So you want something delicious and simple? It's Hedgehog chocolate slice time! This easy classic Australian no bake chocolate slice is super popular and requires just 5 minutes active prep time so it is super easy. It uses basic pantry items and doesn't even need condensed milk so you're never far from a delicious chocolate slice!

Hedgehog slice is one of those recipes whose simplicity belies its moreishness. It's a simple mix of butter, sugar, chocolate, cocoa powder and eggs with a layer of chocolate on top. I got this recipe from my lovely friend Nic in Melbourne who shared her mum's classic Australian recipes with me. Her mum's version has no sweetened condensed milk in it which is the old fashioned version of Hedgehog Slice. This slice is for any sweet tooths out there!

Tips For Making Hedgehog Slice

1 - Use any plain cookies you like. Gingernuts, digestives, Malt o Milk, shortbread, Marie or Nilla wafers are excellent. I used Gingernuts for the extra ginger spice flavour. And this may sound weird but if your cookies aren't super fresh and they've been open for a while they are a bit better (I have made half a dozen batches of this and that's just what I found).

2 - I like having clear layers of biscuit among the chocolate (as opposed to crumbs) so I snap the Gingernut biscuits in quarters rather than bash them into crumbs.

3 - This recipe does contain eggs so use fresh eggs as this is a no bake slice.

4 - I like making the base and then setting it in the freezer for 10 minutes and then adding the chocolate top on.

5 - Walnuts are optional, if you do use them, toast them beforehand (spread out in a single layer and bake for 7-8 minutes in a 180C/350F oven).

6 -Coconut oil is used in the chocolate coating so that the chocolate layer doesn't break when you cut into it. You can also use copha or another unflavoured oil but I find the best results are from coconut oil as it is solid at cold temperatures.

7 - This slice is best kept in the fridge to keep it firm.

Hedgehog Slice

An Original Recipe by Lorraine Elliott

Preparation time: 10 minutes 30 minutes freezing time

Cooking time: 0 minutes

Makes 12-16 pieces

• 320g/11.3ozs plain biscuits/cookies, broken up
• 250g/8.8ozs butter
• 450g/1lb icing sugar, sieved
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 4 tablespoons/30g/1oz cocoa powder
• 2 teaspoons vanilla bean paste
• Pinch salt
• 350g/12.3ozs dark chocolate bits

Chocolate Frosting

• 250g dark or milk chocolate
• 2 tablespoons//30ml/2flozs coconut oil or copha

Step 1 - Grease and line a 20x20cm/8x8inch square tin with parchment with some overhang so that it is easy to lift out the slice once set. Break up the cookies; I snap them into halves and quarters.

Step 2 - Melt the butter in a large bowl and then sift the icing sugar into this (tip: I prefer to "sieve" the sugar in a food processor or Thermomix to pulverise the lumps out). Whisk together - don't worry if it doesn't fully dissolve or looks curdled. Then whisk in the eggs and once you add these, you will get a glossy, smooth mixture. Sieve in the cocoa powder, vanilla and salt and mix.

Step 3 - Then melt the chocolate in a microwave or double boiler until melted and then stir into this mixture. Add the broken up cookie pieces and mix so that all of the pieces are covered in chocolate well. Press down firmly to fill in any gaps and tap the tin against the benchtop to remove air pockets. Place the tin in the freezer to set while you make the chocolate icing.

Step 4 - Melt the chocolate in the microwave or a double boiler. Add the coconut oil and mix very well. Pour over the slice and spread over the top. Place the baking tin in the freezer for around 30-60 minutes and then cut into squares.

Storage: this slice is best kept in the fridge.

• Other Easy No Bake Slices You Might Like:
• Malteser Slice (No Bake)
• Baileys Chocolate Slice (No Bake)
• Chocolate Peppermint Slice (No Bake)
• Cherry Ripe Slice (No Bake)
• Mars Bar Rice Krispy Slice (No Bake)

Sometimes you just want something simple. Like this hedgehog slice. It takes around 10 minutes which is just what you need some days.

Sometimes things are a bit complicated and sometimes misunderstandings can occur. That is sometimes the case between Mr NQN and I. We were trying to figure out what would be a good day on the weekend to make some pizza and it all depended on his wing foiling schedule. This is a bit of a pain because it depends on the wind and that is fickle.

I messaged him asking which day we would do the pizzas and this was his answer. (Ignore that I called him Teddy, that's a dictation error, not some weirdness I promise!). And his answer was above.

If you read that, what day do you think you'd be making the pizza? I thought tomorrow but it turns out Mr NQN meant today and he thought that he had communicated that very clearly.

"OK then I'm going to take this to the Court of Monica!" I replied. Monica is our impartial judge that is called to rule on any petty disputes. And of course, she ruled in my favour because I think it's kind of obvious-but tell me Dear Reader, which day would you say he meant to make the pizzas? That same day or tomorrow?