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BeneRecipes

Fifteens

Northern Ireland's no-bake traybake: digestives, marshmallows and glacé cherries rolled in coconut and sliced.

By NiamhAI-assistedApproved for publication by BeneRecipes Editor on 15 October 2026Updated 8 October 2026
Prep
20 min
Total
2 hr 20 min
Makes
15 servings
Difficulty
Easy
Jump to recipe
Slices of fifteens with marshmallows and cherries, rolled in coconut
Photo: Keithawilliamson · CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)

Fifteens are found in every café and church bake sale in Northern Ireland. The name is the recipe: 15 digestive biscuits, 15 marshmallows and 15 glacé cherries, bound with condensed milk, rolled in coconut and cut into 15 slices.

There is no baking at all, which makes them a good first recipe to make with children.

Ingredients

15 servings
  • 15digestive biscuits
  • 15white or pink marshmallows, quartered with scissors
  • 15glacé cherries, halved
  • 200mlsweetened condensed milk, about half a 397 g tin
  • 50gdesiccated coconut

Equipment

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Method

  1. 1

    Put the digestives in a food bag and crush them with a rolling pin to fine crumbs, with a few small pieces left for texture.

    A bowl of digestive biscuits
    Photo: LearningLark from United States · CC BY 2.0 (cropped)
  2. 2

    Tip the crumbs into a bowl and add the marshmallows and cherries. Pour in most of the condensed milk and mix well. Add the rest only if needed: it should hold together without being sticky.

  3. 3

    Scatter the coconut over a sheet of baking paper or cling film. Shape the mixture into a log about 5 cm across, roll it in the coconut and wrap it tightly.

  4. 4

    Chill for at least 2 hours, or overnight, until firm. Cut into 15 slices with a sharp knife.

Tips

Traybake version: press the mixture into a 20 cm square tin lined with baking paper, sprinkle with coconut, chill and cut into squares.

Keeps for up to a week in an airtight tin in the fridge. For a baked traybake, try millionaire's shortbread.

If it goes wrong

ProblemLikely causeFix
Too sticky to shapeToo much condensed milkAdd a couple more crushed biscuits
Crumbly slicesNot enough condensed milk, or not chilled long enoughAdd a spoonful more milk; chill until firm before slicing

Guides for this recipe

A wooden rolling pin with handles

Buying guide

Rolling Pins: Which Type Is Best for Pastry?

Stacked cream-coloured ceramic mixing bowls

Buying guide

Mixing Bowls: Glass, Steel or Ceramic?

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