I know that I’ve already posted a link in my blog to a “Fifteens” recipe, but I’ve often thought how much fun it would be, to post my own recipe, for the benefit of those who weren’t born and reared in Northern Ireland.
Leah and I used to make these together in Sam’s House when we were in Bristol and everybody loved them. I write about Leah’s Bristol baking sessions here and here.
Of course, everyone knows that the ability to make “Fifteens” is part of the birthright of those born in the “six counties” and in some of the neighbouring counties too. These simple to make and tasty treats are served at almost every social occasion here: birthday parties, coffee mornings, christenings, church functions, and wakes etc etc.
They are traditionally made with cherries, but Leah didn’t like cherries, so we make ours with chocolate chips.
INGREDIENTS:
400g digestive biscuits
397g tin condensed milk
50g choc chips/chunks
50g mini marshmallows
Some desiccated coconut for rolling out
First assemble all the required ingredients.
Then crush the digestive biscuits. I usually do this by placing them inside a clean plastic bag and hammering them with a rolling pin.
Children and spouses can generally be persuaded to help with this part.
Then place all the ingredients except the coconut in a bowl and mix thoroughly with a spoon.
Shake some coconut on a clean worktop and place the mixture on top.
Use your hands to gather the mixture into a sausage shape, rolling it in the coconut as you do so.
Place on a tray in the fridge for a few hours, or overnight, until it’s firm.
Then cut them into slices approximately 15mm thick.
Place each slice in a bun case.
When I am giving these as gifts to people, I package them up nicely. These boxes and tags were bought in my local Pound Shop.
Sometimes, if I want to make them “girlie”, I sprinkle some edible glitter in through the coconut. I usually buy this in Poundland, I love their Jane Asher range.
If you like other ingredients, such as chopped nuts, you could add these as well.
The only limit is your imagination.
P.S. I have recently added a step-by-step ‘no-bake’ recipe for Chocolate Bird’s Nests that you may also be interested in. Click here to go straight to the page.
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