Updated October 2026.
This no-bake Christmas chocolate cake is a chocolate biscuit cake: crushed Marie biscuits set in a rich cocoa and butter mixture, topped with dark chocolate ganache, whipped cream and Christmas chocolates. It serves 8 and takes about 45 minutes to make, then needs about 3 hours in the fridge to set, so it's ideal to make ahead.
- No oven,
- no hard-to-find ingredients
- and no hours in a hot kitchen at Christmas.
This recipe was created by @wearethegilmores, who also took the photos, and it's finished with Chocilo chocolates for a show-stopping cake that suits any Christmas table.
[[ recipeID=recipe-8lbfwaccc, title=No-Bake Chocolate Christmas Cake Recipe ]]
Can I make it ahead of Christmas Day?
Yes, and you should. The cake needs about 3 hours in the fridge for the ganache to set, so making it the day before takes the pressure off on Christmas Day. Keep it covered in the fridge until you serve it: with butter in the base and cream on top, it shouldn't sit out in a warm kitchen. Food safety authorities advise keeping your fridge at or below 5°C, because bacteria grow quickly between 5°C and 60°C (NSW Food Authority). The cake will keep for a few days in the fridge.
Which chocolates should I put on top?
Our cake in the photos is topped with Candy Cane Dark Chocolates, which we no longer stock. Any of our Christmas loose chocolates look just as festive, from $2.20 each. One per slice works well:
- Christmas Plum Pudding Dark Chocolate
- Christmas Plum Pudding Milk Chocolate
- Christmas Caramel Milk Chocolate
- Christmas Gingerbread Milk Chocolate
- Christmas Fruit Mince Tart Milk Chocolate
Some of these contain alcohol or nuts, so check the product page if you're serving children or anyone with an allergy.
What can I use instead of Marie biscuits?
Marie biscuits are plain and not too sweet, which is why they work so well with the rich chocolate. Another plain, crunchy biscuit should work in a similar way, but we haven't tested alternatives.
Is this cake gluten free?
No. Marie biscuits contain wheat. You could try a gluten-free plain biscuit instead, but we haven't tested a gluten-free version.
More easy Christmas desserts
Short on time? Try our Woolworths mud cake hack (Christmas version) or a Christmas chocolate platter. If you'd rather bake, our Rocky Road Chocolate Cake can be decorated for Christmas too. For tips on melting chocolate for ganache, see our guide to dark chocolate.
