It seems the whole world is obsessed with the impending royal nuptials scheduled for this Friday. Although I will not be watching, I am still interested in the cake! What does royalty serve on such an occasion? While the royal wedding cake recipe is yet under lock and key, the groom's cake has been revealed.
I certainly wouldn't have expected this cake. Sure, the groom's cake is usually much less fancy than the wedding cake... but this? This refrigerator cake is simple and easy enough for common-folk like myself to whip up in no time flat. I'm not even sure why it's called a "cake". It's fairly dense, intensely chocolaty, and reminds me more of a candy bar.
I decided to make this on a whim, and I wasn't sure I'd be able to locate the McVities Rich Tea Biscuits called for in the recipe. My best option locally was World Market, and ten minutes later I was walking out of the store with McVities in hand.
If you can't find McVities brand, any plain, crispy cookie would work.
Enjoy!
Chocolate Biscuit Cake
Lightly adapted recipe from Eating Royally by Darren McGrady [click to print]
1/2 tsp. softened butter for greasing pan
8 oz. McVities rich tea biscuits, broken into pieces
1/2 stick (4 tbsp) unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup extra find granulated sugar
4 oz. (about 1/2 cup) chopped chocolate or chocolate chips
1 egg, beaten
1 egg, beaten
8 oz. chocolate for icing
Cinnamon for dusting
Lightly grease a 6" spring form pan. Set aside. Cream the butter and sugar in a bowl until mixture has lightened in color.
Melt 4 oz. chocolate in a double boiler. Add butter and sugar mixture to the chocolate stirring constantly. Add the egg and continue to stir. Fold in biscuit pieces until they are all coated with the chocolate mixture.
Spoon the chocolate coated biscuits into the cake pan. Press firm with the back of a spoon to fill in any gaps - the bottom of the cake will be the top when turned out. Chill the cake in the refrigerator for 3 hours.
Remove cake and unmold on a wire rack. Melt the 8 oz of chocolate (I did this in the microwave) and pour over the cake. Spread smooth with an off-set spatula. Allow chocolate coated cake to sit at room temperature until chocolate is set. When set, run a spatula under the cake to remove from wire rack (chocolate makes it stick a little). Transfer to a fancy serving platter, slice and serve.
heather@sprinklebakes.com
84 comments:
I want a cake that's like a candy bar! Sounds heavenly...and I'd certainly pick you to make it :)
I was surprised that he chose this cake too! It certainly looks delicious to me though.
The cinnamon looks just like gold dust! Perfect for royalty :)
At first I thought the cinnamon was gold dust :)
I'm going to make it and bring it for the girls at work on Friday - our own little "royal" celebration!
How lovely of you!
this is lovely & low key … as i think of the prince….
i, too, thought the cinnamon was gold dust!
beautiful heather!
Lovely cake. So different with all of those cookies inside but so fun to see a little glimpse into this world of princes and princesses. We watched "The King's Speech" over the weekend. What a wonderfully rich movie.
Your cake looks wonderful. I like the idea of biscuits in a cake like this. Great job and some great photographs too!
I bet it reminds him of being a kid. =) Not sure I can find any McVities by Friday...sadly, we don't have any World Markets around here...but I'd still love to try it sometime. Thanks for posting it!
A divine looking cake! So simple, yet refined.
Cheers,
Rosa
What a coincidence, I was just thinking about making this (after watching way too many Royal Wedding TV specials, obviously)! I hunted down the same recipe last night, and I'm now in search of McVitie's biscuits as well in my neck of the woods.
I agree, I wouldn't have pegged this particular cake to be the favorite of either William's or the Queen's...I guess when it comes to cakes, taste trumps looks in Buckingham Palace. :)
As usual, very lovely work, Heather! <3 your blog!
I love those tongs...where did you get them?
oh i loved that he picked something funky. looks easy enough to make..where to find those biscuits.
Love anything about the Royal couple. How fun that you found this.
Whaa? He chose this? Crazy.
Maybe it tastes really awesome....??
There is a recipe similar to this in a Swedish cookbook I have and I've always been curious about it.
I love that you posted this cake :) I'm all about some Royal Wedding.
Sounds like a cake version of the classic rocky road crunch bar to me! See Nigella's with marshmallow: http://www.nigella.com/recipes/view/rocky-road-crunch-bars-25
They sell these in the cafe at uni! Mmmm..
Heather, how much egg?
