4.77 from 13 votes

Icebox Cake

icebox cake with homemade chocolate wafers and caramel cream | ZoeBakes photo by Zoë François

Icebox cake, is really not a cake at all; it’s layers of chocolate wafer cookies and whip cream. So, what’s up with the name? Once the cookies and the cream have a chance to sit together, in their little rows, the cookies soften and in a blind taste test you’d never know you weren’t eating cake. I am sure the version I ate as a child was made with Nabisco Famous Chocolate Wafers, which are still available (and still satisfy), plus Cool Whip. I loved it as a kid, but now my taste buds crave more flavor and a LOT less sweet. I added burnt sugar to the fresh whipping cream and baked my own bittersweet chocolate wafers. The homemade chocolate wafers make a big difference. They are intensely chocolate and less sweet, which gives the icebox cake so much more personality. Something old is new again and much tastier.

When you slice into the icebox cake you reveal the beautiful stripes of caramel and chocolate. You can simply spread the top with the caramel whipped cream, but for Easter or other holidays you might want to use a pastry bag and pipe a fancier design. As you can see I went a little Downton Abbey with my decorating, but either way this is one of the easiest and tastiest desserts I have ever made.

icebox cake with homemade chocolate wafers and caramel cream | ZoeBakes photo by Zoë François

Chocolate Caramel Icebox Cake

Here’s how to make this icebox cake step by step, and you’ll find the full recipe below!

How to Make Coffee Whipped Cream

In my icebox cake instagram video I added a bit of coffee to the mix and did the outer layer of cream with coffee beans:

1/2 cup coffee beans, broken slightly in a mortar and pestle

2 tablespoons sugar (more if you want it sweeter, but I like the contrast of the bitter with the sweet)

2 cups heavy whipping cream

Heat the cream to simmer, add the broken coffee beans, allow to steep for 15-30 minutes (depending on how strong you like it), strain and refrigerate for at least 2 hours. Whip when ready to decorate the icebox cake.

How to Make Caramel Whipped Cream

Watch me make the caramel in my instagram video

In a large saucepan put the sugar in a mound in the center of the pan, be sure it doesn’t hit the sides. Gently add the water and corn syrup, making sure the sugar doesn’t splash up on the sides of the pan.

If any of the sugar is not dissolved, very gently stir, but make sure none of the sugar hits the sides of the pan. (All of this care to keep the sugar off the side of the pan will prevent your sugar from crystallizing while it cooks.)

Cook over high heat, without stirring.

When the sugar starts to color on the edges, gently stir the sugar.

Until it is quite dark, it will smoke a bit. I like my caramel very dark, with an almost bitter edge.

Once the caramel is dark in color, reduce the heat and add half the cream. The caramel will sputter and seize up, which is normal. Gently whisk the caramel until the caramelized sugar dissolves. Add the remaining cream and stir.

Strain the caramel cream into a shallow container. Cover and refrigerate until well chilled, at least 2 hours (the cream needs to be thoroughly chilled and thick before whipping. You can throw it into the freezer for 15 minutes before refrigerating to speed this up a bit, but make sure it is chilled throughout). Can be made the day ahead.

How to Make Chocolate Wafer Cookies

In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, mix the butter, confectioners’ sugar, and vanilla extract. Cream together on medium speed for a minute, then add the flour mixture and mix just until evenly combined.

On a sheet of plastic wrap, form the dough into a 1 1/2-inch-thick log. Wrap and refrigerate until firm, at least 1 hour. The cookie dough can be made the day before.

Preheat the oven to 350°F and line 3 baking sheets with parchment paper. Using a sharp knife, slice the dough log into thin rounds, about 1/8-inch-thick. Arrange on the baking sheets and bake for about 8 minutes or until set (they will no longer be shiny). If baking more than one sheet at a time, you may want to rotate the trays back to front and switch from top to bottom racks midway through baking. Let the cookies cool completely. Makes about 75 cookies.

Assembly

Line an 8×4-inch loaf pan with plastic wrap, set aside. In the instagram video I used a small pullman pan because it has straighter sides.

Using a hand or stand mixer, whip the chilled caramel cream until very soft, slouchy, peaks. Be sure not to whip the cream in a plastic bowl or it may not whip properly. Reserve the remaining 1/3 of the cream for topping the cake. Whip cream on a lower speed for a longer time. If you whip the cream on medium speed, instead of high, you will have a smaller air bubble and the cream will have more stability. This will also prevent some over whipping. See my instagram video to watch me whip the cream properly.

icebox cake

Coat the bottom of the prepared pan with about a ¼-inch-thick layer of the cream. Line the outside of the pan with the cookies.

Spread a layer of the cream on each cookie and layer them together in the pan.

You should end up with about 3 rows of cookies and cream. This may vary slightly depending on how large your cookies are.

Cover the top with more of the cream, so the cookies are completely covered. Refrigerate the cake for at least 3 hours or overnight.

