Description
A classic South African no-bake dessert layered with coconut biscuits, caramel cream and crunchy Peppermint Crisp chocolate. Easy to assemble and perfect for making ahead.
Ingredients
Caramel Cream
2 cups (500 ml) whipping cream, cold
1 can (13 oz / 380 g) caramelised condensed milk (dulce de leche) (Note 1)
1 teaspoon (5 ml) vanilla extract
1 pinch salt, optional
Tart Layers
2 packets (14 oz / 400 g) Tennis biscuits or coconut biscuits (Note 2)
4 Peppermint Crisp bars (7 oz / 200 g), crushed (Note 3)
Optional
2 tablespoons (30 ml) cocoa powder, for dusting
1/4 cup (30 g) extra crushed Peppermint Crisp, topping
Instructions
- Whip Cream: Whip the cream in a large bowl until soft peaks form. The cream should be fluffy and hold its shape but still look smooth and airy, not stiff.
- Make Filling: In a separate bowl, add the vanilla and salt to the caramel condensed milk and whisk until smooth and loosened. Gently fold the caramel mixture into the whipped cream until fully combined and creamy.
- Crush Chocolate: Crush the Peppermint Crisp bars in their wrapper using a rolling pin until small shards form. Tip into a bowl and break any large pieces by hand. Reserve a little for the topping.
- Layer Tart: Arrange a layer of Tennis biscuits neatly across the base of a 9 × 13 inch (23 × 33 cm) dish. Spoon the caramel cream over the biscuits and spread it evenly. Sprinkle some crushed chocolate over the cream. (Note 4)
- Repeat Layer: Repeat a layer of biscuits, caramel cream and crushed chocolate until the dish is full, finishing with a layer of cream and the remaining chocolate on top.
- Chill: Cover with cling film and refrigerate for at least 6 hours, preferably overnight, until the biscuits soften and the tart is set.
- Serve: Slice into squares and serve chilled. Add extra crushed chocolate or a light dusting of cocoa powder if desired.
Notes
- Caramel condensed milk: Caramel condensed milk (often called Caramel Treat in South Africa) is sweetened condensed milk that has already been cooked into a thick caramel. I usually use Top’n’Fill caramel, which is easy to find in most large supermarkets. You can also use dulce de leche, or make your own from condensed milk, although that takes several hours.
- Tennis biscuits: Tennis biscuits are the traditional coconut biscuit used for peppermint crisp tart. If you can’t find them, coconut biscuits or digestive biscuits work well. Some older South African recipes even used ladyfingers as the biscuit layer.
- Peppermint Crisp: Peppermint Crisp is a South African chocolate bar filled with delicate mint-flavoured chocolate shards. If you can’t find it locally, you can often order it online from South African shops such as African Hut. In a pinch, Aero Mint or another mint chocolate bar can work as a substitute.
- Dish size: I used a 9 × 13 inch (23 × 33 cm) dish, which makes two layers with this amount of filling. If you prefer more layers, you can use a smaller or deeper dish and build additional layers of biscuits, cream and chocolate.
- Prep Time: 20
- Chill time: 360
- Category: Dessert
- Method: No-bake
- Cuisine: South African
Nutrition
- Serving Size:
- Calories: 430
- Sugar: 33.1 g
- Sodium: 292.8 mg
- Fat: 21.4 g
- Carbohydrates: 53.1 g
- Fiber: 0.3 g
- Protein: 7 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg
