Growing up, one of my favorite desserts was
icebox cake. This no-bake dessert is easy and versatile. My mother used
chocolate instant pudding instead of the hazelnut-chocolate spread used in this
recipe. You can use any flavor of pudding or graham cracker—let your imagination
run wild. Be warned—the chocolate and hazelnut flavors in this recipe combine to produce a very
rich intense flavor. A little piece goes a long way.
Makes 12
serving
1 ½ C Nutella Chocolate
Hazelnut Spread *
1/3 C
Frangelico Hazelnut-flavored Liquor *
2 C Heavy
Whipping Cream
18 Whole
Chocolate Graham Crackers
2 tsp
Unsweetened Cocoa Powder (optional)
8 inch Square
Baking Pan
Combine the chocolate
hazelnut spread and the hazelnut-flavored liquor in the bowl of an electric
mixer. Beat on medium speed until combined. Add about ½ C of the heavy cream
and beat until combined. Scrape down the sides frequently since the hazelnut
spread will stick. Add the remaining heavy cream, increasing the speed to
medium high. Continue to beat until very soft peaks form. Do not overbeat or it
will deflate. It will not have the consistency
of whipped cream.
To build the cake place 4 ½ chocolate
graham crackers on the bottom of the baking pan. Pour 1 C of the hazelnut
filling over the crackers. Spread out the filling to the edges. Add three
additional layers of gram crackers and hazelnut filling ending will all of the
remaining filling. Refrigerate for at least 8 hours and up to 48 hours in
advance.
Before serving, dust the top
with cocoa powder. Cut into 2” by 2” squares. This cake is very rich, you do
not want to serve too large a piece. You can top with an optional dollop of whipped
cream or toasted hazelnuts.
* PRONTO SUBSTITUTE
Chocolate
Hazelnut Spread – You can find
this in the peanut butter section of the grocery store. The most common brand
is Nutella®.
Hazelnut-flavored
Liquor – You can use Frangelico®
or any generic brand you can find in the liquor store. You can also substitute
1 tsp of vanilla extract in place of the hazelnut-flavored liquor.
To print a copy of this
recipe go to Chocolate-Hazelnut Icebox Cake.