Invert the icebox cake onto a serving platter.

Whip the coffee cream and decorate the icebox cake as you wish. I used a rose tip for my decoration on top.

icebox cake with homemade chocolate wafers and caramel cream | ZoeBakes photo by Zoë François
Icebox Cake

Icebox Cake with Homemade Chocolate Wafers and Caramel Cream

The homemade chocolate wafers in this icebox cake make a big difference. They are intensely chocolate and less sweet, which gives the cake so much more personality. When you slice into the icebox cake you reveal the beautiful stripes of caramel and chocolate. You can simply spread the top with the caramel whipped cream, or pipe a fancier design.
4.77 from 13 votes
Course: Dessert

Ingredients

Homemade Chocolate Wafer Cookies

  • 1 1/4 cups (133g) cake flour I used Softasilk
  • 1/3 cup (37g) unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp kosher salt
  • 1/2 cup (113g) unsalted butter at room temperature
  • 1 cup (120g) confectioners' sugar
  • 2 tsp pure vanilla extract

Caramel Whipped Cream

  • 1 cup (160g) sugar
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1 1/2 tsp corn syrup
  • 4 cups heavy whipping cream

Coffee Whipped Cream

  • 1/2 cup coffee beans broken slightly in a mortar and pestle
  • 2 tbsp sugar more if you want it sweeter
  • 2 cups heavy whipping cream

Instructions

Caramel Whipped Cream

  • In a large saucepan put the sugar in a mound in the center of the pan, be sure it doesn’t hit the sides. Gently add the water and corn syrup, making sure the sugar doesn’t splash up on the sides of the pan. If any of the sugar is not dissolved, very gently stir, but make sure none of the sugar hits the sides of the pan. Cook over high heat, without stirring.
  • When the sugar starts to color on the edges, gently stir the sugar. Until it is quite dark, it will smoke a bit. I like my caramel very dark, with an almost bitter edge. Once the caramel is dark in color, reduce the heat and add half the cream. The caramel will sputter and seize up, which is normal. Gently whisk the caramel until the caramelized sugar dissolves. Add the remaining cream and stir.
  • Strain the caramel cream into a shallow container. Cover and refrigerate until well chilled, at least an hour. It can be made a day ahead.

Chocolate Wafer Cookies

  • In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, mix the butter, confectioners' sugar, and vanilla extract. Cream together on medium speed for a minute, then add the flour mixture and mix just until evenly combined.
  • On a sheet of plastic wrap, form the dough into a 1 1/2-inch-thick log. Wrap and refrigerate until firm, at least 1 hour. The cookie dough can be made the day before.
  • Preheat the oven to 350°F and line 3 baking sheets with parchment paper. Using a sharp knife, slice the dough log into thin rounds, about 1/8-inch-thick. Arrange on the baking sheets and bake for about 8 minutes or until set (they will no longer be shiny). If baking more than one sheet at a time, you may want to rotate the trays back to front and switch from top to bottom racks midway through baking. Let the cookies cool completely. Makes about 75 cookies.

Assembly

  • Line an 8×4-inch loaf pan with plastic wrap, set aside.
  • Using a hand or stand mixer, whip the chilled caramel cream until very soft, slouchy, peaks. Be sure not to whip the cream in a plastic bowl or it may not whip properly. Reserve the remaining 1/3 of the cream for topping the cake. Whip cream on a lower speed for a longer time. If you whip the cream on medium speed, instead of high, you will have a smaller air bubble and the cream will have more stability. This will also prevent some over whipping.
  • Coat the bottom of the prepared pan with about a 1/4-inch-thick layer of the cream. Line the outside of the pan with the cookies. Spread a layer of the cream on each cookie and layer them together in the pan. You should end up with about 3 rows of cookies and cream. This may vary slightly depending on how large your cookies are. Cover the top with more of the cream, so the cookies are completely covered. Refrigerate the cake for at least 3 hours or overnight.
  • Invert the icebox cake onto a serving platter.

Coffee Whipped Cream

  • Heat the cream to simmer, add the broken coffee beans, allow to steep for 15-30 minutes (depending on how strong you like it), strain and refrigerate for at least 2 hours. Whip when ready to decorate the icebox cake. Decorate the icebox cake as you wish. I used a rose tip for my decoration on top.

Notes

*or skip this step and buy pre-made wafer cookies. Just be sure to buy 2 boxes since some are bound to be broken.
**use a very dark cocoa or your cookies will not come out the classic color. You can even do a portion of black cocoa, but only a couple of tablespoons in place of the regular, or it is too bitter.
***In my icebox cake instagram video I added a bit of coffee to the mix and did the outer layer of cream with coffee beans.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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51 thoughts to “Icebox Cake”

  1. I’m in love!! Any idea on a shelf life for this? I cannot wait to make it. Thanks so much for sharing. 🙂
    ~ S.

    1. Hi Sandy,

      The first one I made was gone in a matter of minutes, so I made another one just to have around. It lasted for a few days and still tasted great, but the cookies just got a bit softer.

