Chocolate Ripple Cake (2024)

An iconic Australian dessert, Chocolate Ripple cake is made with Arnott’s Chocolate Ripple biscuits and sweetened whipped cream with a touch of vanilla. Decorated with crushed Peppermint Crisp or your favourite toppings, it’s perfect for Christmas and entertaining. And it comes together in a matter of minutes – no baking required!

Why you’ll love this recipe

• Quick and easy – this recipe ticks all of the boxes for a delicious, fuss-free dessert. Chocolate Ripple biscuits and freshly whipped cream magically transform into a soft and fluffy cake in the fridge overnight, with very minimal effort.
• Only 4 ingredients, including store-bought biscuits.
• Customisable – decorate it any way you like! Top with fresh fruits or chocolates, or use this recipe as a base and then adapt the toppings to make it your own. The shape of the cake can also be personalised. Make into a traditional log shape, a festive wreath for Christmas celebrations or into cute individual serves. See the variation notes and topping ideas below.
• Perfect for any occasion – it’s the perfect summer dessert. Serve it at Christmas, summer BBQs, celebrations, birthdays or special occasions.
• Make ahead – it tastes even better the next day, making it perfect for entertaining or when you need something fuss-free.

Ingredients you will need

**This post contains tips and instructions to achieve the best possible results. This photo is a great guide for when you are in the supermarket, but for full ingredient quantities and methods, please scroll down to the detailed recipe card below!

• Chocolate Ripple biscuits – Chocolate Ripple biscuits are crunchy, plain cocoa biscuits with signature ‘ripples’ on top. They are commonly used in Australia for baking, cheesecake and dessert bases, as well as the base of the iconic Chocolate Ripple cake. You will need 1 x 250-gram packet (or one and a half packets and a little extra cream if you’re making it into a wreath). These biscuits can be purchased in Australian supermarkets and online. But if you can’t find them, any of your favourite crunchy, sweet biscuits can be used. There is also a gluten-free version available, if you require the dessert to be gluten-free.
• Cream – use thickened cream, heavy cream or whipping cream that is at least 35% fat. Don’t use light or low-fat cream, as it won’t whip or hold its shape.
• Icing sugar – a touch of icing sugar (powdered sugar/confectioners’ sugar) is added for sweetness and to help the cream hold its shape. Regular caster sugar can also be used, or sugar can be left out if you prefer it a little less sweet or plan on adding lots of sweet toppings.
• Vanilla – vanilla helps to enhance the flavours in the cake. The vanilla flavour will really shine, so use a good quality vanilla paste or extract, rather than synthetic vanilla essence.

Step by step instructions

Full ingredient notes and quantities can be found in the detailed recipe card below. But here is a brief overview of what you can expect;

All you need is a packet of Chocolate Ripple biscuits and sweetened whipped cream, layered and assembled to your desired shape. As the cake chills in the fridge overnight, the cream softens and transforms the biscuits to the spongy, cake-like texture that Choc Ripple cake is known for!

The cake takes 6-8 hours to set and soften, so is best made the night before you want to enjoy it.

For a traditional log-shaped cake;

1. Whip the cream along with the icing sugar and vanilla until it reaches stiff peaks. Be careful not to over-beat the cream, or it will become grainy.
2. Spread a little cream over your serving plate of choice.
3. Layer – spread one tablespoon of the cream onto a Chocolate Ripple biscuit. Then, place another biscuit on top and press together gently to seal. Repeat layering cream + biscuit + cream until you reach a stack of 5 – 6 biscuits (or to your desired size).
4. Assemble – place the stack of biscuits and cream onto the serving plate and repeat with the remaining biscuits until you have formed a rectangular log shape.
5. Cover the top and sides of the biscuits completely with the remaining cream and use a spatula to smooth the edges.
6. Set – cover and refrigerate for 6-8 hours (overnight is best) for the biscuits to soften and change texture in the cream.
7. Decorate – when you are ready to serve, decorate the cake with fresh berries, chocolate or your choice of sweet toppings. Slice and serve chilled.

Recipe variations

Use this recipe as a base and then make the cake into your desired shape. When decorating, add your favourite toppings to make it your own.

To make it into a wreath;

For a stunning Christmas centrepiece: follow the steps as normal, but use one and a half packets of Chocolate Ripple biscuits and 3 cups of cream instead of the specified amounts. Arrange the biscuits and cream into a circle on a large serving plate before covering with cream.

When the cake has been chilled and you are ready to serve, decorate the cake with your favourite Christmas-themed lollies and chocolates. I use mini meringues, peppermint balls, Jaffas, mint Aero and Peppermint Crisp.

To make individual Chocolate Ripple cakes;

Individual Choc Ripple cakes are a great idea when entertaining. Everyone gets their own little cake and you can even set up a sweet station at the table for everyone to decorate their own, just the way they like!

Make stacks of 4 biscuits layered with cream, then cover the top and sides with cream and smooth.

Chill until soft (6-8 hours) and decorate just before serving. I used fresh raspberries and chocolate shavings. One packet of Chocolate Ripple biscuits will make 6 individual serves when stacked 4-high. The recipe can be multiplied to make more, if required.

See Also

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Topping and flavour variations;

• Peppermint – add a teaspoon (or to taste) of peppermint extract or essence to the cream, in place of the vanilla. When ready to serve, decorate with dark chocolate curls, crushed Peppermint Crisp bars and mint Aero, or your favourite peppermint chocolate.
• Double chocolate – add 1-2 tablespoons of natural unsweetened cocoa powder to the whipped cream when you add the vanilla and sugar. Beat on low speed until combined and assemble as normal. Decorate with your favourite chocolate treats.
• Honeycomb – top with crushed chocolate honeycomb and add a drizzle of salted caramel sauce when serving.
• Caramel – keep the chocolate Ripple biscuits, or swap them for Butternut Snaps. Serve with chopped Caramilk chocolate, caramel sauce and some crunchy caramel popcorn.
• Black forest – add 1-2 tablespoons of cocoa powder to the whipped cream. Top with fresh or canned pitted cherries and dark chocolate curls. A little Kirsch or cherry brandy can also be brushed over the biscuits before assembly.
• Additional topping ideas – try any of the following toppings; fresh berries, sliced kiwi fruit, chopped chocolate, lollies, mini meringues, crushed Peppermint Crisp bars (my favourite!), mini or regular Oreos, mint leaves or crumbled candy canes.

Expert tips

• Make ahead – this recipe requires 6-8 hours to soften before eating. I recommend making it the day before so you have plenty of time.
• How to cover – the cake needs to be covered while setting in the fridge, or it will dry out. But this can be challenging, as plastic wrap can stick to the cream and make a mess. I recommend poking some toothpicks halfway into the top of the cake and covering over the top with cling wrap. The toothpicks will stop the wrap from touching the cake, leaving the cream smooth. Alternatively, place the entire cake (serving dish and all) into an airtight container with a high lid, if you have one that is big enough.
• Decorate when ready to serve – Some chocolates can bleed colour onto the cream and fruits can make the cream soggy. I recommend adding your desired toppings to the cake at serving time, for maximum freshness.

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Update Notes:This recipe was originally published inDecember 2020, but was re-published with new information and photos inSeptember 2023.