Chocolate ‘toothpaste’ Tart

Posted by Hugh on Aug 20, 2009 in Life | 46 Comments

Anyone who went to school in Bedfordshire, probably elsewhere too, and had school meals will remember the infamous dessert ‘Chocolate Tart’ – we called it chocolate toothpaste.

Interestingly one of the most viewed posts on this blog is the Winnie the Pooh cookbook recipe for Chocolate Rock Cakes – 1st result on Google! So I have another recipe, it’s top secret and was acquired from my friend’s mum who was a school cook.

Chocolate Toothpaste Tart

Ingredients (for 8 portions):

A pastry case, 1.75 oz – Margarine, 3oz – Caster Sugar, 1 dstspoon cocoa powder, 1 dstspoon drinking chocolate powder, 4oz full cream powdered milk (sometimes called 5 pints), 2.5 fl oz warm water, chocolate sprinkles and squirty cream for decoration.

Add some fruit if you're feeling healthy...

Instructions:

1: Get pastry case ready (easier to buy a pre-made one, cos I’m lazy)

2: Mix the margarine and sugar untill light and fluffy

3: Add cocoa and drinking choclate powder and mixwell

4: Add the dried milk and water alternatly and beat untill mixture resembles whiped cream

5: Pour into pasty case and leave tart to set (probably in the fridge

6: Decorate with sprinkles and cream

Karen
August 20, 2009
Wow – those were the days!

I dont remember it looking like that picture though – it was alot more sloppy (that was its charm!)
Hugh
August 20, 2009
You’re right. More sloppy, paste like. That was just a generic chocolate tart picture.

Gonna make some soon! mmmm mmm mmm
Hannah
August 20, 2009
I actually love you!!!!! I’m going to set to and make this with the kids tomorrow. Thank you!
Anthony
August 21, 2009
Hugh – I want to see a photo of the real thing on this page when you’ve made it
Hugh
August 21, 2009
I might do that!
If anyone else makes one, please post your comments on the taste, texture etc. and email any photos to hughbo “at” gmail.com
lu
August 22, 2009
was nothing like that pic was a lighter coloured chocolate and smoother than that really want the proper old school recipe. ANYONE?????
Hugh
August 22, 2009
Trust me. Right recipe. Comes from a school dinner lady! The picture is just a random one of Google image search.

A few tips:
1) Make sure you use proper scales. I used spoon measurements which doesn’t work cos the powdered milk is so light.

2) I reckon go for a little bit more hot choc powder and a little less cocoa

3) I’m not sure recipe makes enough. I would double quantities… any left over just lick the bowl!

Anyone made it yet? I need to get a pastry case!
christine
September 14, 2009
wot pastry tipe is it please i can remember this and loved it at school.cant wait to make it
Hugh
September 14, 2009
I dunno officially. It’s not in my recipe. But I don’t think there’s anything special about the pastry.
Personally I just use a sweet pastry case (pre-made)… less than a pound from tesco… but i suppose you could make your own
Meena
November 3, 2009
Made this recipe a few weeks ago and it was scrummy – just like the old school days in Bedford!! Tasted slightly more chocolatey than the school version, so will put in less cocoa and more drinking chocolate the next time I make it, which will be VERY soon!! Thank you!!
Rachel
November 11, 2009
Have been wanting to make chocolate toothpaste tart for ages. Loved it when was at school in Goldington. Will be making it very soon. Can’t wait to try it. Thank you for putting the recipe on the web.
Hilary Holmes
November 24, 2009
This recipe was printed in our local paper several years ago when a dinner lady retired. We made it several times for special occasions eg alternative to Christmas pudding for those that don’t like dried fruit.
For those struggling with pastry case. Use half fat to SR flour, once mixed to bread crumb consistency add just enough water to hold the mixture together. If you haven’t got cold hands, put in fridge to cool. Roll out using rolling pin or milk bottle. Roll as thin as possible. You can buy a pastry case, but home made is best.
caroline
December 8, 2009
been looking everywhere for this… brings back memories of school – again in Goldington.. going to try and make with kids tommorrow afternoon after a trip to Tesco to get the pastry cases… It looks easy to mae so fingers crossed….
fatima
March 20, 2010
OMG!!

I’ve been looking for this recipe for aaaages and i could never find it. I still remember that gorgeous texture of the chocolate bit. It is a bit like toothpaste now that I think about it!

Anyway, can’t wait to try it! Hope it comes out right!

Thanks!
Charlotte
April 13, 2010
Thanks for sharing this recipe.
I’ve been looking for one and I was quite surprised to find one from someone who went to Goldington aswell. I loved this when I went to Goldington and I haven’t had it for ages. Ahhh, the Memories …
Anjela
April 24, 2010
Hi, I have been looking for this recipe for years thankyou I can’t wait to try it. By the way also went to schooling Bedford…Pilgrim!
Melynda
May 4, 2010
Hiya, Me and my children just made this it was lovely!. I also remember this from school in bedford…..silver jubilee!

Thanks
Ian
August 15, 2010
How funny this is. Just decided to relive my own memories by looking for recipe. Had no idea this was so centered around Bedford. Went to Goldington Middle, Hills Lower, and we definitely had it at one or the other. The only thing that I remember about school meals tbh
Jo
August 19, 2010
Hi, How weird is that.. looking for a recipe and one comes up from my home town! Going to make this at the weekend as my kids have never tried it.. Nothing to do with Jamie Oliver is it??! By the way, I also had it at my school, Bedford High!
Giovanna
September 8, 2010
Hi, my name is Giovanna Annessa. I went to St. Bedes and Thomas More in Bedford. I have been looking for this recipe for years!!!
I’ll make it this weekend and bring back memories of the great dinner ladies who always gave us second helpings..
Linda
September 22, 2010
Hi

I grew up in Bedford. I was born in 1974 and all our school dinners were fab but I’ve been waiting a long time for the chocolate toothpaste recipe.

