White Chocolate Tiffin With Crushed Meringues And Fruit

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Fan of both chocolate fridge cake and strawberries and cream? This divine white chocolate tiffin is like a cross between the two. The best part? It’s no bake, and you need just 6 ingredients and 15 minutes to make it. This just might be the perfect way to use up leftover crushed meringues!

A pyramid of white chocolate tiffin on a patterned plate

Tiffin meets Eton Mess

Tiffin is an Indian English word meaning ‘light snack or meal’. But now it’s also a sweet treat made with crushed digestive biscuits (US = Graham Crackers) mixed with melted butter, cocoa, syrup and dried fruit. It’s all squashed into a cake pan, then smothered in a thick layer of chocolate.

You may know it better as chocolate biscuit cake? Or perhaps even just chocolate fridge cake? If you’re in Australia you’d do better comparing it to Hedgehog slice.

Traditionally it’s made with milk or dark chocolate on top, but I thought I’d switch things up here! In any case it’s one of the easiest and most delicious types of chocolate cakes you can make!

Especially if you add dried red berries and meringues to it – Eton Mess style!

Now, if you’re British, you probably have a shocked look on your face right now.

If you happen to not be from the UK, the look on your face might be resembling something a bit more confused (‘What on earth is Eton Mess, anyway? Sounds … errr … messy?’).

Well, Eton Mess is a really quick, no bake summer dessert that is whipped cream mixed with crumbled meringue and red summer fruits.

You’ll love this white chocolate tiffin (meets Eton Mess!) if:

  • you’re a fan of white chocolate
  • you want to make a sweet treat but you don’t want to turn on the oven
  • you only want to use a few ingredients (say 6?)
  • you want to make a crowd pleasing treat to share at a picnic, party or other event (it’s sweet, very sweet, but just cut it into small chunks and enjoy!
  • you have leftover chocolate, meringues and dried fruit.

About the ingredients

You only need 6 ingredients to make this white chocolate treat. How simple is that?

Digestive biscuits: Any. Use Graham Crackers if you’re in the USA.

Butter: To melt and stir through the crushed biscuit crumbs with some meringue bits and chopped dried fruit.

Crushed meringue: As explained above, this is to stir through the biscuit base AND to scatter over the chocolate on the top. Any shop bought kind is absolutely fine. If you’re buying ‘meringue nests’ around 2 crumbled up is about the right amount.

Golden syrup: Add a couple of tablespoons of Golden Syrup and stir (go with Corn syrup in the USA). Then press into the bottom of a 8 inch square cake tin.

White chocolate: To spread over the top. I usually find a supermarket own brand or Aldi/Lidl is perfectly fine. But choose your favourite brand.

Chopped dried fruit: This is also to stir through the biscuit and to decorate the top. I usually head to the baking isle to find dried cranberries, strawberries, raspberries, or even plain old raisins if that’s all they have. Have a dig around in your pantry first to see what you already have!

How to make white chocolate tiffin

You can have this stashed in your fridge for dessert ’emergencies’, picnics and lunch box treats in just a few very simple steps:

Step 1: Crush biscuits. The best way to do this is in a big food bag with a rolling big. You want the biscuits to be finely crushed, but it’s OK if there are still a few big pieces left.

Step 2: Add crushed meringue and dried fruit.

Step 3: Mix in melted butter and golden syrup.

Step 4: Press into a pan. Pour melted chocolate over the top. Sprinkle with more meringue and fruit.

Step 5: Let set in the fridge. Cut into small squares. EAT!

2 images showing part of the process of making white chocolate tiffin
white chocolate tiffin in the baking dish, and a closeup of it on baking paper - 2 images side by side

The most fun part of making this white chocolate tiffin is sprinkling the crushed meringue and dried fruits (I used strawberries, blueberries and cranberries) all over the melted white chocolate at the end.

Pretty as well as delicious!

Substitutions and variations

Don’t worry about the ‘Digestive biscuits’, ‘Golden Syrup’ and ‘meringue nests’ in this recipe if you don’t happen to be in the UK or Australia.

Yes, these are all very British or Australian ingredients, but you can use a different kind of biscuit/cookie (Graham crackers or a simple crumbly type cookie are fine), and honey or maple syrup.

If you need to make your tiffin gluten free, simply use gluten free biscuits/cookies (any you like).

Use any dried fruit you like, and any kind of crushed meringue. Leftover from a pavlova is perfect.

I love this tiffin made with white chocolate as it goes so well with the meringues and dried red fruits. But feel free to use either milk or dark chocolate instead.

Although this is quite a traditional dessert, it’s quite easy to make it your own. Add your favourite crushed candy, coconut, glace cherries, nuts, turkish delight… whatever you like!

Top Tip: Chocolate tiffin is perfect for making after a holiday such as Christmas or Easter when you have lots of dried fruit, biscuits and perhaps meringues leftover!

How to serve it

I love to cut this into tiny squares and serve it as a delicious treat at a party, picnic or event. It’s also great for tucking into lunch boxes!

Tiffin can also make a great addition to a charity bake sale, or you can pack tiny squares of it into food bags and give them as a gift.

