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    Home » Baking » Cookies/Biscuits

    Vegan School Dinners Chocolate Concrete Cake (chocolate crunch)

    Published: Mar 27, 2020 · Modified: Jan 31, 2023 by Jacq · This post may contain affiliate links ·10 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Vegan school dinners chocolate concrete cake is a nostalgic throwback to the British old-school dinners puddings of the 1970s, 80s and 90s.

    Chocolate concrete cake is so easy and quick to bake. A batch can be ready and cooling in the baking pan, in just 35 minutes.

    This vegan chocolate concrete cake recipe results in a cake-biscuit that is hard at the edges but with a softer chocolate-brownie like inner texture and flavour. Definitely an ideal biscuit for dunking in a hot cup of tea, coffee or chilled oat milk.

    Chocolate concrete cake sliced into 12 pieces, sitting on baking paper.

    Origins of Chocolate Concrete Cake

    Chocolate concrete cake was a British pudding that was served up to school kids during the 70s, 80s and in some schools during the 90s.

    Many people have fond memories of chocolate concrete served with green mint custard! At least the hot custard would have softened up the edges a little.

    However my kids enjoy clanking the concrete cake off their plate to hear the clunk clunk sound!

    chocolate concrete biscuits in a glass jar, with knife to side and lid on top of baking paper, single biscuit out of the jar.

    Recipe Notes

    How long can I store concrete cake?

    Chocolate concrete will keep fresh for up to 5-7 days in an airtight container such as a biscuit tin or jar. If storing in a plastic tub, adding a layer of kitchen foil and wrapping this around the biscuits will prevent the biscuits from going soft too quickly.

    Can I freeze concrete cake?

    Yes. Separate baked slices with some parchment paper and wrap up tightly to avoid freezer burn. Freeze for up to 3 months. Remove wrappings before defrosting on the countertop.

    My concrete cake has gone a little stale or soft. Can I revive it?

    Yes simply place back in the oven at the baking temperature for 10-15 minutes to refresh. Enjoy warm or leave to go cold and harden up. If your concerned the biscuit will become too dark simply wrap in a little foil.

    What can I serve to accompany concrete cake?

    Chocolate concrete cake is traditionally served with custard. For a plant-based custard recipe check out my easy and quick recipe for vegan custard which is detailed on my jam and coconut traybake recipe.

    Other ideas:

    • Fresh strawberries, raspberries or blueberries.
    • Vegan custard in little ready-made tubs.
    • Vegan chocolate spread to add a little dollop to each biscuit.
    • Vegan chocolate custard pudding for extra chocolate indulgence!
    • Vegan whipped silken tofu chocolate pudding for something tasty but packed with plant-based nutrition!
    • Crumble a few concrete biscuits up and mix through or sprinkle over vegan ice cream. Or some vegan vanilla yogurt.
    • Include concrete cake with a larger British afternoon tea party, buffet or picnic spread.
    • Or simply a nice hot cup of tea or coffee. And for kids a chilled glass of creamy oat milk is always welcomed.
    • A revitalizing turmeric latte (no coffee recipe)

    How To Prepare Vegan School Dinners Chocolate Concrete Cake

    • margarine melted in saucepan.
    Melt the vegan margarine.
    • cocoa powder, flour and sugar in a green bowl with a sieve.
    Mix the flour, cocoa powder and sugar together.
    • melted margarine mixed through the flour mix, big clumps of mix with wooden spoon.
    Pour the melted margarine into the flour mixture.

    Stir to completely combine.

    Big clumps will form but keep mixing and break the pieces up until everything is crumbs.
    • chocolate mix poured into baking pan with small spatula.
    Tip the crumbs into a baking pan.
    • chocolate mix pressed down firm into baking pan.
    Press the chocolate crumbs down until firmly packed.

    Bake for 25 minutes.
    • sugar sprinkled over baked concrete cake.
    Once baked sprinkle sugar over and slice into pieces while still warm.
    • chocolate concrete cake sliced into pieces on baking paper and wire rack.
    Leave to cool in the baking pan before removing the sliced biscuits.
    • chocolate cake placed in glass jar with brown background
    Store in a biscuit tin or jar.
    vegan school sponge with afternoon tea spread
    Enjoy old school concrete cake with an afternoon tea spread. So fun and tasty,

    More traditional vegan baking recipes:

    Old School Chocolate Sponge Pudding

    Old School Jam And Coconut Sponge

    Vegan Traditional Empire Biscuits

    Vegan Fruit Loaf Cake Recipe

    Rustic Edinburgh Fruit Scones

    chocolate concrete cake close up.

