Chocolate Fridge Cake Recipes

Steps:

• Break the biscuits into small pieces and put in a large bowl.
• Add in both kinds of nuts and the cherries and stir to mix.
• Put the rest of the ingredients in a small saucepan and simmer over the lowest possible heat until the chocolate and butter are melted.
• You may have to give it a stir or two to combine the ingredients.
• Pour the melted chocolate mixture into the bowl with the biscuits and use a spoon to mix everything until the chocolate is evenly distributed across the rest of the ingredients.
• Line a loaf pan with saran wrap, leaving lots of extra at the edges to cover the top of the finished cake.
• Spoon the mixture into the loaf pan.
• You may have to use the back of the spoon to pack it down.
• Pull the extra saran wrap over the top and use your hands to push down firmly on the cake, making sure it is well packed together.
• Place in the fridge for two hours to cool, then take out and slice.
• For a special touch, dust with cocoa powder.

Steps:

• Break the biscuits into small pieces directly into a large bowl. Add the pecans, pistachio nuts, cherries and bits of meringue. Put the rest of the ingredients, except the cocoa powder, into a bowl and put over a pan of simmering water on low heat to melt.
• Mix the ingredients together and place in the container which acts as your mold. To help with turning out, line a 12 by 8-inch (30 by 20 centimeter) container with cling film, first leaving plenty of extra film at the edges to fold over the top.
• Leave in the refrigerator to firm up then turn out and cut into chunky slices. This cake can be kept in an airtight container and actually improves after a couple of days.

Steps:

• Put the dried fruit in a small bowl and pour in just enough brandy or juice to cover. Microwave for 2 mins until steaming, then set aside.
• The non-messy way to chop chocolate is to smash it (still wrapped) onto your work surface, then unwrap it down to the foil and snap it (still in foil) into small bits using your fingers. Empty the chocolate into a microwaveable bowl. Add the butter and golden syrup, cover the bowl with cling film and microwave for 2 mins until melted. Set aside.
• Meanwhile, line a 20cm square tin with baking parchment, using a little butter to stick it in place. (You can also use foil but it's more fiddly to peel off later, or cling film if you don't mind wrinkles on the underside of your cake.)
• Take a third, large bowl. Use your fingers to break the biscuits into it. Stir in the nuts, soaked fruit and soaking liquid, then mix everything together. Pour the melted chocolate into the bowl with the biscuits, using a spatula or spoon to scrape out every last bit of chocolate. Mix together until everything is coated in chocolate.
• Check the ingredients list to make sure everything is accounted for (it's surprisingly easy to miss something in this recipe), then tip the chocolate mixture into the tin, pushing well into corners and flattening the top. Put in the fridge (no need to cover) for 4 hrs or overnight until set. To serve, remove from tin, peel away the parchment and cut into 16 squares (any crumbly bits that fall off make tasty samples for the cook). Will keep for up to 1 week in an airtight container in the fridge. Can be frozen for up to 1 month.