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This no-bake Mocha Chocolate Icebox Cake is a chocolate celebration. It is surprisingly easy to make and there are just a few simple steps.
Crispy double chocolate cookies are layered with a rich, creamy, and fluffy mocha chocolate cheesecake mixture. This mocha chocolate icebox cake is a celebration. When you see how easy it is to make you will want to add it to your list of favorite recipes.
This recipe has been adapted from Ina Garten of the Barefoot Contessa. I love watching Ina’s show on Food Network and when I saw her make this old-fashioned, updated icebox cake a couple of years ago I knew I was going to make it.
Since watching Ina I have made the cake several times but the first time was almost a disaster. I had made a batch of crisp chocolate chip cookies and had been over-generous with the chocolate chips which is usually a good thing.
But… because the chocolate chips were cold from being in the refrigerator it was difficult cutting through them when I sliced the cake. I had taken this to a Christmas party and the guests were drooling and waiting for me to get it on their plates and there I was struggling with those chips!
The next time I made the cookies for the cake, I used miniature chocolate chips and every slice was perfect! I finally adapted the cookie recipe to one that I like, which is the crisp chocolate cookies listed below and this is my favorite cookie for this cake.
You can make this cake with crisp commercial cookies rather than bake your own from scratch. However, our crispy double chocolate cookie recipe is extremely easy to make and the cookies store well for several days.
It would be easy to make the cookies a few days ahead and make the cake later.
I hope you give it a try as it is so wonderful and easy to make, plus it makes an elegant dessert for any special dinner. Enjoy!
Every time we serve this cake someone wants the recipe.
Recently a friend told me that she calls this a fridge cake. Fridge cake works fine for me. You can call it a Mocha Chocolate Fridge cake, but I doubt anyone will fuss over the title once they put a bite in their mouth.
Tell us what you think. Is this an icebox cake or a fridge cake?
More Chilled or Frozen Desserts
- Chocolate Mint Tart
- Eggless Tiramisu
- Cappuccino Semifredo
- Chocolate Amaretto Mousse
- 31 Cool Summer Dessert Ideas
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Mocha-Chocolate Icebox Cake
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Ingredients
For the Creamy Filling:
- 12 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2 teaspoon instant espresso powder
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 2 cups cold heavy cream
To Assemble:
- 25 to 30 crisp chocolate cookies, (See this recipe)
- Shaved semisweet chocolate, for garnish
Instructions
For the Filling:
- With an electric mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, add the softened cream cheese, sugar, cocoa powder, espresso powder and the vanilla. Whisk together briefly and with the mixing speed on low, combine the heavy cream and slowly raise the speed and beat until the mixture is thick and creamy and has formed stiff peaks.
To Assemble:
- To assemble the cake, arrange the cookies in a 9-inch springform pan, covering the bottom as much as possible, fill in the spaces with broken pieces. Spread a fifth of the mocha whipped cream evenly over the cookies. Place another layer of cookies on top, followed by another fifth of the cream. Continue layering cookies and cream until there are 5 layers of each. Smooth the top, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate overnight.
- To serve, run a small knife around the outside of the cake and remove the sides of the pan. Sprinkle the top with the chocolate and serve cold.
Video
Notes
- You can use store-bought cookies for this recipe, it will take 25 to 30 average size cookies.
Like this recipe? Rate & comment below!
Hi what can I replace the heavy cream with it very difficult to that where I live an I want to try it today….
Vani there really isn’t a good replacement for what the heavy cream does to this recipe. Anything else will completely change the texture and/or flavor. Milk and non-dairy types of milk will make the filling very runny. If you like the flavor of Cool-Whip then that would keep the texture profile of the filling but it will definitely taste different.
Can I use Bailey’s Irish Cream instead of the coffee liquor?
Hi, Betsy….I love Bailey’s Irish Cream in just about any yummy dessert. You asked if it could replace the coffee liquor but I believe you are referring to the instant espresso powder which is a concentrated flavor. To answer your question, I don’t think the Bailey’s Irish Cream would work out as a substitute as it would not provide enough of the mocha flavor and you would be substituting a liquid for a dry ingredient. I would suggest that you just add no more than 3-4 tablespoons of the Bailey’s then it would enhance the espresso coffee flavor. How about serving a great-tasting hot cup of Bailey’s Irish Coffee with a slice of cake? Yum!
Hey! Can I substitute the cookies with Mcvities digestive biscuits?? I really want to try to make this. It looks amazingly yummy
Hi, Ali…..I am not familiar with Mcvities digestive biscuits but the idea here in this recipe is to use crisp thin cookies that will easily soften into a cake-like consistency with the filling. Just about any thin, crisp cookie should work. I hope this info helps.
Wow this cake looks heavenly! Thanks for sharing
Hi, Jerry…thanks for stopping in to visit and thank you for your nice comments. This really is a delicious cake and easy to make, too. 🙂
I saw the episode where Ina made this. You did it justice. It looks fantastic!
Thank you, Norma….:)
Wow! What a gorgeous looking cake. Mrs K R is the baker in our house — I gotta share this with her. Then beg her to make it. 😉 Thanks so much.
Thank you, John for your nice comments. Having seen all your beautiful recipes I know you could put this together yourself even if you are not the baker in the family. Go for it and surprise Mrs. KR….:)
I’m a huge Ina fan too! I’ve made this recipe before but I can tell you it never looked like this! I remember using store bought cookies. I think I didn’t chill mine long enough? – this may just make be try it again!
Hi, Kathi…this is an easy cake to put together and even easier with store-bought cookies. The really hard part is time waiting for it to be firm enough to serve. Thanks for the nice comment… 🙂
I love Ina Garten! Her show is one of my favorites to watch. Makes me want to go visit the hamptons.
This cake sounds delicious! Perfect dessert for a hot summer day. Good idea taking the chocolate chips out! That should make it much easier to cut thru : )
Hi, Natalie, so glad you stopped in for a visit! Thanks for the nice comments, this cake is sooo good. I have to make it when I have a lot of guests, otherwise I would eat it all. 🙂
Oh! this was soooooooooo good. I absolutely loved this cake! You should really make it more often, it’s amazing. 🙂
Thanks, Cora…I will make it again, special for you!
This recipe looks wonderful! And so easy! I copied it and will plan on making it sometime this summer. Thanks for sharing.
Hi, Kari….It is wonderfully delicious! I think you will really like it…..:)