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    Home » Recipes » Christmas

    Christmas Chocolate Tiffin (Refrigerator Cake)

    Published: Dec 18, 2018 · Modified: Oct 26, 2020 by Kate Hackworthy · This post may contain affiliate links ·

    Jump to Recipe
    All the best flavours of Christmas combine in this easy tiffin. Crushed ginger biscuits add a little heat, along with the heady spices of cinnamon and nutmeg. The fresh zing of orange is lovely against the rich chocolate and sweet fruit. It’s rich, decadent and full of flavour. A perfect edible gift. #ediblegift #tiffin #fridgecake #nobake #Christmasdessert #chocolatetiffin

    Christmas flavors combine in this easy Christmas Chocolate Tiffin (Refrigerator Cake). Crushed cookies, holiday spices, dried fruit are combined with melted chocolate. It’s a no-bake dessert that's rich, decadent and full of flavour. A perfect edible gift.

    A piece of chocolate cake on a plate.

    This Christmas Chocolate Tiffin (Fridge Cake) is super easy to make and full of festive flavours.

    Tiffin is a great way to use up leftover cookies and chocolate and turn them into something special.

    It's cookies, dried fruit and melted chocolate - what's not to love? 

    Chocolate Tiffin can be made with any firm cookies that you can crumble. I used ginger ones for a little extra Christmas taste. Combined with spices and dried cranberries, it's a fun and decadent taste of the holidays.

    Slabs of Christmas Refrigerator Cake makes a really great edible gift for Christmas as the no-bake fridge cake is quick, easy and delicious.

    The decadent treat just needs a bit of melting, cookie crushing, mixing and then waiting as it all sets.

    Cut squares and put them into little bags or boxes for a lovely homemade edible Christmas gift.

    Slices of Christmas Chocolate Tiffin on baking paper.

    Why You'll Love This Recipe

    Christmas Chocolate Tiffin is quick and easy.

    Great to make with kids as they can bash, mix, melt and stir.

    Make with whatever chocolate, biscuits and dried fruit you have in the kitchen.

    Perfect to give as a gift.

    Full of spiced festive flavors.

    Simple, no-bake recipe.

    Not Christmas? Simply leave out the cranberries and it's just a Chocolate Tiffin that you can enjoy any time of year.

    Ingredients and Tools

    You only need simple ingredients for this incredible no bake Christmas Tiffin (refrigerator cake)!

    Ginger cookies - use gingersnaps or any other flavor! Anything firm that you can crush, such as chocolate chip, graham crackers etc...

    Butter - or swap to dairy-free butter.

    Light corn syrup / Golden syrup - this sweetens and helps to bind it all together. Swap for agave or maple syrup if desired.

    Chocolate - this is melted into the crushed cookies and dried fruit, then it hardens when it chills. There's also white and milk chocolate for the swirled topping.

    Raisins & dried cranberries - this adds flecks of colour and pops of flavor into the Christmas Tiffin.

    Orange zest, cinnamon and ginger - for festive flavor! You can swap the spices for Pumpkin Spice.

    Looking down at Christmas fridge cake being cut into squares.

    Edible Gifts

    So, let's talk about Christmas gifts for teachers. I don’t know about you, but I sort of dread it.

    Don’t get me wrong, I completely appreciate all that they do.

    My kids are in primary school and love going each morning. It’s a nurturing and fun environment and their teachers are doing an incredible job.

    I’m sure a note in a card from parents and children would very welcome and enough, but what about something else… it’s so hard to come up with what to give them to show that appreciation!

    That's when we love to get into the kitchen together so the kids and I can make them edible gifts. This Christmas Fridge Cake is perfect - it's quick, easy and everyone loves it.

    Here are some great edible Christmas gift ideas:

    Icelandic Pepper Cookies - like gingersnaps, but chewy with a subtle heat from the dash of pepper.
    Icelandic Christmas Cookies - made with meringue and cornflakes, they are really easy and taste divine.
    Try some homemade Jammie Dodgers
    Mini Dark Chocolate Tarts make a sophisticated gift.
    Rosemary Maple Roasted Nuts
    Coconut Bliss Ball Snowmen
    Salted Chocolate Honeycomb
    Ginger Pecan Brittle

    Slices chocolate refrigerator cake next to tree ornaments.

