A slice of chocolate, nuts and a biscuit that has been loved for generations in Australia.
A hedgehog slice is a no-bake chocolate treat that we’ve loved for generations in Australia.
I tested different recipes, consulted my mom (who made this slice in country bakeries for years) and refined it to arrive at a reliable hedgehog slice recipe that delivers that winning combination of chocolate, biscuit and nuts in a neat little square.
What is a hedgehog slice?
A hedgehog slice is a chocolate slice with a distinct light and dark pattern through the chunk that comes from the combination of chocolate, regular biscuits and nuts.
Its mixture of textures, chocolate fudge combined with crunchy biscuits and nuts, makes it especially and even more addictive.
A slice of hedgehog is usually covered with chocolate, and sometimes coconut or nuts are sprinkled on top of the chocolate.
I personally like the contrast of the smooth chocolate coating and the mosaic-like appearance of the slice, so I didn’t sprinkle anything on the chocolate coating here.
The slice appears to have originated in Australia, although its exact origin is unclear.
It was around at least as early as 1937, with a recipe appearing in Australian newspaper This year.
It has similarities with the English Tiffin recipe (on which the Queen’s favorite Biscuits Chocolate Cake is based) and the Italian Chocolate Salami (on which My Mother’s Cherry Diary is based).
Why is it called a hedgehog slice?
Coarsely chopped biscuit and nut spikes that can easily be seen throughout the slice are thought to be the inspiration for the name – by resembling the spines of a hedgehog.
Hmm, I think that’s a bit of a leap. But I really can’t think of any more logical explanation for how this slice got its name.
And as it happened, the name stuck. And the name is just as unique as the appearance of a chocolate hedgehog slice.
The recipe for a slice of hedgehog
This traditional hedgehog slice recipe is based on the old versions of the Asher recipe Do not do use condensed milk.
Yes, this is a hedgehog slice without condensed milk.
I did a lot of research and testing to come up with my own version of the recipe.
I also prefer the taste of the steak when prepared with eggs and butter. My mom also confirmed that although the bakeries she worked at used premix, it involved adding margarine or butter instead of condensed milk.
Like most of the recipes in this installment, this is a no-bake recipe – but you cook the mixture (which incorporates the eggs) on the stove.
My version of this much-loved recipe is based mostly on one I found in a community cookbook from a country town in NSW and another I found in an Australian newspaper from 1937.
Ingredients for a slice of hedgehog
To make a no-bake hedgehog slice, you will need:
- Marie biscuits (or any other regular sweet biscuit)
- butter
- fine sugar (fine sugar)
- Walnuts
- egg
- Vanilla extract
- cocoa
- desiccated coconut.
To ice this chunk, which I recommend you do, you will also need:
- chocolate
- A little vegetable oil.
You can find the exact quantities for the ingredients in the recipe card at the end of this post.
How to make a chocolate hedgehog slice
preparation
Start by preparing the slice pattern. It should be about 28 x 18xm.
Grease the pan and line with baking paper, leaving excess on the sides to lift the piece after it has set.
the next, Measure your ingredients and then Crush half of the biscuits in a processor or chopper reach a fine breadcrumb consistency.
Place the crushed biscuits in a large mixing bowl.
Break the other half of the biscuits into small pieces with your hands. Aim for pieces no larger than a postage stamp.
Place broken biscuit pieces into the mixing bowl.
melt
Place the sugar and butter in a medium saucepan and gently heat while stirring until the butter melts.
Increase the heat and bring the mixture to a boil. Remove from the heat immediately after the mixture boils.
Allow to cool for 5-10 minutes.
After that, add the walnuts, vanilla, coconut and cocoa to the pot and mix to combine. Add the egg and mix quickly until combined.
Return the pot to low-medium heat and cook the mixture, stirring, for 3 minutes.
to stir
Remove the pot from the heat and pour the mixture into the mixing bowl with the crushed biscuits.
Mix well until the mixture is well combined.
Pour the mixture into a slice pan and press it evenly into the pan with the back of a dessert spoon.
ice
Place chocolate and vegetable oil in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave for 20 second bursts, stirring between each burst, until the chocolate melts and combines with the oil.
