Vanilla slice usually feels like a bakery job, all fiddly pastry and thick custard. This one skips every hard part. You use SAO biscuits for the layers and shop bought custard set with a little gelatine, so there is no pastry to make and nothing to bake.
You set it in the fridge overnight, add a quick lemon icing if you like, and cut it into squares between the biscuits. It really does feel like cheating, in the best way.
It is the kind of old school sweet that disappears fast at a morning tea, and nobody needs to know how easy it was.
Why You’ll Love It
There is no baking and no pastry, just a bit of stirring and some fridge time, so it is almost impossible to get wrong. The SAO biscuits do the job of the pastry layers, the custard comes ready made, and the optional lemon icing cuts through the sweetness. It makes twelve generous squares from a short list of ingredients, which makes it a cheap, easy crowd pleaser.
The Shortcut That Makes It Work
Two shop bought heroes do the heavy lifting, SAO biscuits and a carton of vanilla custard. Instead of making pastry and cooking a custard from scratch, you soften a little gelatine, stir it through warmed custard so it sets firm, and layer it between biscuits. The fridge does the rest overnight. That is the whole trick, no oven required.
Handy Tips
Make sure the gelatine is fully dissolved before it goes into the custard, if you can still see grains, give it another short zap and stir. Let the custard start to firm in the fridge before you pour it over the biscuits so it does not slide around. Give it the full overnight set, the biscuits soften into that lovely slice texture as it sits, and use a sharp knife to cut between the biscuits for neat squares.
What To Serve With It
It is perfect as is with a cup of tea or coffee. If you want to dress it up, a few fresh berries on the side or on top look lovely and cut through the sweetness.
Leftovers / How to Store It
Keep it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. It is a fridge slice, so it is best served cold straight from the container.
Other Recipes You’ll Love
If you enjoyed this Vanilla Slice, here are a few more ideas to add to your rotation:
Vanilla Slice
Prep Time 30 minutes 
Chill Time 8 hours 
Total Time 8 hours 30 minutes 
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Pop gelatine into ¾ cup cold water and stir. Microwave for 1 minute, stir, and if not dissolved, zap again for 30 seconds.
- Heat 1 litre of custard in the microwave for 2 minutes, then stir through gelatine.
- Add remaining custard to cool it down.
- Refrigerate for 1 hour until starting to firm.
- Line a slice tray with baking paper, cover the bottom with SAO biscuits, then pour over the custard mix.
- Top with more biscuits and pop in the fridge overnight.
- For lemon icing, mix icing sugar, butter, zest and lemon juice until smooth, then spread over the top layer of biscuits.
- Slice between biscuits and enjoy!
Nutrition
Video
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FAQs
Can I leave off the lemon icing?
Yes. The lemon icing is optional. Without it the slice is a little sweeter and more plain, which some people prefer. A dusting of icing sugar is a nice middle ground.
Why has my slice not set?
This almost always comes back to the gelatine. Make sure it is fully dissolved with no grains before it goes into the warm custard, and give the slice the full overnight set in the fridge.
Can I use a different biscuit?
SAO biscuits are traditional because they hold up to the custard and soften nicely. A similar plain, sturdy square biscuit will work, just avoid anything too thin or sweet.
How far ahead can I make it?
It needs overnight in the fridge anyway, so it is a great make ahead. It keeps for up to 3 days, so you can make it a day or two before you need it.
So easy to make and tastes amazing
So easy to make and tastes amazing
I made this twice yesterday. The family loved it. So easy and quick to make.
Delicious. So easy to make
OMG this was a hit for some neighbours visiting and just made it again for family BBQ tomorrow 😍