Chocolate Cornflake Cakes - Kids No Bake Cake Recipe

Do you love chocolate cake but hate baking? We have the answer for you. Get the kids to help you make our recipe for no-bake chocolate cornflake cakes.

They are quick and easy to make, with only four ingredients. The children will have a blast helping out in the kitchen, too!

Prepare these delicious treats in under 15 minutes without any special equipment. You only require a large mixing bowl, a wooden spoon, and cupcake cases.

Cornflake Cake Ingredients

The only ingredients you need for these chocolate cornflake nests are cornflakes, butter, chocolate and golden syrup.

Chocolate

We prefer using milk chocolate as it's the children's favourite, but good quality dark chocolate, or even white chocolate can be used.

You don't need to use cooking chocolate for this recipe; your favourite brand will do the trick. However, cooking chocolate melts better, making it easier and quicker to combine.

Golden Syrup

The golden syrup adds a nice sweet flavour to these crunchy cereal cakes; you could use honey if you prefer.

Cornflakes

We have used a supermarket's own-brand corn flakes, but you can use any you like, including gluten-free cornflakes or try rice krispies or shredded wheat instead.

Instructions

Here are a few key recipe tips for making chocolate cornflake cakes.

Breaking up the chocolate into smaller pieces is key for a smooth melt. The small size of the chocolate broken pieces ensures you don't seize or burn the chocolate. I also recommend chopping the butter into small cubes too.

Let's look at how to melt the ingredients together. You have two options, melting in the microwave or a pan.

Microwave Method

Melting chocolate in the microwave is the quickest method. Here are a few tips for melting the butter chocolate and golden syrup together in a microwave-safe bowl.

Changing the microwave settings to 50% power is best to prevent the butter and chocolate from exploding, spluttering or burning! 

All microwave power varies, so start with 30 seconds at 50% power, and stir. 

Then return to the microwave for 30-second intervals (still at 50% power) and stir, repeat until all melted together and smooth.  

Pan Method

As an alternative method, you can place the bowl over a saucepan filled a quarter full with hot water to create a bain marie.

Ensure the bowl fits securely on top of the pan to prevent water from getting into it. Then, heat the saucepan over medium-low heat and add chocolate, golden syrup, and butter to the bowl.

Stir the mixture until smooth and well combined.

Whichever method of melting you choose, once the chocolate mixture has melted, add the cornflakes and gently stir all the ingredients together until well coated.

Be gentle here, folding the mixture over and over enough times to coat it with the delicious chocolatey mixture without crushing all the cornflakes.

Of course, if you let the kids make these chocolate cornflake cakes themselves, it won't matter if they get a bit squished! They'll still be delicious!

Cornflake Cupcake Cases

Transfer equal amounts of the chocolate-coated cornflakes into paper cupcake cases. The Cake Craft Shop sells lovely cases.

We find that putting the cases into a cupcake tray helps keep the shape more regular and prevents them from falling around while filling the cases.

You can finish here… or take it a step further by adding anything you like, such as mini marshmallows, smarties, M&M’s or raisins on top of the chocolate cornflake clusters.

Give the bowl to the kids to lick out now. That should keep them quiet while the cornflake cakes are setting.

Our kids love to make chocolate cornflake nests. Make a small hole in the middle to add mini eggs into, perfect at Easter time! For a more realistic looking, Easter nests, use crumbled-up shredded wheat instead of cornflakes.

How to Set

It is normal that your cornflake cakes are sloppy and soft at this point. The quickest way to fix this is to put them in the fridge to set. They shouldn't take long to firm up. 

If the kids can't wait and want to eat them straight away, they can, but because the chocolate is still melted, they will be sticky and messy!

Serving Suggestions

Cornflake cakes are the perfect quick and easy recipe for school cake sales. The children always take these first ones! We also have our simple cupcakes for Children in Need Day which is an easy bake sales recipe.

It's also a great way to get kids involved in cooking, as they'll have fun making a nice treat to share with their friends.

Now let's be honest here, we are saying this chocolate cornflake recipe is for the kids, but even us adults love these rich, gooey chocolate-coated treats 

The bonus is there is only one bowl and spoon to clean up after, unless the kids help you make them, then you will likely have sticky hands and chocolate faces to clean, too!

Storage

Once the cornflake cakes have cooled, they can be kept at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 3 days.