Baking | Featured | Make in advance | More effort | One Tray | Recipes | Sweet | Traybakes | Vegetarian
ByKarolyn
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Fifteens are a popular sweet treat and traditional Northern Irish traybake that are made using a combination of marshmallows, glacé cherries, digestive biscuits and desiccated coconut. The name “fifteens” comes from the fact that the traditional northern irish recipe originally called for fifteen of each ingredient, although this is not a strict requirement any longer. They are extremely easy to make, a no bake traybake and can be customised with different flavours and additions such as chopped nuts or dried fruit. They are also very delicious!
To make fifteens, the biscuits are crushed and mixed with condensed milk, marshmallows and glacé cherries. The mixture is then shaped and rolled in desiccated coconut. The traybake is chilled for a couple of hours until firm, then sliced and enjoyed!
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What are traybakes?
In Northern Ireland, traybakes are a popular type of sweet baked good that are typically served at social gatherings, afternoon teas, or just as a sweet treat in your home. They are simple to make and often require no baking skills and limited equipment and they are also a beloved part of our Northern Irish food culture. They are best enjoyed with a wee cup of tea!
Ingredients needed
- 15 digestive biscuits
- 15 large marshmallows (45 mini marshmallows)
- 15 glacé cherries
- 75g desiccated coconut
- 200g condensed milk
Substitutions and variations
Here are some possible substitutions and variations you can make to the fifteens recipe:
- Marshmallows: If you don’t like marshmallows, you can try using chopped dried fruit or chopped nuts instead. Dried cranberries, raisins, or chopped almonds would all be good choices.
- Glacé cherries: If you don’t have glacé cherries, you can use other types of candied fruit, such as candied orange peel or candied ginger.
- Desiccated coconut: If you don’t like coconut, you can try using chopped nuts instead
- Sweetened condensed milk: If you prefer a less sweet recipe, you can use unsweetened condensed milk instead. You could also use the vegan version of condensed milk. When using substitutions please be aware that the rest of ingredient quantities may differ from the original recipe.
Variations:
- Chocolate fifteens: Add 50g of cocoa powder to the recipe to make a chocolate version of fifteens.
- Nutty fifteens: Add 50g of chopped nuts (such as pistachios or walnuts) to the mixture for a crunchy twist.
- Fruity fifteens: Add 50g of dried fruit (such as cranberries or raisins) to the mixture for a fruity variation.
- Coconut-free fifteens: Leave out the desiccated coconut and dust with some icing sugar or chopped nuts.
- Lemon zest fifteens: Add the zest of one lemon to the mixture for a zesty summery variation.
- Mint chocolate flavour fifteens: Add mint chocolate flavour aero to the mixture.
How to make Fifteens Northern Irish Traybake
- Crush the digestive biscuits into small pieces and place them in a large mixing bowl.
- Add the marshmallows and glace cherries to the large bowl of crushed biscuits.
- Pour in the sweetened condensed milk and mix everything together until well combined. If it’s too dry you can add more condensed milk.
- Roll out a length of cling film and sprinkle it with the desiccated coconut. Tip out the fifteens sticky mixture on top of the dessicated coconut and using the clingfilm roll it up into a sausage shape/log shape. The coconut will be covering the outside.*
- Place it in the fridge to chill for at least 2 hours (until set), or better still overnight.
- Once the mixture has set, remove the tray from the fridge and cut the fifteens into slices.
- Serve immediately or store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week.
- Enjoy!
*At step 4 you can place the fifteens mixture into a lined baking tray to set instead of using the cling film and sprinkle the coconut on top. Once these are set they can be cut into rectangles or squares.
FAQ
Can I make these without condensed milk?
Condensed milk is a key ingredient in this recipe, as it provides sweetness and helps bind the ingredients together. You can try using a dairy-free or vegan condensed milk alternative if needed.
Do I have to use cling film for shaping the mixture?
While cling film is a convenient way to shape the mixture, you can also press the mixture into a lined baking tray, as mentioned in the recipe. This method allows you to cut the Fifteens into rectangles or squares once they’re set.
Can I make these gluten-free?
To make gluten-free Fifteens, use gluten-free digestive biscuits or a similar gluten-free biscuit. Check the labels of all your ingredients to ensure they are gluten-free.
How do I crush the digestive biscuits?
You can use a food processor to break down the biscuits or give them a good bash with a rolling pin!
Top tip
Adjust Condensed Milk:
- The amount of condensed milk you need may vary slightly based on the dryness of your biscuit crumbs. If the mixture seems too dry, you can add a bit more condensed milk to achieve the desired consistency.
Storage
Storage: Fifteens can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week. Keep them in the container until you’re ready to serve them, to prevent them from drying out.
I hope you enjoy this classic Northern Irish treat recipe!
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Fifteens Northern Irish Traybake
Fifteens are a traditional Northern Irish traybake that are made using a combination of marshmallows, glacé cherries, digestive biscuits and desiccated coconut. The name "fifteens" comes from the fact that the recipe originally called for fifteen of each ingredient, although this is not a strict requirement.
To make fifteens, the biscuits are crushed and mixed with condensed milk, marshmallows and glacé cherries. The mixture is then shaped and rolled in desiccated coconut. The traybake is chilled until firm, then sliced and served.
Fifteens are a popular sweet treat in Northern Ireland and are often served at parties and gatherings. They are extremely easy to make and can be customised with different flavours and additions such as chopped nuts or dried fruit. They are also very delicious!
Karolyn
Prep Time 15 minutes minutes
Chill time 2 hours hours
Total Time 2 hours hours 15 minutes minutes
Ingredients
- 15 digestive biscuits crushed
- 15 marshmallows
- 15 glacé cherries chopped in half
- 75 g desiccated coconut
- 200 g condensed milk
Instructions
Crush the digestive biscuits into small pieces and place them in a large mixing bowl.
Add the marshmallows and glacé cherries to the bowl.
Pour in the sweetened condensed milk and mix everything together until well combined. If it's too dry you can add more condensed milk.
Roll out a length of cling film and sprinkle it with the desiccated coconut. Tip out the fifteens mixture on top of the coconut and using the clingfilm roll it up into a sausage shape. The coconut will be covering the outside.*
Place it in the fridge to chill for at least 2 hours (until set), or better still overnight.
Once the mixture has set, remove the tray from the fridge and cut the fifteens into slices.
Serve immediately or store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week.
Enjoy!
Notes
*At step 4 you can place the fifteens mixture into a lined baking tray to set instead of using the cling film and sprinkle the coconut on top. Once these are set they can be cut into rectangles or squares.