    Vegan Old School Dinners Chocolate Concrete Cake (chocolate crunch)

    Print Recipe
    A delicious traditional British school dinners pudding loved by many and still going strong.
    This entertaining biscuit-cake goes 'clunk clunk' when tapped off the side of your plate but the insides taste like a delicious rich brownie biscuit.
    Soften the edges by dunking in your tea, coffee or hot chocolate.
    Course Dessert, Party, pudding, Snack
    Cuisine British
    Prep Time 10 mins
    Cook Time 25 mins
    Total Time 35 mins
    Servings 12 slices
    Calories 149
    Author Jacq

    Equipment

    • Baking dish/ brownie style baking tray/pan around 10 x 7 inch (25.4 cm x 17.7cm)
    • Baking/parchment paper

    Ingredients

    • 200 grams plain flour or all purpose flour.
    • 160 grams granulated sugar or caster sugar. Plus an extra tablespoon for sprinkling over the baked biscuits.
    • 50 grams cocoa powder sieved.
    • 100 grams plant-based margarine or vegan butter.
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    Metric - US Customary

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 160 Fan/180 Celsius/356 Fahrenheit/Gas 4.
    • Grease and line a baking pan with baking paper.
    • Melt the margarine in a saucepan.
    • Add the vanilla to the margarine and mix.
    • Add the dry ingredients to a mixing bowl and stir to combine.
      Pour in the margarine-vanilla mix.
    • Mix well. It will look like thick clumps but eventually will mix into crumbs. Use your spoon to break up the lumps.
    • Tip the crumb mix into your baking tin and press it all down into a firm even slab.
    • Bake in the middle rack of your oven for around 25 minutes.
      Bake for 20 minutes if you prefer a softer texture. And for a firmer texture bake for an extra 5 minutes.
    • Chocolate concrete will be soft and a little crumbly when it comes out of the oven but will firm up when cool.
      Mark into 12 portions while still warm.
    • Sprinkle a little granulated sugar over the top after marking into portions.
      Leave to cool in the pan before removing.

    Notes

     

    1. Nutritional data is provided for guidance only and is not an exact calculation as ingredients vary. 
    2. Store chocolate concrete in a biscuit tin or jar for up to 7 days, perhaps longer. If it has gone slightly stale or soft it can be placed back in the oven at the baking temperature for 10-15 minutes. Enjoy warm or leave to harden up.
    3. Pieces can be frozen for up to 3 months if well wrapped. Defrost to room temperature, with the wrappings removed.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 149kcal | Carbohydrates: 29g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 3.8g | Saturated Fat: 0.8g | Trans Fat: 1g | Sodium: 55mg | Potassium: 84mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 13g | Vitamin A: 318IU | Calcium: 8mg | Iron: 1mg

    More Vegan Biscuit And Cookie Recipes

    • Vegan Gingerbread Men [or person!]
    • vegan gingerbread cookies iced and on a black wire rack.
      Old-Fashioned Gingerbread Cookies
    • traditional parkin biscuits on a flower patterned plate, with small sugar cube dish to side and white doily tablecloth.
      Traditional Parkin Biscuits [cookies]
    • a wire rack with batch of vegan white chocolate and cranberry cookies, sugar dish with sugar cubes in background, pink and white tea towel background with images of berries.
      Chunky Cranberry and White Chocolate Cookies [vegan]

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Caroline

      July 15, 2021 at 8:03 pm

      I was a kid in the UK in the 80s and can't say I remember this, but it sounds like a fun treat!

      Reply
      • Jacq

        July 16, 2021 at 8:35 am

        I don't think all schools served chocolate concrete but many did. It was most commonly served with green or mint custard so perhaps the biscuit-cake was hiding underneath! It certainly is a fun treat. Whenever my kids and I have a slice we always have a debate as to whether it is more like a biscuit, cake, brownie or some sort of hybrid!

        Reply
    2. Denay DeGuzman

      July 15, 2021 at 7:33 pm

      5 stars
      Shared this delicious vegan recipe with my niece! She made it and loved it. Her roommate snagged half the batch!

      Reply
      • Jacq

        July 15, 2021 at 7:38 pm

        That made me laugh! This crunchy biscuit-cake certainly is so moreish. Your niece will have to pass the recipe on to her roommate!!

        Reply
        • Bee

          August 20, 2022 at 4:33 pm

          5 stars
          Just made this and can't wait to try it. I am so glad I found this site - just the kind of food we like. Thank you!

          Reply
          • Jacq

            August 20, 2022 at 6:43 pm

            Your so welcome! Thanks for your lovely comment. So happy your liking the traditional recipes. Hope you enjoy the concrete cake and come back for more tastiness 🙂

            Reply
    3. Beth

      July 15, 2021 at 7:29 pm

      5 stars
      Oh wow! This was such a hit for my kids and even my husband! We are BIG chocolate lovers here and this recipe definitely did not disappoint! Excited to make this cake again!

      Reply
      • Jacq

        July 15, 2021 at 7:37 pm

        So glad your family enjoyed the chocolate concrete cake. My kids never get tired of it!

        Reply
    4. Andrea

      July 15, 2021 at 6:58 pm

      5 stars
      This chocolate concrete cake is a perfect addition to any afternoon tea.

      Reply
      • Jacq

        July 16, 2021 at 8:43 am

        Definitely! Every afternoon tea party should have a few slices of chocolate concrete cake. It is always an instant hit especially with kids 🙂

        Reply

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