    Cook's Tips

    Can I freeze chocolate tiffin? Yes, after it has set, wrap the whole slab of tiffin well and freeze for up to 2 months. Put it in the fridge for 4 hours to thaw, then cut into slices.

    How long does chocolate tiffin last? Store it in the fridge for up to 5 days.

    Chocolate tiffin is also known as refrigerator cake.

    Feel free to substitute any dried fruit you like.

    I've used gingersnaps, but you could use any hard, crushable ones that you love - digestive biscuits, graham crackers and chocolate chip are great, as are many others.

    Special Diets

    Can I make gluten free chocolate tiffin? Yes, just use gluten free cookies.

    Can I make it vegan? Yes, use dairy-free butter, cookies and chocolate.

    How to make Chocolate Tiffin

    It's easy to make this Christmas Chocolate Tiffin in just a few easy steps. This no-bake recipe is perfect to get kids to help with.

    Follow these step by step instructions, then scroll down to the recipe card for the full ingredients list and method.

    Collage: 1: crushed cookies, 2: melted butter, 3: melted chocolate.

    Crush the gingersnaps.

    Melt the butter and syrup together (in a pan or microwave).

    Add the chopped milk chocolate and stir to melt.

    Collage: 1: crushed cookies and raisins, 2: added melted chocolate, 3: poured into a pan, 4: melted white and milk chocolate swirled on.

    Mix the crushed biscuits, raisins, cranberries, zest and spices.

    Add the melted chocolate mixture and stir well to combine.

    Press the Christmas chocolate tiffin mixture into the pan evenly.

    Melt the dark and white chocolate separately.

    Pour the melted dark chocolate over the tiffin, then drizzle the white chocolate over it and use a cocktail stick or knife to create swirls.

    Chill in the fridge for 1 hour to set, then cut into small bars.

    Thanks for checking out my Chocolate Tiffin recipe! I love hearing from my readers; you all allow me to do what I love and write this food blog, sharing vegetarian and vegan recipes, vegetable cake recipes and also easy vegan desserts.
    Leave a comment and star rating below and share a picture on social media with the hashtag #veggiedesserts.Follow me on Instagram > Twitter > Facebook > Pinterest > Youtube

    Get the Recipe

    Squares of chocolate tiffin.

    Christmas Chocolate Tiffin

    Kate Hackworthy | Veggie Desserts
    All the best flavours of Christmas combine in this easy chocolate tiffin (aka fridge cake). Crushed ginger cookies add a little heat, along with the festive spices of cinnamon and nutmeg. The fresh zing of orange is lovely against the rich chocolate and sweet fruit. It’s rich, decadent and full of flavour. A perfect edible gift.
    5 from 12 votes
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    Prep Time 15 mins
    Chilling time 1 hr
    Total Time 1 hr 15 mins
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine American, British, International
    Servings 20
    Calories 294 kcal

    Ingredients
     

    • 1¾ cups (200g) ginger cookies
    • ½ cup (100g) butter
    • ½ cup (150g) golden syrup (corn syrup)
    • 10 oz (300g) milk chocolate chopped
    • ¾ cup (125g) raisins
    • 5 tablespoons dried cranberries
    • Zest of ½ an orange
    • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
    • ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg

    For the topping:

    • 7 oz 200g) dark chocolate
    • 3½ oz (100g) white chocolate

    Instructions
     

    • Line an 8inch (20cm) square baking pan with baking parchment paper.
    • Place the cookies onto a clean tea towel or in a bag and bash with a rolling pin to crush up into small pieces. You could also crumble them by hand.
    • Melt the butter and syrup in a large pan. Add the chopped milk chocolate and stir to melt.
    • Mix the crushed cookies, raisins, cranberries, zest and spices and mix well, then add to the melted chocolate mixture.
    • Press the mixture into the pan evenly.
    • Melt the dark and white chocolate separately. Pour the melted dark chocolate over the tiffin, then drizzle the white chocolate over it and use a cocktail stick or knife to create swirls.
    • Chill in the fridge for 1 hour to set, then cut into small bars.

