seeing as some comments said it was hard to cut, worked a treat - easy to slice.

34. by KrystynaCooksInSydney on Sun 11 Jan 2009 @ 06:39

Hi this is for jlodell12 Comment #18 posted 08 January 2008
What would I use for a digestive biscuit in USA ? Try GRAHAM CRACKERS Having lived in New York USA for 7 years & learning my cooking skills there when I came back to Sydney Australia, I had a lot of hassles (trouble) trying to find substitutes but YES it would be GRAHAM CRACKERS & for ginger nut biscuits try VANILLA (NILA) WAFERS when a recipe calls for a sweet biscuit to crush up I hope that was helpful for you, regards Krystyna

35. by Jennifer CG on Wed 31 Dec 2008 @ 11:39

I use this recipe to top up my tan. It's nice to eat but any leftovers can easily be smeared over the face and tops up the tan nicely!

36. by Bloody-minded on Tue 30 Dec 2008 @ 10:39

This dessert is incredible! And you too)))) love u

37. by Harry Hill, Bill Bailey, Lee Evans, Michael Mcintire Fans on Mon 15 Dec 2008 @ 15:15

Hello (:
this recipe is baree mint man
"womanizer"
great recipe :D
loves.x

38. by sysueit oliver dirnt on Thu 27 Nov 2008 @ 09:43

verry good dessert,

39. by Keeley- Hotjobs on Tue 11 Nov 2008 @ 15:38

I think it looks pretty! and it sounds absolutley incredible! I love fruit in chocolate!
Any recipes on chocloate jaffa cakes!? i would be very interested in that?x

40. by Rohroh on Sat 18 Oct 2008 @ 02:31

My son Harry (10) and I made this last night - his choice of Jamie recipes! We found it impossible to slice but that didn't stop it tasting GREAT!

Thought we might crumble half of the biscuits quite finely and that might make it stay in slice?

Harry brought some into school today and passed it round his table - had cookery today and asked teacher if he could 'pass it on' !!!

41. by firdaus on Thu 16 Oct 2008 @ 08:57

...hey chef..how are you..?
....i hope u doing great...
..i from malaysia..
..i love 2 cook...
..butt not as are professional..

42. by Andrea on Mon 13 Oct 2008 @ 12:42

I am an Aussie, cooking this tonight in Tanzania for an Irish lady's birthday. She doesn't have an oven. I'm sure she'll love it. My Jamie OIiver recipe books are in Australia. I miss them!

43. by Alex on Tue 23 Sep 2008 @ 18:05

Hi Jamie! Thanks that you are:) I have all your books. From Russia with love:)

44. by olga on Tue 01 Jul 2008 @ 20:43

digestives are not graham crackers, in canada they are 2 different biscuits

45. by eggserlent on Thu 12 Jun 2008 @ 13:41

Looks nice... taste likes shit...

DIPESH

46. by Lou on Thu 22 May 2008 @ 09:28

This is scrummy. They are very good.

47. by Sista on Wed 30 Apr 2008 @ 16:12

This is TINGINYS or LAZYBOY in Lithuania, we make it almost the same: cookies/biscuits, butter, condensed milk, cocoa. Melt the butter with condensed milk, add cocoa and put the biscuits in, mix everything through and leave to cool in a bowl in a fridge. SKANAUS! Bon appetite!
p.s. some like to put raisins and nuts as well or to miss the cocoa thing, then it doesn't get brown. TRY IT!

48. by louise on Sat 08 Mar 2008 @ 19:01

i didnt try any thing yet but i will i have watch some of yur shows and i think yur a brill chief im going to make my mam a dinner for her birthday on tuesday and maybe a cake two which me luck :D best of luck any advice on what i can make she does not like fish :( she likes beef any ideas on what i cant make her ???

49. by sharon ashton on Thu 06 Mar 2008 @ 10:23

this is excellent but trick is run your knife under hot tap then cut doesn't crumble as much

50. by kate smith on Fri 01 Feb 2008 @ 19:38

digestives are graham crackers in the usa the plain ones not honeyed etc !

51. by rainyuk on Fri 01 Feb 2008 @ 18:28

jlodell12 - From what I understand, a digestive biscuit is pretty much the equivalent to a Graham cracker (so a Brit friend in NC tells me). Same as you'd use for cheesecake base?

52. by jlodell12 on Tue 08 Jan 2008 @ 21:57

I live in America, what would a digestive biscuit be called here? thanks for the help

53. by Colette on Wed 26 Dec 2007 @ 17:44

For those of you who were able to slice this, did you add the meringue to the nut mixture or did you melt it with the chocolate and butter? I did the latter, it is delicious but impossible to slide... rocky road texture indeed. BTW I replaced cherries with home made candied orange peel.

54. by Moos on Sun 23 Dec 2007 @ 17:22

You're right, Eliane!!I love this version of the dutch "arretjescake" more, because the nuts.
You can replace the syrup with Cointreau....for a more "grown up" version!

55. by Daniel on Sat 15 Dec 2007 @ 09:36

great work jamie

56. by Ben on Thu 08 Nov 2007 @ 11:35

i made one from ur book jamie love the book and recipes :D:D:D:D:D

57. by Kat on Tue 06 Nov 2007 @ 13:34

I don't get it - mine sort of crumbled too and it looked nothing like the picture. Mine turned out almost like 'rocky road' and i wouldn't call it cake - more like a slice. Very tasty all the same but a little finicky.

58. by EVANTHIA - EYFEMIA on Tue 23 Oct 2007 @ 13:54

CAN WE ALSO PUT TO THE MIXTURE A SMALL AMOUNT/ (SLICE) OF GINGER? - NICE CAKE JAMIE...A REAL TEMPTATION!!! HAVE A GREAT TIME WITH THE SHOW.

59. by laura on Mon 15 Oct 2007 @ 10:33

Im gonna try to make this so i really hope it works. Its for my gcses so betta look gd a taste nice! xX

60. by Nicolle_Spiers on Wed 10 Oct 2007 @ 15:04

that sounds like a mint cake to do!! so next week for food and nutrition i very well might just have to give it a go!!!!! xx

61. by Nicolle_Spiers on Wed 10 Oct 2007 @ 15:03

that sounds like a mint cake to do!! so next week for food and nutrition i very well might just have to give it a go!!!!! xx

62. by jenny on Sat 06 Oct 2007 @ 16:23

i was sloghtly disappointed with this one, as i found it to dry!

63. by Ieva on Fri 24 Aug 2007 @ 10:36

Hi :) In Lithuania this cake is TINGINYS I like it very much, niam niam :)

64. by nancy on Sat 11 Aug 2007 @ 18:17

make sure that the chocolate mixture doesnt separate because that is what happened to me :(

65. by Eliane on Wed 08 Aug 2007 @ 21:46

This looks like a variation on a Dutch recipe called 'Arretjescake'. I'm sorry, but there's no translation for it :-)
The cake was made to use up old biscuits, but now people just make it because they like it.
It's like the recipe above, just leave out everything except butter, chocolate, biscuits and change the syrup for sugar.

66. by Sheila on Sat 21 Jul 2007 @ 13:41

Am I right in understanding that the meringues are melted with the chocolate?

67. by Celia on Sun 15 Jul 2007 @ 19:53

I tried this out and when i slced it , it just crumbled Help what went wrong?

68. by Brindusa on Wed 04 Jul 2007 @ 07:28

this seems to be a very easy dessert to do, i have to try it a.s.a.p.

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