• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About
  • Recipes
  • Videos
  • Shop
  • Subscribe
The Matbakh
menu icon
go to homepage
  • About
  • Recipes
  • Videos
  • Shop
  • Subscribe
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • About
    • Recipes
    • Videos
    • Shop
    • Subscribe
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » Dessert

    Lazy Cake (No Bake Chocolate Biscuit Cake)

    By Samara・Published:Feb 1, 2021・Updated: Dec 23, 2022・Post may have affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    NO-BAKE LAZY CAKE

    Name one thing better than chocolate cake? A no-bake lazy chocolate cake, of course! This easy lazy cake recipe takes literally 5 minutes to put together and only needs three ingredients: tea biscuits, cocoa powder, and condensed milk.

    lazy cake on a plate

    This no bake chocolate biscuit cake is the best lazy cake recipe because it requires little effort and tastes so good!

    What I Love About This Recipe

    Lazy cake has been my favorite since I was a kid, and I've changed up my recipe so many times over the years to get the quickest and most delicious lazy, no-bake chocolate cake. We used to call it the "Marie cake" where I grew up in Kuwait because the tea biscuit we used to buy were called Marie.

    It always made an appearance on birthdays and special occasions, and EVERYONE loved it. And you're gonna keep coming back for more because this recipe is perfectly chocolatey, sweet, and has the loveliest texture you'll never be able to resist.

    Ingredient Notes

    There are just three main ingredients for this delicious recipe.

    • Tea Biscuits: You don't specifically have to use Marie biscuits; any tea biscuits will do. If you absolutely can't find tea biscuits anywhere, you can also use digestive biscuits, which will result in a slightly denser but equally as delicious lazy cake. Another substitution is vanilla wafers.
    • Natural Cocoa Powder: Use raw, unsweetened cocoa powder. Since you're already using sweetened condensed milk, unsweetened cocoa powder is what will add that chocolatey richness. Don't worry, it won't taste like dark chocolate at all.
    • Sweetened Condensed Milk: As I mentioned above, you can make your own sweetened condensed milk at home. Otherwise, you'll need one 14oz. can or roughly 400g.
    biscuit crackers in a bowl

    See quantities on the recipe card at the bottom of the post.

    How To Make Lazy Cake

    biscuit crackers broken into pieces in a bowl

    Crush the tea biscuits into smaller pieces with your hands.

    cocoa powder and condensed milk blended together

    In a large bowl, empty the can of condensed milk and mix it with the cocoa powder until it makes a chocolate sauce.

    crushed biscuits added to the cocoa powder and condensed milk mixture

    Fold the biscuits into the chocolate mixture. Keep folding until they're all evenly coated.

    lazy cake ingredients on a parchment paper

    Spread the clingfilm or plastic wrap onto your table or work surface and transfer the mixture onto it. You'll need a decently sized piece that you'll be able to wrap the lazy cake in.

    lazy cake rolled into a log

    Roll into a tight log and seal with plastic wrap.

    lazy cake rolled in foil

    Then wrap again with aluminum foil.

    Refrigerate overnight or freeze for not less than 3 hours. Slice with a sharp knife and enjoy.

    lazy cake on a plate with a top view

    Tips And Tricks

    • Taste the cocoa and condensed milk mixture before adding the biscuits. If it's too sweet for you, add more cocoa powder. If it's not sweet enough, add more condensed milk.
    • Don't skip the cling film/plastic wrap. If you wrap the cake with foil straight away, it'll stick when you unwrap it. So make sure you use plastic wrap and then foil. You can also use parchment paper or baking paper.
    • Store in the freezer. This is a great make-ahead recipe because you can store the lazy cake in the freezer for up to six months. You can pull it out any time you want, cut a couple of slices, and place it back in the freezer whenever you need it. I usually make a couple of rolls and keep them in the freezer for an easy treat or when I have guests over.
    • Shape however you want. If you don't feel like rolling it into a log or it isn't working out for you, line a cake pan with baking paper and spread the mixture in there. You can serve it as bars, squares, or slices, it's really up to you.
    • Crush some of the biscuits a little extra. What gives this cake its insanely delicious texture is the tea biscuits soaking up the chocolatey condensed milk. So along with the larger pieces of biscuits, make sure you throw in some of the crumbs and small pieces. This will make sure your no-bake lazy cake will hold its shape beautifully.
    • Be patient. I usually like to refrigerate this cake overnight, but if you're in a hurry, you can place it in the freezer for at least 3 hours. You want to give the cake enough time to set and keep its shape when you slice it up.

    Substitutions and Variations

    If you don't have access to or can't find sweetened condensed milk, I like to use almond condensed milk (dairy-free) by making my own at home. I love easy recipes that taste great, and this cake will leave everyone coming back for more. Other lazy cake recipes may use butter, heavy cream, chocolate chips, and mini marshmallows. But those ingredients are not necessary for this simple cake recipe.

    a view of the lazy cake in half

    Equipment

    • Cling film or plastic wrap
    • Foil
    • Mixing bowls
    • Whisk

    Storage

    Store this no-bake lazy cake in the freezer for up to 2 months. When ready to serve, just remove it from the freezer, slice it, and serve.

    Is This Lazy Cake Gluten-Free?

    The only ingredient that contains gluten in this recipe is the tea biscuits. But guess what? You can easily make a gluten-free version of this no-bake chocolate cake by using gluten-free tea biscuits. Look in the gluten-free section at your local grocery store, and you just might be able to find a couple of options. So if you find a pack, follow the same steps to make this chocolate lazy cake.

    FAQs

    What is the best cocoa powder for lazy cake?

    Unsweetened cocoa powder is the best for lazy cake. You can use unsweetened Dutch cocoa powder.

