Having talked about potatoes for a while, I decided it is time for a detour into something different. This post is about Tinginys (translated as "Lazy Man") - a no-bake cake that has been popular in Lithuania for decades. It is made of broken cookies, which are bound together by a chocolaty mass.
A word about Lazy Man's ingredients
As you will see below, the ingredients are very straightforward. I just need to elaborate on two of them - hard cookies and butter.
A word about Lazy Man's ingredients
As you will see below, the ingredients are very straightforward. I just need to elaborate on two of them - hard cookies and butter.
Gaidelis
Arnott's Milk Arrowroot Biscuits
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More often then not, Lithuanians use a brand of cookies called "Gaidelis" for this cake.There is really nothing very special about these cookies, only that they are plain, hard and do not crumble too much when broken. The nearest substitute I found abroad was Arnott's Mild Arrowroot Biscuits, but you can try other brands and see how that works.
Another thing to pay attention to is butter. As you will see in the recipe, butter is the ingredient that solidifies the refrigerated cocoa mass and keeps the cake together. In Lithuania, again, I am aware of butter brands that work well for that. In foreign stores I am yet to find a butter brand that works for this purpose. Somehow the cocoa mass does not set well with many brands I have tried so far. The solution I found is to stick the cake in the freezer instead of the fridge. And now the recipe. |
You will need:
7 ounces / 220 g hard cookies/biscuits
3 ounces /100 g unsalted butter
1 can (14 ounces / 400 g) sweetened condensed milk
5 tablespoons cocoa powder
1/4 cup / 60 ml milk
1/4 teaspoon salt
A handful of dried fruits and nuts, chopped (optional)
The process:
Serves 8
7 ounces / 220 g hard cookies/biscuits
3 ounces /100 g unsalted butter
1 can (14 ounces / 400 g) sweetened condensed milk
5 tablespoons cocoa powder
1/4 cup / 60 ml milk
1/4 teaspoon salt
A handful of dried fruits and nuts, chopped (optional)
The process:
- Break the cookies into pieces (about half inch in size) into a mixing bowl. Set aside.
- Mix the cocoa powder and milk until the mixture is smooth without lumps.
- Melt the butter in a saucepan, pour in the condensed milk, add the cocoa mixed in milk and slowly bring to a boil while stirring. Turn off the heat and let cool for 10 minutes.
- Pour the mixture on broken biscuits pieces and mix to coat. Mix in any dried fruits or nuts if using.
- Place the mass on a wax paper, fold the paper over and press firmly to form a cake. Place in a refrigerator (or freezer, see above).
- Let set for several hours. Serve sliced.
Serves 8