Thanks

By the way, has anyone got the receipe for the sticky toffee pudding the schools used to make? YUM!!!!
Nadine
September 28, 2010
Been looking for this recipe for ages thank you.

oh! man chocolate toothpaste at St Bedes Those were the good old DAYS
Fiona
November 7, 2010
Cant wait to try this, have often thought about ths school dessert, went to school in Luton in early 80′s. I hope it lives up to my expectations!!
Fiona
November 19, 2010
Having alot of trouble getting full fat dried milk in Ireland, only skimmed on shelf aggghhhhhh
Any suggestions?
Hugh
November 22, 2010
Hi Fiona,
The ’5 Pints’ stuff I used is actually semi-skimmed I think. I’m not sure they sell full fat stuff in the supermarkets… maybe they used to… or maybe the full fat stuff was just for caterers… either way the semi-skimmed stuff still works.
Jatinder Dhillon (Beneng)
December 30, 2010
Oh My God – I cant believe this recipe was great and brought back some fabulous memories of days at St Bede’s (now closed down) and of St Thomas Moore Upper School. Thanks for the recipe.
Shah (Abdul) Ali
January 1, 2011
This was my favourite as a child at Edith Cavell…! I’m going to make it with my 3 yr old daughter tomorrow and fingers crossed..!
Jackie Harris
March 13, 2011
My four children went to Wilstead Lower School in the 70s and early 80s and this was one of the favourite puddings there!
elena
March 21, 2011
I used to go St Gregory school and my favourite pudding was the chocolate toothpaste. It was deliscious. I searched for years for this recipe and I can’t wait to make it. I hope it turns out to be exactly like I remember.
Laura
April 15, 2011
Ahhhhh – been thinking of how to make this for years!! can’t wait to get cooking – went to school in Luton
Chaz
June 11, 2011
I tried this for the first time ths week – a colleague made it for us at work and loved it – will be making some this weekend! And I also live in Bedford!!! Looking online it says chocolate toothpaste orginated in Bedford
WOW
July 18, 2011
Haha whats with all the bedfordians…
I’m from bedford too!
Goldington!
Louise
July 20, 2011
I can’t believe I’ve finally found this. I live in Edinburgh now, but went to school in Leighton Buzzard. What a blast from the past – can’t wait to make it. Along with cornflake tart, this is one of the best things about my school days!!!
Thank you!!
Carol
September 7, 2011
OMG….I also loved this! Delicious. Thanks for
the receipe. I’m going to make one this weekend! Yum.
Cherry
October 8, 2011
Just told my sis that I had found the recipe and she said it was like the Holy Grail of puddings and if it works out she will eat nothing else ever…………:-) X
Seema
November 10, 2011
Thanks soo much for this, have has a special request for my hubby for his birthday and was thinking it would be really hard to find this recipe, will let you know how I get on. XXX
Alf
December 28, 2011
Fabulous have just made – first ever chocolate toothpaste tart and looks exactly like ye old school canteen days… remember it for Margaret Beaufort in Riseley Bedforshire and it sure beat the Roly Poly Pudding everytime! the kids have enjoyed licking the bowl and will have to beat them off until it’s chilled!
Beth
February 27, 2012
Hi I’m a bedfordian too! this was my all time fave pudding at school – they sell it in the bakery in bedford arcade and in sharnbrook just in case any1 was too lazy to make it!!
amber
June 30, 2012
thaanks a lot ma mum used to go school in bedford nd she kept goiing on bout choco toothpaste i found thiis website n she ran to the shops and got EVERYTHING agaiin thanks a million she loves it soooo much
Kash
July 21, 2012
OMG – I loved it was the best n I’ve been looking for this for years. I went to Silver Jubilee Sch.
My daughter’s having a go can’t wait….
Mary
August 26, 2012
Haha I was that school cook ! Always the favourite. Not made it for years but tonight made cornflake tart for my daughter and boyfriend, another old favourite. But chocolate tart is requested next time and I lost my old school recipe book!! Thank you so much! Mary.
Moodymare
February 9, 2013
I went to Abbey middle School and i LOVED the chocolate toothepaste there! will def try this and see if its the same!!! lol
hattie
February 16, 2013
Wow, everyone’s from Bedford, me too. I went to dame Alice and pilgrim and it was the best pudding ever. You did used to be able to get it in a little bakery in queens park, and one in kempston. I don’t live anywhere near now so we I’ll definitely be making this. Glad I’m not the only fan out there
Caroline
February 26, 2013
I work at Abbey Middle now and I went to Goldington middle and Castle lower. Loved this am and going to make with my children this weekend. Im very tempted to make extra to give my year 5 class at Abbey a taste pf old school lol
Kim
March 12, 2013
Oh my god! Love!! I moved out of Bedford four years ago & people in Kent don’t know what chocolate toothpaste I need to make this!
Sophie
May 8, 2013
I have had a special request to make this for a festival I am catering for… Mainly for ex- Lincroft, Maggie B, Harrold and Sharnbrook upper pupils (all now aged 35 – 40! It’s amazing how these food memories stay with you). I am really looking forward to making it and hope it lives up to everyone’s expectations
Many thanks for sharing