One egg, beaten. I've been getting many emails about leaving that egg out! So sorry. It is corrected in the recipe now.
Thank you!!!
xo
This looks so great! I can't believe he went with such a simple cake though lol Is it a family recipe?
Hi Julie! Apparently it is a favorite treat of the Queen's... she loves it at tea time. :)
that looks good! Going to be a great wedding for sure.
This is so so so luring me to immediately head out to buy McVities & Dozens of chocolate to make this!
Always been buying McVities biscuits or spreading Nutella on my McVities...
In Europe, this cake is called Prince Regent's Cake! I think that's why it's traditionally served to any prince's special occasion. :)
I enjoyed my visit.
Your blog is so refreshing and filled with such beauty.
I look forward to visiting again soon.
xoxo
This is similar to our salame al cioccolato...I think I could not eat an entire slice of it, but it's delicious...I understand the groom...
^_^
This looks yummy. N can be made in minutes. I see myself heading to the groceries in the evening, way to hot to step out now. Can I remove the egg from the recipe? I am not very good with raw eggs in my food.
Well isn't this a slice of heaven! Yum!
Thanks all! Rituparna, I'd say you could leave out the egg, but to keep the chocolate mixture soft I'd add 1/4 cup heavy cream to the chocolate mixture. Or maybe vegetable oil.
Best of luck with this! :)
the cinnamon looks like pure gold! how luxurious-looking.
Yum...I think I might actually be able to make that one....interesting...beautiful again!
This looks absolutely amazing, I am so happy I found this. Will try this recipe this weekend for sure. Thanks so much! Great blog by the way, found it through a friend of mine of facebook "liking" a link on here. Jess
Wow simple and so beautiful. Wills would love it!
I wouldn't mind a cake that tastes like a candy bar, really. It looks like it might taste like a Twix? :)
Lindsay, if you were to make it with milk chocolate and add a layer of caramel somewhere it would taste like a Twix!
Spiffy... as usual!
I voted for you over at the Saveur Best Food Blog awards... good luck!
I can't wait to go to Paul! How did you know about/get invited to this event?
~Jen
The biscuits can be found sometimes in the international food section of commissaries on bases, if you've access. But, if not, I find them to be very similar to animal cookies - not the Barnum ones or royal iced ones, but the ones that are crisp, more like sweet crackers. Wish I could be more helpful with the brand name, but I forget it. Wal-Mart always sold them.
I just bought all the ingredients to make this because I just HAVE to do it! Yours looks SO beautiful :) :)
Sues
Oh Heather, this is absolutely gorgeous. I've made something similar (with digestives) and remember it being very, very good. The touch of gold dust really adds a royal flair to the cake.
p.s. Well done on the nominations for the Saveur Food Blog awards!! I hope you win x
I'll admit it...I have no interest in hearing about the wedding. I have just ignored it all. Then you mention cake and suddenly I'm intrigued. Ha! I must make this. Looks yummy!
Aw, fun! I can't wait for the wedding...seriously, this looks epic and amazing. Chocolate and marriage. Perfect!
I'm trying to convince my girls that we can DVR the "wedding" and do NOT have to get up at 4:00am. Wish me luck. At least Prince William did not choose a red velvet cake (to beet or not to make with beets, that is the questions). Great photos and I love your how to steps. Congratulations on being named a finalist for the Saveur 2011 Best Blogs.
I love your website. You are an inspiration.
xoxo,
Rebecca K.
Thank you for enlightening us on what the Royal groom cake looks like and how to make one. I have to admit it appeals to me. Gorgeous photos and congratulations on being nominated for Saveur Best Food Blog awards.
How fun to make the actual groom's cake! It does look a bit like a giant candy bar, albeit a FANCY candy bar:) It looks jolly good, Heather(sorry I couldn't resist)!
Glad I came to visit. Looks yummy, was it? I like this a lot better than the armadillo cake I saw as a groom's cake (they got the idea from Steel Magnolias). I will have to try this, it does look like a dessert.
Lovely job here, never seen a cake like this myself...and now I need a taste.
The biscuits make such a cool design inside, I had no idea that's what they were when I saw the first picture! And those "chicken feet" tongs are so fun to see right there in the biscuits. xo ~Lili
From what I've read it's a family favorite and one of Will's from childhood. Refreshing, I think, instead of yet another over the top concoction. Reminds me of the chocolate wafer whipped cream "refrigerator" cake. Yummy!
