This 3 ingredient easy lazy cake recipe is all you're going to be craving once you try it. And good news - it takes less than 10 minutes to make. Oh but wait, you do have to wait very patiently for it in the freezer. Once it's ready, cut up those slices and serve them up with a nice cup of coffee. This lazy cake may also be known as "Marie biscuit cake" as it's usually made with the famous Marie biscuits.
Why this recipe works
One time I was entertaining and cooking up a grand dinner for my friends. I was so busy planning the dinner menu and making sure the mains were taken care of, that on the morning of, I realized I completely forgot about making dessert! Thank god for this lazy cake recipe. I had all the ingredients on hand, made it in 10 minutes and popped it in the freezer and forgot about it for the rest of the day. 8 hours later when it was time for dessert... there were happy tummies all around.
This dessert is chocolaty, crunchy, cold and sweet. It will impress adults and kids - this statement has been tested significantly. Also, you don't need to use Marie Biscuits for this cake, any tea biscuit will do, so I'm sure you've got the ingredients in your cupboard right now - that's the bonus.
By the way, if you're not patient enough to wait for it to freeze, try these chocolate biscuit balls inspired by this recipe and they only need the fridge.
Ingredients you'll need
- Tea biscuits (Marie Biscuits, or Digestive biscuits usually work really well but any other tea biscuit on hand will be fine)
- Sweetened condensed milk - the magic ingredient (you should have a couple of these in your cupboard at all times, so you can make these toffee squares too)
- Cocoa powder - I recommend unsweetened because the sweetness will be from the sweetened condensed milk
How to make this recipe
- Start by mixing the sweetened condensed milk with the cocoa powder. Combine them really well together, but it's okay if there are a few small lumps
- Taste the mixture and adjust it to your desired sweetness by either adding more condensed milk for more sweetness or more cacao powder. I prefer it with the amounts stated in the recipe
- Next you need to crumble up the biscuit into the mixture
- It's important to use small sized biscuit crumbs like in the picture, but also try and incorporate really small crumbs in there as well to help the mixture hold
- The last step is shaping the mixture. Do this by spreading out some plastic wrap (or cling film) and spooning the mixture in the centre in the shape of a log. Slowly wrap the plastic around the mixture and tighten as you do this to shape into a cylindrical log
- Next wrap the log with foil to help it maintain its shape and place it in the freezer for at least 5 hours (depending on your freezer)
- You need to wrap this up in plastic wrap. If you don't and you use foil straight away, it will stick to it. The plastic wrap will peel right off when you're about to cut it
- If you have trouble shaping this into a log shape, you can simply lay plastic wrap inside a cake pan or loaf tin and spoon the mixture in there. You will end up with square or rectangular shapes
- When you're ready to serve, cut into 1 inch thick slices using a hot knife. Wrap up the rest and pop it back in the freezer for up to 3 months.
For more easy dessert recipes, check out:
If you tried this recipe, please consider leaving a star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating in the recipe card below and/or a review in the comments section further down the page - I'd love to hear from you!
Easy No Bake Lazy Cake
Ingredients
- 300 g Tea Biscuits typically 1 Pack
- 1 can Condensed Milk 397 g
- 7 tbsp Cocoa Powder unsweetened
Instructions
- In a bowl, mix the condensed milk with the cacao powder very well.
- Crumble in the biscuit using a mixture of small pieces and crumbs, and combine well, ensuring all the biscuits are coated.
- Spread out a large piece of plastic wrap on the counter, and spoon the mixture in the middle.
- Mould it into a log shape by wrapping the cling film around it and twisting at each end.
- Cover the log with foil and freeze for at least 8 hours or preferably overnight (depending on the power of your freezer, the 8 hours may not be enough).
- To serve, unwrap the foil and start peeling the plastic wrap up to the point you want to cut, then cut ½ inch to 1 inch thick slices with a sharp knife that has been dipped in hot water. Serve immediately
Notes
- If you struggle to create a log shape, you can line a cake pan with cling film and spoon in the mixture inside for square/rectangular shapes.
- Don't skip the plastic wrap! If you only use foil it will stick to the cake once frozen. The plastic wrap however will peel right off before you cut it.
- If the plastic wrap starts sticking to it, it means you need to freeze it for longer. Pop it back in the freezer and try again. Optimum freezing time is overnight.
- The lazy cake can stay in the freezer for a few months. Just ensure that you return it to the freezer after you're done cutting
I'm going to try this out as it looks so easy, yet so good, plus it has so many great reviews. Have you got any other lazy cake recipes? I would love one with pistachios, peanuts or salted caramel! My mouth is watering! Lol!
haha! I'll work on those for you 😉 Hope you enjoy this one!
Such an easy dessert to make and tasted just as good as a different method I’ve tried that requires more ingredients using the stove. Thanks Amina!
That's perfect! So glad you enjoyed it Mona and thanks for leaving the feedback! 🙂
This totally takes me back to being a kid! Love it!
Can we replace condensed milk with almond milk?
Hi Rania! No, unfortunately you can't because the condensed milk is thicker than almond milk and also includes sugar.
Rania you can buy Soy Condensed milk online...
Good luck with it... x
Thanks so much for that info! 🙂
I've tried this so many times and absolutely love it.
Thanks for the awesome review Sharika! 🙂
This is the such a delicious, quick easy recipe to put together. My kids were craving sweet and I came across this lazy cake recipe. It’s crisp and soo chocolatey. Loved it. Devoured just as quickly as it came together. Sooo soo good!!
That's so wonderful to hear Uneza - so glad you and the kids enjoyed it! 🙂
This is the most easiest, quickly put together dessert. And the best part is it is super delicious!! My kids were craving sweet and I came across this lazy cake recipe. It was devoured just as quickly as it was made. Too good. It’s chocolatey and crisp when you bite into it. Loved it!!
So glad you enjoyed it Uneza! Thanks for the great feedback 🙂
made this, and everyone absolutely loved this! thank you for the amazing recipe, definitely making this again
Woohoo! So glad it was a hit! Thanks Amna 🙂
This cake is so good and took me back to my days as a kid when my family would make it as treat. So easy and it keeps for a long time in the freezer whenever you’re craving something sweet!
Thank you for the review Dema! I know - it's always nice to have a little treat in the freezer 🙂
Kids simply love the lazy cake. I made it with my 5 year old and now it’s her all time favourite. Thanks dear for the recipe.
I'm so glad your kids enjoyed this recipe, Hera! Thanks so much for the kind review. 🙂
This cake was SO good! I love how easy it was to make and the ingredients were already in my pantry. 🙂 This has quickly become my go-to quick dessert.
I'm so glad you enjoyed it Fatima! Thanks so much for your review.
This turned out sooo delicious and soo good!!!! I'm definitely going to be making this again!! Can't believe how easy it was to make this!
Right? It's called lazy cake for a reason! So very glad you loved it Amal! Thanks for the review 🙂