Crispy Chocolate Fridge Cake Recipes

Steps:

• Put the chocolate in a heatproof bowl with the butter and golden syrup and gently melt in 10-second bursts in the microwave, or melt it over a pan of simmering water, making sure the bowl doesn't touch the water. Stir until smooth, then take off the heat and stir in the rice pops, coating them gently with the chocolate until they are all completely covered.
• Divide the mixture between nine cupcake or 12 fairy cake paper cases - it's easier if you slide these into a muffin tin as it will help them hold their shape. Leave to set. If you want them to set faster, put in the fridge for 1 hr.
• Drizzle with a little melted chocolate and decorate with sweets, dried fruit or nuts while they are still wet enough to stick them on. Will keep in an airtight container for five 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.

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.