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This is a lovely blog, so beautiful, first time see it, the recipes are original, delicious and I like it alot...
This is definitely one "royal" treat!
Oh my yum. I've never heard of this, but it sounds like something that I would enjoy...immensely. Can't wait to try it, and I love your photos. They're just gorgeous!
This looks gorgeous. I am confused though, about what the egg actually does in the recipe. I know you've adapted it from Darren McGrady, but do you have any idea? This looks so much like a rocky road recipe, which typically has a base of chocolate, butter, and golden syrup (you can substitute corn syrup in the US).
I think people who don't want the egg could also substitute 1/4 cup of golden syrup.
Hi Cristina!
The egg is in the original recipe. It keeps the chocolate from being too rigid. I think it could also be replaced with heavy cream to make the cake's center smooth and ganache-like.
Thanks for the suggestion for golden syrup. I'm sure many will find it helpful!
xo
Oh! So THAT'S what it's supposed to look like. Well, even though it isn't fancy looking at all, I think it looks very yummy!
Sounds easy enough and looks lovely when cut. Brilliantly done! Brit sayings all day today! It reminds me a bit of Chocolate Salami. I found your blog only a few weeks ago and really have enjoyed visiting, you are so creative!
Robin Sue
I really wish there was a World Market closer to me, because I LOVE McVities. Or maybe that would be too dangerous...
That looks so good.
I know this cake! Over here (in Germany) it is called "cold dog", and it's very popular for children's birthday parties. I never had one when I was younger though, because it contains raw eggs. Had my fare share later, I must say, but I still love it!
I just found your blog! I love all of your pictures and recipes!
This is a very popular bar from home - we always added sherry.
So wish I was royalty to enjoy this cake. Well done Heather & I bet that yours is well better than the royal staff could ever make! xo
The cake looks great.. I'm gonna make it today but I was wondering if I could use Marie biscuits instead of McVities? You know the ones you get in Indian grocery stores?
Yeah, that's a lot like the Cold Dog (Kalter Hund) mothers in Germany make all the time for children's birthday parties and bake sales! I always thought of it as a sort of, well, peasant-y dish. I was very surprised to learn that this could be the royal groom's cake!
Well... you've got a new fan! I just found your website and I can tell you, I will be back often! I'm getting ready to start baking for my daughter's graduation from h.s. party. She went to a French Immersion school since kindergarten and wants a "Marie Antoinette" party which translates to "Mom will be making French pastries for 200+". Your blog will give me much inspiration!
The McVites biscuits are carried by Safeway & Rodmans in Washington DC area. I think you could also substitute tea biscuits made by Nabisco or Kedem. My husband is British so he eats these other brands when McVites unavailable.
I've never heard of a biscuit cake until this week. Looks amazing.
The idea didn't seem appealing to me initially, but this cake you've made actually looks so delicious!
Good luck with the awards. You have my vote. The groom's cake is a bit of a surprise. I hope you have a great day. Blessings...Mary
I think they should have hired you to bake it! You made a very unappealing sounding cake look so appealing.
mmm looks so good! your pictures are beautiful. we're big rich tea biscuit fans in my family (granted, my dad is from England, so that would be why). i love the British/Irish food section in our grocery stores!!
I made this cake last night and it was a big hit in the neighborhood, I needed to spread the love around. I did temper the egg before adding to chocolate mixture, so my egg won't scramble. Super yummy, definitely will make again. Thank you.
i need to make this with digestives (since that is what I have)
Beautiful picture. I love the dusted cinnamon on top the cake. Looks fit for king (or a prince) :)
oh ho ho, i'm definitely for a delicious yet easy to make cake!
What sort of chocolate did you use? The McGrady recipe calls for dark-- is it an intensely dark chocolate flavor?
OMG this looks amazing!
wow ... thanks and amazing receipe:)
Question for anyone who made this and ate it.
Do the biscuits soften or are they hard and crunchy when you serve it?
Thanks for any help.
This looks absolutely delicious!! It would be perfect for royalty. I would definitely like a slice!
isnt a 6'' pan really small? could you help me convert it to the usual 9'' pan? i dont have such small pans and I would like to try this one. Thanks
lol...he must have had a Portuguese cook along the way, because this is a Portuguese recipe found in any Portuguese bakery / coffee house. it's made with Maria cookies and made into a roll. roll it tightly in foil or wax paper and leave in fridge to harden up, cut into slices and serve.
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xo
H