Lazy Cake

Name one thing better than chocolate cake? A no-bake lazy chocolate cake, of course! Lazy cake takes literally 5 minutes to put together and only needs 3 ingredients: tea biscuits, cocoa powder, and condensed milk.

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 that you'll never be able to resist.

Ingredient Notes

• 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.
• 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.

• 

• 

How To Make Lazy Cake

Crush the tea biscuits into smaller pieces with your hands. In a bowl, empty the can of condensed milk and mix it with the cocoa powder until fully incorporated.

• 

• 

Fold in the biscuits. Keep folding until they're all evenly coated. 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.

• 

• 

Roll into a tight log and seal with the plastic wrap, then wrap again with foil.

• 

• 

Refrigerate overnight or freeze for not less than 3 hours. Slice and enjoy.

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 for 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 definitely leave everyone coming back for more.

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 from the freezer, slice, 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 exact steps to make this chocolate lazy cake.

Print