This Dutch version of a delicious, chocolatey fridge cake is really easy to make. With only a few ingredients, including Dutch kruidnoten biscuits, it's a traditional treat in the Netherlands.
Chocolate fridge cakes are usually made with rich tea or digestive biscuits, but this traditional Dutch version of the no-bake cake uses pepernoten biscuits. It's truly delicious and is usually enjoyed in The Netherlands during Sinterklaas celebrations.
I actually use kruidnoten to make this cake but in popular Dutch parlance they are usually referred to as pepernoten. You can read about the difference between kruidnoten and pepernoten here. I will always refer to both types as pepernoten, just like most Dutch people, which does not mean that they, nor I, don't know the difference.
Making this cake couldn't be simpler, and it's in the fridge in no time. You do have to wait a little while for the cake to set, though.
This recipe contains the following allergens. Click on the allergen to search for alternative recipes.
Made by Véronique
Published at 2023-11-30, this recipe is for 10 persons and takes 15 minutes.
Founder of Ohmydish (since 2014), she prefers to spend all day in the kitchen. Once working in the hospitality industry as an independent chef, she loves helping you gain confidence in the kitchen. With her easy-to-follow recipes, handy tips, and cooking knowledge, you'll make the most delicious dishes yourself! The recipes are accessible to everyone, from beginners to advanced home cooks.
Updated at: 2025-07-19
Grease a loaf tin with butter and line it with baking parchment. If you let the baking parchment sit slightly proud of the edge of the tin you'll be able to remove the set cake from the tin more easily.
Melt the butter in a small saucepan. Meanwhile, beat together the eggs and sugar until smooth in a stand mixer. The eggs shouldn't be fluffy, so don't beat for too long.
Add the melted butter and gradually sift in the cocoa powder. Keep mixing until fully combined and smooth.
Remove the whisk from the mixture and use a silicone spatula to fold the pepernoten biscuits through the mixture.
Pour the mixture into the cake tin and carefully tap the tin on the countertop to remove any air bubbles.
Cover with cling film and put the cake in the fridge for at least 2 hours until it has set firm and you can cut it easily. Enjoy!
Can I use margarine in this fridge cake cake?
Using margarine or any other type of fat/butter substitute is not recommended as it will result in a sticky texture.
My fridge cake won't come out of the tin, what can I do?
If the cake does not come out of the tin, you can place it briefly in a bowl of warm water. This will soften the outer layer a little and loosen it from the tin.
Do not place it in hot water for too long, as the fridge cake will melt. Carefully place the fridge cake upside down on a chopping board and tap the loaf tin to release it.
Per 1 serving / piece:
| Amount | Ingredient | Allergens | Kcal | Carbs | Carbs of which sugars | Fat | Fat of which saturated | Protein | Fibers | Sodium | Iron | Calcium | Magnesium | Potassium | Phosphorus | Copper | Zinc | Iodine | Selenium | Vitamin C | Vitamin D | Vitamin A | Vitamin B1 | Vitamin B2 | Vitamin B6 | Vitamin B12 | Vitamin B11 | Vitamin E | Vitamin K | Vitamin K1 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 | gram | sugar | 100.50 | 24.75 g | 24.75 g | - | - | - | - | - | 0.03 mg | - | 0.50 mg | 1.00 mg | - | - | 0.01 mg | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| 0.4 | eggs | egg | 34.56 | 0.26 g | 0.05 g | 2.40 g | 0.60 g | 3.00 g | - | 28.80 mg | 0.43 mg | 12.00 mg | 2.40 mg | 31.20 mg | 43.20 mg | 0.02 mg | 0.31 mg | 8.40 µg | 7.37 µg | - | 0.43 mg | 0.05 mg | 0.02 mg | 0.07 mg | 0.04 mg | 0.55 µg | 14.40 µg | 0.26 mg | 0.06 µg | - | |
| 12.5 | gram | of cocoa powder | 51.38 | 1.35 g | 0.28 g | 3.06 g | 1.69 g | 2.48 g | 4.25 g | 11.25 mg | 1.56 mg | 14.38 mg | 65.00 mg | 187.50 mg | 82.00 mg | 0.49 mg | 0.44 mg | - | - | - | - | - | 0.11 mg | 0.03 mg | 0.02 mg | - | 3.50 µg | - | - | - | |
| 37.5 | gram | butter | milk | 275.63 | 0.26 g | 0.26 g | 30.94 g | 20.25 g | 0.26 g | - | 1.88 mg | 0.04 mg | 4.88 mg | 0.75 mg | 5.63 mg | 7.50 mg | - | 0.03 mg | - | - | - | 0.45 mg | 0.38 mg | - | 0.01 mg | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 35 | gram | of dutch kruidnoten biscuits | gluten, soy | 157.50 | 21.00 g | 10.50 g | 7.00 g | 4.20 g | 2.45 g | 1.75 g | 70.00 mg | 0.70 mg | 17.50 mg | 17.50 mg | 70.00 mg | 52.50 mg | 0.07 mg | 0.53 mg | - | 3.50 µg | - | - | 35.00 mg | 0.07 mg | 0.11 mg | 0.11 mg | - | - | 0.70 mg | 0.35 µg | - |
| 619.56 | 47.63 g | 35.84 g | 43.40 g | 26.74 g | 8.19 g | 6.00 g | 111.93 mg | 2.76 mg | 48.75 mg | 86.15 mg | 295.33 mg | 185.20 mg | 0.58 mg | 1.31 mg | 8.40 µg | 10.87 µg | - | 0.88 mg | 35.42 mg | 0.21 mg | 0.22 mg | 0.16 mg | 0.55 µg | 17.90 µg | 0.96 mg | 0.41 µg | - | ||||
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