More things to know (FAQ)

How long will tiffin keep?

I’m glad you asked! Because of the ahem significant amount of sugar in these, you’ll find they will last quite a while. You can store them for up to 2 weeks in an airtight container or covered tightly in the fridge.

You may find the meringue will soften or become chewy rather than crunchy, but it’ll still be delicious.

Of course if you prefer you can freeze leftovers (although I bet you won’t have any!) for up to 3 months.

What can I use instead of Golden Syrup?

This may be harder to find if you don’t live in the UK or Australia. But that’s OK because you can use honey, maple syrup or even corn syrup instead.

Or, to be honest, you can just skip it altogether…

is Tiffin the same as rocky road?

No, not at all! They are both a kind of no-bake traybake, so they have that in common. But unlike tiffin rocky road doesn’t usually contain any golden syrup, cocoa or meringues.

Rocky road is made in a few different ways depending on where you’re from. But I make it by mixing chocolate with crushed biscuits, marshmallows, nuts and fruity candies. I have a great recipe for Christmas rocky road (that you can make any time) if you want to find out more.

A close up of pieces of white chocolate tiffin cake on baking paper

More easy slices and bars

  • These 7 layer bars are another treat that you can make virtually one handed. You don’t even need a bowl for this delicious recipe!

Check out 11 really easy dessert recipes (6 ingredients or less) if you’d like a list of more no fuss desserts just like this Eton Mess cake!

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Pieces of Eton Mess fridge cake on baking paper
5 from 1 vote

White Chocolate Tiffin With Crushed Meringues And Fruit

A delicious white tiffin with all the flavours of the classic English dessert Eton Mess. Just mix crushed biscuits with butter, syrup and dried red fruit, squash into a baking pan, smother with melted white chocolate and sprinkle with more meringue and dried fruit. Just gorgeous!
Prep: 15 minutes
Total: 15 minutes
Servings: 20

Ingredients 
 

  • 9 ounces digestive biscuits, see note 1 below
  • 9 tablespoons unsalted butter, (1 stick + 1 tablespoon)
  • 2 tablespoons golden syrup, see note 2 below
  • 1 ounce pre-packaged meringue, I used 2 ‘nests’ – see note 3 below plus extra for the topping (about 1 ‘nest’)
  • 7 ounces dried red fruit, chopped if necessary (e.g. raspberries, cranberries, blueberries, strawberries)
  • 14 ounces white chocolate

Instructions 

  • Line a baking tin (mine was roughly 30 x 23cm) with baking paper and set aside.
  • Tip the biscuits into a freezer bag and crush them into smallish pieces using a rolling pin. Pour into a large bowl.
  • Melt the butter in a saucepan, then add the Golden Syrup. Set aside to cool a little.
  • Add about half of the dried fruit and the two crumbled meringue nests to the biscuits in the bowl and mix well. Then pour in the butter and syrup mixture and stir until all the mixture is coated.
  • Press the mixture into the baking tin.
  • Break the chocolate into a bowl, then microwave in 30-second bursts to melt (3 x 30-second bursts worked for me, then I stirred the chocolate well to finish off melting it). Spread over the biscuit cake, then sprinkle the rest of the dried fruit and the remaining crumbled meringue over the top. Leave to set completely in the fridge.
  • Cut into smallish squares and enjoy!

Notes

1. If you can’t find Digestive biscuits (UK), Graham crackers or another hard crumbly cookie is fine.
2. Similarly, if you can’t find Golden Syrup, you can use honey or maple syrup instead.
3. Pre-packaged meringue is sold in little ‘nests’ where I live. If you can’t buy these in your country, any type of meringue is fine – just so long as you use about 25 grams and a bit extra for sprinkling!

Nutrition

Calories: 245kcal, Carbohydrates: 31g, Protein: 2g, Fat: 12g, Saturated Fat: 7g, Cholesterol: 17mg, Sodium: 89mg, Potassium: 79mg, Sugar: 25g, Vitamin A: 165IU, Vitamin C: 0.1mg, Calcium: 46mg, Iron: 0.5mg
Like this recipe? Rate and comment below!

About Helen Schofield

Don't expect to find anything fussy or complicated here. Just QUICK, EASY & (mostly!) HEALTHY recipes from the Mediterranean and beyond. ENJOY!

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60 Comments

  1. Oh my god… I love this so so much! I love anything ETON MESS! 🙂 PLUS it’s no bake… thats a BIG plus! 🙂

    1. Thank you, Dini! Really happy you approve of this! Totally agree that no-bake is a big draw card. 🙂

  2. I do not speak the Queen’s English, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night. LOL! I could eat the Eton Mess no problem but this looks more up my alley anyway. I don’t do croquet but I can play a mean game of beer pong! I would probably win especially since everyone would be distracted by this amazing dessert!

    1. Hello Jennifer! Well if you stayed at a Holiday Inn then that totally compensates for you not speaking the Queen’s English!! I don’t do croquet or beer bong, so you would definitely win if you were playing against me. Thanks so much for passing by! 🙂

  3. Eton Mess, such a great combination and I’m craving it right now!!! Love it, thanks for sharing Helen! Great idea to use digestive biscuits!

