Northern Irish Biscuit Cake (Fifteens)
This no-bake teatime treat from Northern Ireland combines fifteen biscuits, fifteen cherries, fifteen marshmallows and a sprinkle of coconut to make a crunchy overnight delight.
Although not a very old tradition, ‘fifteens’ have become a modern staple sweet treat of many church events and parties throughout Northern Ireland. ‘Fifteens’ take their name from their ingredient list, featuring fifteen Digestive biscuits, fifteen glacé cherries and 15 marshmallows, though I have included a weight measurement for the marshmallows as they can vary in size nowadays. This sweet and sprightly mixture is bound with condensed milk, which is rolled into a log and given a non-stick coating of desiccated coconut. After a chill in the fridge, these can be sliced into portions and served straight away, usually met with rave reviews. These no-bake biscuits are a god-send in the summer as there’s no need to turn the oven on, though a hot cup of tea will sing their graces extremely well! Let’s go!
INGREDIENTS (makes 12-15x pieces)
15 Digestive biscuits
15 large marshmallows, chopped (or 50g)
15 glacé cherries, halved
200g condensed milk
1/4 tsp salt
50g desiccated coconut, for coating
WALKTHROUGH
Into a mixing bowl, add the 15 digestive biscuits. Using the end of a rolling pin, crush the biscuits to make an even mixture of fine crumbs and small chunks.
Add the 15 halved glacé cherries, 15 chopped marshmallows (or 50g) and 1/4 tsp of salt followed by the 200g of condensed milk. Stir the mixture well until everything evenly coated and moistened.
Place a 30-60cm piece of baking paper or cling film onto a counter and sprinkle over the 50g of dessicated coconut. Using wet hands, transfer the wet mixture to the paper/film. Sprinkle some of the coconut over the top of the log to make a non-stick coating, then use the paper/film to gently shape it into an even log.
Roll the log tightly in the paper/film and then transfer it to the fridge. Let it chill for 4 hours or overnight.
Once chilled, remove the log from the fridge and unwrap it. It will have firmed up nicely. Using a sharp knife, slice the log into 12-15 pieces, about 2cm thick. The ‘fifteens’ can then be stored in an air-tight container at room temperature for up to one week. Enjoy them with a cup of tea!