Pour the chocolate over the top of the slice.
Spread chocolate on the edges of the mold and put in the refrigerator to set for at least a few hours.
After setting, remove the piece from the mold and cut into squares with a sharp knife.
Old-fashioned hedgehog slice: variations and substitutions
One of the wonderful things about this recipe is that you can come up with so many variations to suit your preferences.
Here are some ideas to get you started:
- A slice of hedgehog without coconut: Discard the coconut and add a few more nuts
- Mix things with Chocolate or ginger cookies Instead of using the traditional sweet biscuits like Marie or Arrowroot
- do it without nuts: completely omit the nuts from the recipe or use seeds such as sunflower or pumpkin seeds as a substitute
- Page it with White chocolate Instead of milk or dark chocolate
- Add some fun with 100 and 1000 Sprinkle on top
- Peppermint hedgehog slice: add a little Peppermint extract Instead of vanilla.
Frequently asked questions about recipes
That. Is this the best recipe for a slice of hedgehog?
I did a lot of research and recipe testing to come up with a great hedgehog slice recipe. I think it’s the best out there, and if you do too, please add a rating and review below.
That. How long does a slice of hedgehog keep in the fridge?
Stored in an airtight container in the fridge, it should last up to 5 days.
That. Can a slice of hedgehog be frozen?
Yes. Wrap it well and freeze for up to several months.
That. Do you have other old fashioned slice recipes?
abundance!
People who like this slice recipe also often like Weetbix Marshmallow Slice, Chinese Chewy, Peanut Caramel Slice, Vanilla Slice, Caramel Slice and Weetbix Slice.
That. What are other popular chocolate recipes in the Cooking with Nana Ling collection?
Glad you asked!
Chocolate Chip Cookies, Chocolate Trifle, Rocky Road, Choc Coconut Slice and Texas Sheet Cake are all great recipes to satisfy your chocolate cravings.
- 250 gram Marie biscuits (or any other plain and sweet biscuit)
- 125 gram butter
- 125 gram fine sugar (quality sugar)
- 1/2 Goblet Walnuts, roughly chopped
- 1 Egg, lightly beaten
- 1/2 teaspoon Vanilla extract
- 2 spoons cocoa
- 2 spoons coconut
glazing
- 230 gram Chocolate, milk or bitter
- 2 teaspoons Vegetable oil
-
Grease a slice pan and line with baking paper, leaving excess on the sides to lift the slice after it has set.
-
Crush half of the biscuits in a food processor or chopper to achieve a fine breadcrumb consistency. Place in a mixing bowl.
-
Break the other half of the biscuits into small pieces with your hands. Aim for pieces no larger than a postage stamp. Place in the mixing bowl.
-
Place sugar and butter in a medium saucepan and gently heat while stirring until the butter melts. Increase the heat and bring the mixture to a boil. Remove from heat and let cool for 5-10 minutes.
-
Add the walnuts, vanilla, coconut and cocoa to the pot and mix to combine. Add the egg and mix quickly until combined.
-
Return the pot to low-medium heat and cook the mixture, stirring, for 3 minutes.
-
Remove from the heat and pour the mixture into the mixing bowl with the crushed biscuits.
-
Mix well until the mixture is well combined.
-
Pour the mixture into a slice pan and press it evenly into the pan with the back of a dessert spoon.
-
Place chocolate and vegetable oil in a microwave-proof bowl and microwave for 20 second bursts, stirring between each burst, until the chocolate melts.
-
Pour chocolate on top of the slice.
-
Put in the fridge to set for at least a few hours.
-
After setting, remove the piece from the mold and cut into squares with a sharp knife.
Calories: 172KKL | Carbohydrates: 20G | protein: 2G | Fat: 11G | Saturated fat: 5G | Polyunsaturated fat: 2G | Unsaturated fat: 3G | trans fat: 0.2G | Cholesterol: 18mg | sodium: 92mg | potassium: 68mg | fiber: 1G | Sugar: 13G | vitamin: 141IU | Vitamin C: 0.05mg | calcium: 16mg | iron: 1mg