    Video

    Notes

    Can I freeze chocolate tiffin? Yes, after it has set, wrap the whole slab of tiffin well and freeze for up to 2 months. Put it in the fridge for 4 hours to thaw, then cut into slices.
    How long does chocolate tiffin last? Store it in the fridge for up to 5 days.
    Chocolate tiffin is also known as refrigerator cake.
    Feel free to substitute any dried fruit you like.
    I've used gingersnaps, but you could use any hard, crushable ones that you love - digestive biscuits, graham crackers and chocolate chip are great, as are many others.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 294kcalCarbohydrates: 38gProtein: 2gFat: 16gSaturated Fat: 9gCholesterol: 12mgSodium: 96mgPotassium: 215mgFiber: 2gSugar: 23gVitamin A: 130IUVitamin C: 0.3mgCalcium: 32mgIron: 2.4mg

    The nutritional information provided is approximate and can vary depending on several factors, so is not guaranteed to be accurate. Please see a registered dietician for special diet advice.

    Tried this recipe?Mention @kateveggiedesserts or tag #veggiedesserts! I love seeing your recreations.

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    • Pumpkin Snickerdoodles
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. David

      December 20, 2020 at 7:00 pm

      5 stars
      Made these yesterday, and they are fabulous. Shared with friends on a picnic today - thumbs up all round. Love the combination of ginger, chocolate and orange. Great recipe, super east - thank you 🙂

      Reply
    2. Dorothy Boucher

      November 19, 2020 at 3:39 pm

      5 stars
      What a great recipe here, and I love me some Christmas treats. These would be wonderful to do with the children.
      @tisonlyme143

      Reply
    3. Dena

      November 10, 2020 at 12:10 am

      5 stars
      This looks really yummy. I haven't heard of a tiffin before, will have to try this recipe out.

      Reply
    4. Corrie cooks

      January 06, 2019 at 8:24 pm

      5 stars
      Oh god, these would have been perfect for Christmas!
      But I am still gonna try and make these asap. These will be a hit for my next get-together. It looks so delicious!
      I think I might add a little bit of caramel to it. What do you think about that?
      Thanks for the lovely recipe Kate
      Much love
      Happy new year to you and your family 😀

      Reply
    5. Ann

      December 21, 2018 at 1:44 pm

      Great respect perfect for Christmas treats

      Reply
    6. Luci

      December 18, 2018 at 9:18 pm

      5 stars
      This looks really yummy. I haven't heard of a tiffin before, will have to try this recipe out.

      Reply
    7. Mary Bostow

      December 18, 2018 at 9:15 pm

      5 stars
      I've made this recipe for my own family and sociable occasions. It's really simple, the kids enjoy making and eating it too.

      Reply
    8. Leslie

      December 18, 2018 at 8:44 pm

      5 stars
      I have never heard of this before. What a great way to use leftover cookies. I can't use corn syrup. Is there something you would suggest to use in it's place?

      Reply
      • Kate Hackworthy

        December 19, 2018 at 10:02 am

        Hi Leslie,

        You could try maple syrup or honey. Hope that helps!
        Kate

        Reply
    9. Eden

      December 18, 2018 at 8:27 pm

      5 stars
      Such a fun Christmas treat to make with kids! I know my son will love it!

      Reply
    10. Mike Hultquist

      December 18, 2018 at 8:10 pm

      5 stars
      This is so easy and so delicious! Such a great way to use up extra cookies. They were perfect for this.

      Reply
    11. Tayler Ross

      December 18, 2018 at 7:38 pm

      5 stars
      This looks like the ultimate Christmas treat! I can't wait to try these!

      Reply
    12. Noelle

      December 18, 2018 at 7:21 pm

      5 stars
      These will be perfect for christmas! thanks

      Reply

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    Kate Hackworthy in the kitchen

    Hi, I'm Kate, a journalist, author and multi-award-winning food blogger. I hope you enjoy my vegetarian and vegan recipes. About Me

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    Check out my Veggie Desserts Cookbook, full of tasty desserts with vegetables!

    Kate Hackworthy in the kitchen

    Hi, I'm Kate, a journalist, author and multi-award-winning food blogger. I hope you enjoy my vegetarian and vegan recipes. About Me

    Collage of press logos.

    Popular recipes

    • The BEST Easy Red Lentil Dahl
    • Easy Naan Bread Recipe (yeast-free)
    • Mini Baked Potatoes
    • Easy Lentil Soup

    Easter Recipes

    • Easter Rice Krispie Nests
    • Italian Easter Bread (Pane di Pasqua)
    • Mushroom Wellington
    • Nut Roast

    My cookbook

    Veggie Desserts and Cakes Cookbook cover.

    Check out my Veggie Desserts Cookbook, full of tasty desserts with vegetables!

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