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Queen Elizabeth's favourite sweet treat she ate every day is so easy to make - recipe
Reach Daily Express | April 22, 2026 5:41 PM CST

Many people might assume the late Queen's favourite treat was a classic Victoria sponge or lemon drizzle, but it was actually something completely different. According to Darren McGrady, former personal chef to Queen Elizabeth II, it was a chocolate biscuit cake, and she requested it most days for afternoon tea. Darren McGrady previously said: "This chocolate biscuit cake is Her Royal Majesty the Queen's favourite afternoon tea cake by far.

"This cake is probably the only one that is sent into the royal dining room again and again until it has all gone." According to the chef, Prince William is also a huge fan of this cake due to its decadent flavour and lovely crunchy texture. The biscuit cake is super easy to recreate at home, too.

Ingredients:

For the cake:

  • Half a tsp of butter, for greasing the pan
  • Eight ounces of Rich Tea biscuits, or sweet cookies
  • Four ounces of unsalted butter, softened
  • Four ounces of granulated sugar
  • Four ounces of dark chocolate
  • One egg

For the icing:

  • Eight ounces of dark chocolate, for coating
  • One ounce of chocolate, for decoration
Method:

Lightly grease a six-by-two-inch cake ring with butter, then place it on a tray lined with parchment paper.

Break each biscuit into small pieces by hand and set aside. In a large bowl, combine the butter and sugar until the mixture starts to lighten.

Melt the four ounces of dark chocolate and add it to the butter mixture, stirring constantly. Add the egg and beat to combine. Fold in the biscuit pieces until they are all coated with the chocolate mixture.

Spoon the mixture into the prepared cake ring. Try to fill all the gaps at the bottom, since this will end up being the top of the biscuit cake.

Chill the cake in the fridge for at least three hours, then remove it from the fridge and let it stand. Meanwhile, melt eight ounces of dark chocolate over a low heat. Slide the ring off the cake and turn it upside down onto a wired rack.

Pour the melted chocolate over the cake and smooth the top and sides using a knife, or a palette knife if you have one.

Allow the chocolate to set at room temperature. Once set, melt the one ounce of chocolate and use to decorate the top of the cake before tucking in and enjoying.


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