Hedgehog slice is Australia's most popular no-bake chocolate slice. It's incredibly easy to make with just 5 main ingredients and as many mix-ins as you like. It's both soft and fudgy and packed full of crunchy biscuits. You could say it tastes a bit like a gooey chocolate brownie. In other words, it's a crowd pleaser!
200grams/7 ouncesbiscuits, crushedAround 2.5 cups (biscuits = cookies / Pulse in a food processor to crush quickly, or put inside a sealed bag and bash with a rolling pin.)
50grams/¼ cupbutter(half a stick)
200grams/7 ouncesdark chocolatebroken into pieces
295grams/1¼ cupssweetened condensed milk
½cup/1¾ ouncesdesiccated coconut
½cup/4½ ouncespeanutsOptional. Add more if you like (up to a cup), or different types of nuts.
chopped dried fruit, Rice Bubbles/Krispies, fudge pieces etc. (optional)⅓ to ½ cup
Line an 8 x 8 inch baking tin/pan or similar with baking paper, grease lightly with butter, and set aside.
Crush the biscuits in a food processor. Some small and larger chunks are OK. Alternatively, put biscuits in a sealed bag and hit with a rolling pin.
Put the butter, chocolate and condensed milk in a large mixing bowl. Microwave for 1.5 to 2 minutes in 30-second bursts to melt. Stir half way through and at the end.
Add the crushed biscuits, coconut, peanuts and any other add-ins to the chocolate mixture in the bowl. Stir well with a wooden spoon until everything is coated in the mixture.
Empty the mixture into the prepared tin. Flatten and smooth with the back of a metal spoon (Wet the spoon beforehand to prevent sticking). Refrigerate while you prepare the topping.
Melt the chocolate for the topping in a medium jug or bowl in the microwave in 30-second bursts (1.5 minutes is usually about right). Stir well until all the chocolate is melted.
Pour the chocolate over the top of the cake and smooth with a metal spoon. Cover well with plastic wrap (cling film) or foil and let harden for at least an hour or preferably a few hours in the refrigerator. Pop in the freezer if you want to eat it sooner.
Cut into at least 16 squares to serve. Store in a sealed or well covered container in the fridge for up to a week.
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Notes
What kind of biscuits/cookies to use:Any kind, including Arnott's Marie, Arrowroot or similar plain biscuits, Digestives, Graham Crackers or a mixture.You can be pretty creative by using fancy biscuits like mint, orange or caramel-filled ones. Sometimes I combine 2 different types - a plain biscuit plus digestives. I've even added some pretzels, but not too many because you don't want your slices to be too salty. Variations to try: Try substituting the peanuts with different kinds of nuts and/or dried fruit or cereal. You can also stir a few tablespoons of nut butter through the chocolate mixture or through the topping. Try using different types of biscuits and different types of chocolate for the topping. How long it keeps and freezing instructions: Cover or seal well and these chocolate slices will keep for up to a week (or even longer) in the fridge. Alternatively wrap well or store in sealed containers in the freezer for up to 3 months. Just bear in mind that if you've added any cereal e.g. Rice Bubbles/Krispies, those probably will only stay crispy for a couple of days. To make a nut or coconut free version: Simply omit the nuts and/or coconut. You can replace them with some kind of cereal e.g. Rice Bubbles/Krispies, or add 1/2 to 1 cup more of crushed biscuits. You can get away with the ingredient amounts being approximate in this recipe, so don't worry if you want to leave something out (or add it in!). How to make it without condensed milk: You can still make hedgehog slice without condensed milk. Just double the amount of butter and add a few tablespoons of Golden Syrup/corn syrup. The texture will be different but it will still be gooey, chocolaty and delicious.