    1. Thank you, Sweet Mira! I’m happy that you like this (and that you know what digestive biscuits are!) Have a lovely weekend!

  4. I’ll be honest…I had no idea what this was… Never heard of it…probably because I have never been to the UK. But I like it!!! It seems easy and super yummy~~~ Although making meringues in the summer heat and humidity may need to wait until it cools off a bit 🙂

  5. I’ve never HAD a traditional Eton Mess, but….I’m pretty sure I would take a few slices of this cake over one any day!

  6. A quick, no bake meringue with the word “Mess” in the title has me all sorts of giddy! Plus this looks delicious! I’m definately giving this dessert a try! Thanks for sharing the yum♡ Cheers, girl!

    1. Cheers to you too, Cheyanne! (especially as it’s Friday night!!) Really happy you like the sound of this enough to want to give it a go! 🙂

  7. This is so so good Helen! I love making meringues and the left overs definitely end up as an eton mess..but this cake!! Wow!! SO simple..and so so perfect!! Gotta try this soon 🙂

    1. Thank you so much, Swayam! I’m really happy that you like the sound of this enough to want to give it a try! 🙂

  8. What a brilliant idea this eton mess cake is, Helen! I am a “cream, meringue and fruit sort of girl” AND I am a “chocolate-y, biscuit-y and fruit kind of girl” so this is PUUURFECT!!!

  9. Oh my goodness, this is beautiful! Wow, the colors and layers and textures – I didn’t even have to get to the recipe before I was sold. I really like how you did your photos Helen, they’re fantastic! White chocolate, biscuits, what is not to love here? Pinning for sure!

    1. Awww, thank you so much for your enthusiasm, Frances! I should have known that this would be up your street as you’re such a master baker! Thanks for the compliment on the photos, too … the cake is pretty, so I guess that helped!

  10. Lol, I was one of those people who was like, ‘what on earth is Eton Mess’? Now that I know, it looks and sounds wonderful! I am also more of biscuit and chocolate kinda gal too, so this version is fantastic for me! And I love that its no-bake!

  11. Well, I have never heard of Eton Mess or fridge cake but both sound like of good to me? Regardless, your dessert looks absolutely delicious, what lovely presentation. I’ll send you my address for shipping purposes, hehe. Beautiful Helen!

    1. Oooh, send away, Laura! Sad to say, but there is probably so much sugar in these things they’d be fine when they got to you! 😉

  12. Okay, I may not be British, but this cake literally looks like EVERYTHING! White chocolate is my life and I’m dying over all that gorgeous dried fruit you packed into these beauties! I don’t even care that the weekend is over–these need to happen ASAP!

  13. I am not usually a fan of eton mess either, as it has too much cream, so this sounds like a good solution. I love that it is called fridge cake too.

  14. Ooh I absolutely love the sound of this Helen! A fridge cake Eton Mess? That’s sheer brilliance 😀

  15. I’ve never heard of eton mess before, but I do like the sound of it! This sounds like an even better version, Helen! I love the flavors in here. What a perfect treat!

    1. Thank you, Gayle! I knew you US-siders wouldn’t have heard of Eton Mess, but I knew you’d all love it! 🙂

  16. I think I love you.

    This. Is. GOLD. I adore Eton Mess (seriously, how unpatriotic of you to not love it) but it is such an effort to make!

    Seeing this makes me think of a zillion other variations that could be done. I love this SO MUCH!

    And I love the idea of working in cafes! There are some days when I do feel a little too isolated working from home 🙂 I should do that – thanks for the idea! N x

    1. Wait, you ‘think’ you love me? Now come on, Nagi, you can do better than that!
      You definitely could make a million different versions of this. That’s what I love about it – just throw everything in a bowl with a bit of melted butter and syrup and you can’t go wrong.
      You should DEFINITELY try the coffee shop thing. Working from home can be REALLY isolating at time and honestly I feel much more productive and creative when I’m surrounded by people and noise! I’ve even started meeting other workers who often hit the coffee shops – so you ‘sort of’ end up with work mates! 🙂

  17. I love your twist on the classic and I would enjoy this much more than the original. Now I’m craving digestives 🙂

    1. Oooh, so sorry about that, Janette! Hey, I think there are recipes for homemade out there, though … does that help? 😉

  18. Hi Helen, never heard of this dessert before. Like how you changed it up to make it your own. England sounds like such a grand place. Hope to visit some day.

    1. Hi, Cheri! England is OK, but not on days like today when it’s rained absolutely ALL day! So glad you like the sound of this fridge cake. It’s so simple and very easy to make your own!

  19. Before Digestives were available here in the US, I used to hoard them on trips back from the UK. One time I got stopped by security with 7 rolls of those and hob nobs in my carry on. I got some odd stares before I finally mumbled, “I really like these cookies.” Embarrassing. Anyway, i love all of the things in these bars, so I’m excited to try them!

    1. Oooh, I love Hobnobs, too! That’s hilarious that you took so many back with you! I’ve heard you can make your own … I must try that!