    Where did lazy cake originate?

    This easy cake recipe originated in the Middle East.

    Easy Sweet Treats

    • Karak Chai Tea With Cardamom
    • Mamouniyeh - Syrian Semolina Pudding
    • Cookie Butter Rice Krispie Treats
    • Homemade Larabars (4 Variations)
    • Creamy Almond Milk Rice Pudding
    • Cookie Dough Date Balls

    Join the Tribe

    Subscribe to The Matbakh Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, or Pinterest pages. We also have a saucy newsletter.

    lazy cake on a plate

    Lazy Cake (No-Bake Chocolate Biscuit Cake)

    Author: Samara
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: International
    Prep: 5 mins
    Cook: 3 hrs
    Total: 3 hrs 5 mins
    5 from 5 votes
    Print Pin Rate Email
    Servings 15 slices
    This lazy cake is a no-bake chocolate biscuit cake with only 3-ingredients: condensed milk, cocoa powder, and tea biscuits. 

    Ingredients
     
    US Customary - Metric

    • 1 pack tea biscuits 10.5 ounces or around 300g
    • 12 ounces sweetened condensed milk
    • 5 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder

    Instructions

    • Crumble the biscuits into large pieces with your hands. Set aside.
    • In a bowl, combine the condensed milk with the cocoa powder. 
    • Fold in the crumbled tea biscuits until all of them are evenly coated. 
    • Spread a large piece of plastic wrap on your work station and spoon the mixture into a log in the middle of it.
    • Wrap the plastic wrap around the mixture and shape into a tight log. Then wrap with foil and place in the fridge overnight or the freezer for no less than 3 hours to set. 
    • Take it out right before serving to slice. 

    Notes

    1. You can also line a baking pan with parchment paper and let it set in there, then cut into bars or cake slices. 
    2. Make sure you give it enough time to set or you'll end up with a runny mess. You'll know it's ready when the plastic wrap peels off easily. 

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1slice | Calories: 199kcal | Carbohydrates: 34.5g | Protein: 4.6g | Fat: 5.4g | Saturated Fat: 3.1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2.3g | Trans Fat: 0g | Cholesterol: 0mg | Sodium: 120mg | Fiber: 1.2g | Sugar: 23.6g

    More Delicious Desserts For Everyone

    • Brioche French Toast Casserole
    • Peach Cobbler With Cake Mix (Dump Cake)
    • Meghli Lebanese Caraway Pudding
    • Sfouf Turmeric Cake

    About Samara

    Hi! My name is Samara Alkhammach. I’m half Syrian, half Palestinian, with a few other nationalities in the mix. I was born and raised in Kuwait, and currently live in Cairo, Egypt. I have a deep love for yoga, art, the kitchen, and bringing people together through them all.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Leave A Comment Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




    1. Rosemary

      July 06, 2021 at 8:40 am

      You really can't get simpler than this. How easy and delicious looking. Can't wait to make this "lazy" cake. Cheers.

      Reply
      • Lily

        July 06, 2021 at 10:54 am

        Oh yes, easy desserts are always a fave in my home!

        Reply
    2. Sharmila Kingsly

      July 06, 2021 at 8:30 am

      5 stars
      Awsome... This is super quick and looks yummy!! i am going to try it out!!

      Reply
      • Lily

        July 06, 2021 at 10:55 am

        It's really easy and yummy!

        Reply
    3. Sarah

      July 05, 2021 at 3:13 pm

      5 stars
      This was so easy and delicious! Loved it

      Reply
      • Lily

        July 05, 2021 at 3:13 pm

        Thank you for the comment and so glad you liked it!

        Reply
    4. Michelle

      July 03, 2021 at 9:28 am

      5 stars
      Such an easy recipe! Can't wait to give it a try -- I've got all the ingredients on hand!

      Reply
      • Lily

        July 06, 2021 at 10:54 am

        It's so delicious!

        Reply
    5. Beth

      June 15, 2021 at 11:11 am

      5 stars
      Oh wow! This looks so delicious and very yummy to make! I can't wait to give this a try soon. My family and I are going to love this recipe especially my son! Can't wait to try this.

      Reply
      • Lily

        July 06, 2021 at 10:54 am

        Hope you like it... it's one of our favorites!

        Reply
    6. Dannii

      May 06, 2021 at 8:35 am

      5 stars
      Anything with just 3 ingredients sounds good to me. This looks so easy, I am definitely oing to try it.

      Reply
      • Lily

        July 06, 2021 at 10:53 am

        Hope you like it!

        Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    Howdy, I'm Lily!

    toddler lily using her kitchen set

    I've been cooking things up ever since I was a kid. More about me

    Mediterranean Dips

    • Lebanese Baba Ganoush: The Ultimate Eggplant Dip
    • Labneh With Za'atar and Olive Oil
    • Labneh With Mashed Garlic Paste
    • Black Olive Tapenade Without Anchovies

    Mediterranean Recipes

    • Sautéed Lemon Garlic Butter Shrimp
    • Oven Broiled Lamb Kabobs
    • Epic Fatoosh Salad With Pomegranate
    • The Best Spanakopita Pie

    Lebanese Food

    the best traditional lebanese food recipes

    Family-Style Recipes

    • Steelhead Trout with Garlic Lime Butter Sauce
    • Meatless Baked Ziti
    • Blanched Asparagus With Garlic Aioli
    • Stovetop Pot Roast

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    Stay Connected

    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Facebook
    • YouTube

    Legal Stuff

    Privacy Policy

    Terms & Conditions

    Accessibility Statement

    About

    The Matbakh

    About Me

    Contact

    Resources

    Shop

    Recipe Index

    Video Index

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2020 - 2023 Amooni Media LLC

    We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.Ok