Bolo de Bolacha — Portuguese Biscuit Cake

A no-bake cake of coffee-dipped biscuits layered with a rich egg yolk and butter cream.

TIME BREAKDOWN
Prep: 45 min
Total: 45 minutes
Vegetarian
✅
Nuts
❌
Serves
10 people
Difficulty
Easy

Ingredients

  • 250g unsalted butter, softened
  • 150g caster sugar
  • 4 egg yolks
  • 100ml whole milk, warmed
  • 300ml strong coffee, cooled
  • 2 tbsp brandy (optional)
  • 400g Maria biscuits (or Rich Tea or Marie biscuits)
  • Grated dark chocolate or ground biscuit crumbs, to decorate

Method

  1. Cream the butter and sugar together until pale and fluffy.

  2. Beat in the egg yolks one at a time, then gradually beat in the warm milk until smooth.

  3. Mix the coffee and brandy, if using, in a shallow dish.

  4. Dip each biscuit briefly into the coffee and arrange in a layer on a serving dish or in a loaf tin lined with cling film. Spread over a layer of the cream.

  5. Repeat the layers, finishing with cream, until you have used all the biscuits.

  6. Chill for at least 6 hours or overnight until firm. Decorate with grated chocolate or biscuit crumbs and serve in slices.