Chocolate-Hazelnut Icebox Cake

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.