Despite the plethora of recipes lately on my blog, I'm actually on a diet and I've lost almost 10 pounds in the past month. Unfortunately my worst enemy is sugar and I love the sweet stuff. I'm only allowing myself one day per week of indulgence. I made this a few weekends ago when we had company. It comes from Ina Garten (Barefoot Contessa) and it is wonderful.
The recipe calls for a thin chocolate chip cookie and she recommends a variety. But you can never find anything the TV chefs recommend in Florence. A recipe reviewer mentioned an Alton Brown thin chocolate chip cookie recipe and I made those to go in the cake. The cookies are awesome, very soft and perfect for this recipe.
Mocha Chocolate Icebox Cake
- 2 cups cold heavy cream
- 12 ounces Italian mascarpone cheese
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/4 cup coffee liqueur, such as Kahlua
- 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder, such as Pernigotti
- 1 teaspoon instant espresso powder
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 3 (8-ounce) packages chocolate chip cookies, such as Tate's Bake Shop
- Shaved semisweet chocolate, for garnish
Directions
In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, combine the heavy cream, mascarpone, sugar, coffee liqueur, cocoa powder, espresso powder, and vanilla. Mix on low speed to combine and then slowly raise the speed, until it forms firm peaks.
To assemble the cake, arrange chocolate chip cookies flat in an 8-inch springform pan, covering the bottom as much as possible. (I break some cookies to fill in the spaces.) Spread a fifth of the mocha whipped cream evenly over the cookies. Place another layer of cookies on top, lying flat and touching, followed by another fifth of the cream. Continue layering cookies and cream until there are 5 layers of each, ending with a layer of cream. Smooth the top, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate overnight.
Run a small sharp knife around the outside of the cake and remove the sides of the pan. Sprinkle the top with the chocolate, cut in wedges, and serve cold.
Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy
Comments
Yes, congrats on your weight loss. Stay healthy.
Overripe figs are falling off the tree here. DH insisted that we pick more. I made fresh fig cookies.
We caught the well-behaved dog who knows the rule about no lips on the table, stealing a cooling cookie. They are that good.
I have aphids that just disfigure the edge where the pod attaches to the stem and that can be cut off. There are ant hills all around and ants are all over, encouraging the aphids. They aren't fire ants, just regular old ants that bite but don't make a terrible festered bump like a fire ant. So far I'm just blasting the aphids with the hose.
Anon, basically just eating smaller portions and only eating rich desserts once per week. Also walking the treadmill daily helps!
I must try to make this!
Hope you enjoy your Sunday!
Lisa from Acoustic Guitar Lessons