Description
Ina Garten’s mocha chocolate icebox cake blends rich espresso and chocolate flavors in a chilled dessert. Layers of chocolate wafers and creamy mascarpone create an elegant no-bake treat perfect for summer gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 oz (340 g) mascarpone cheese, Italian
- 2 cups (480 ml) heavy cream, cold
- ½ cup (100 g) sugar
- ¼ cup (60 ml) Kahlúa liqueur
- 3 (8 oz/226 g) packages Tate’s Bake Shop chocolate chip cookies
- 2 tbsps unsweetened cocoa powder, such as Pernigotti
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 1 tsp instant espresso powder
- Shaved semisweet chocolate, for garnish
Instructions
- Whip Mocha Cream: Combine heavy cream, mascarpone, sugar, Kahlúa, cocoa powder, espresso powder, and vanilla in an electric mixer. Blend from low to medium-high speed until forming stable, voluptuous peaks.
- Layer Foundation: In a springform pan, create a seamless base of chocolate wafer cookies, breaking pieces to fill any gaps completely.
- Construct Cake Layers: Alternately spread mocha cream and arrange cookie layers, building five distinctive strata. Ensure each cream layer provides uniform, complete coverage, finishing with a cream-topped surface.
- Chill and Develop Flavors: Wrap the assembled dessert in plastic and refrigerate for 8-12 hours, allowing flavors to meld and texture to mature.
- Prepare for Serving: Release pan edges with a sharp knife, remove springform collar, and garnish with delicate semisweet chocolate shavings scattered across the creamy surface.
- Final Presentation: Slice into precise wedges and serve chilled, showcasing the elegant mocha chocolate icebox cake’s rich, harmonious essence.
Notes
- Chill Thoroughly: Minimum 8-12 hours refrigeration ensures cookies soften perfectly and flavors meld beautifully, transforming crisp wafers into silky, cake-like layers.
- Whip with Precision: Monitor cream mixture closely while blending, stopping exactly when stable, voluptuous peaks form to prevent over-beating and potential separation.
- Cookie Placement Matters: Break chocolate wafers strategically to cover pan bottom completely, creating a seamless foundation without gaps for structural integrity.
- Garnish Brilliantly: Chocolate shavings aren’t just decoration—they add delightful textural contrast and enhance the dessert’s elegant mocha presentation.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Method: None
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 496
- Sugar: 25 g
- Sodium: 130 mg
- Fat: 36 g
- Saturated Fat: 22 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 46 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 7 g
- Cholesterol: 93 mg