      Thanks! Zoë

  2. I also have a couple “do-ahead” questions..how long will the cookie dough keep in the fridge? Also, will the caramel cream (not yet whipped) be okay in the fridge for a couple days?

    Really enjoy your website.
    Thanks for your help,
    Kim

    1. Hi Kim,

      The cookie dough can be made ahead and stored in the refrigerator for a few days or in the freezer for longer. The cream can be made about 2 days ahead, as long as it is not whipped.

      Thanks and enjoy the cake! Zoë

  3. Thanks for your anwser Zoe!
    The cream was very cold and semi-thick. Not thick but not watery. In the begining it took a long time to whip and after that weird white chunked started to form. Like little white specks that grouped in some places. When I took some into my hand it was like butter.
    The cream, even not whipped, was delicious though.lol

    1. Hi kristen,

      It actually sounds like it was over whipped and went to the butter stage. It really should take that long for it to thicken.

      Thanks, Zoë

  4. I just made this cake. I, like the other poster that tried to make it, couldn’t get the cream to whip for the life of me. I ended up with a clotted, somewhat runny looking mess. It wasn’t over whipped, because it didn’t get through the whipping phase at all. It tastes good, but I am not really sure what I did wrong. I am experienced in baking, making caramel, and whipping cream…but clearly they don’t go together for me. 🙁 I am not giving up, but it’s a sad mess today.

  5. Better news. I whipped the remaining cream, as I had made the cake the day ahead, and it whipped beautifully. So, maybe your comment was right about the mixture needing to be much colder.

    My next question is this: How do I get the cream to keep it’s piped shape for more than just a little while?

    The family thought it was very tasty.

    1. Hi Confounded,

      I am so glad that it whipped up better for you the next time. I will make a note of that.

      Did the cream lose its piped shape after it was on the cake or did you want to pipe more on the cake later?

      Thanks, Zoë

  6. I just made the cake, and like Confounded, I couldn’t get the cream to whip to soft peaks. It was more of a thick cream. I chilled it for 7 hours, and I hope that it will be sufficient to hold the cake together. That being said, the flavor of the whipped cream is divine! I am serving it tomorrow for Shavuot, so hopefully it will look presentable.

    1. Hi Amber,

      You are not the first to have this issue and I’m trying to figure out what the issue is. I have a few questions for you, in an attempt to get to the bottom of this:

      1. When you cooked the sugar was the caramel as dark as my pictures show?
      2. When you whipped the cream, what speed are you whipping it?
      3. What kind of heavy cream are you using?

      Thanks! Zoë

  7. Zoe,

    So the cake tasted wonderful, but it kind of fell apart as we cut into it. The whipped cream whipped better 24+ hours later, but anything piped didn’t stay well…my friend who helped me decorate ended up just smoothing everything out in the end. (We decorated it and kept it refrigerated until serving.) To answer your questions, the color was nearly as dark as yours, I whipped it at speed 4 out of 5, and I used 38% whipping cream. Despite the messy look, everyone loved the cake. I wonder if it might help to freeze it next time?

    Thanks for the recipe and for helping troubleshoot for next time…

    1. Hi Amber,

      So glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for getting back to me with all the details. Helpful to know it was better at 24 hours. How long did you refrigerate the cake before you cut into it?

      Thanks, Zoë

  8. I made the cake the day before, so maybe 20 hours or so. And then we decorated it about two hours before serving it (and it was in the refrigerator for those two hours).

  9. Hi Zoe,
    Love your recipes. Have used several with much success! I am interested in using the chocolate wagers in a caramel tiramisu to substitute for the lady fingers. I’m wondering if they will be too dense with a heavy custard like that used in tiramisu. Any advise?

    1. Hi Emily,

      I think you may be right about them being dense, unless you were to break them up and use them as a layer of crumbs, but I’d do this sparingly, almost in addition to the lady fingers for a bit of chocolate.

      Thanks and happy holidays! Zoë

  10. I made this using Nabisco Famous Chocolate Wafers and it turned out great. I didn’t let the melted sugar caramelize long enough to get the deep flavor and colour. For me, 2 cups of heavy cream was plenty. I chilled the cream over night and whipped it at a medium-low setting on my KitchenAid. It took longer than I thought to get the peaks, I needed to be more patient! Next time I’ll make the chocolate biscuits as well. The cake was gone in an instant and I got rave reviews, thank you for sharing!

  11. Boy, I had a bad time whipping that cream too. Don’t know if it has anything with the caramel or if I was just unlucky. The cream was quite liquid when I started, but then it went from liquid to complete butter, no half point. I didn’t have any cream left so I just ate the cookies, lol. 🙁 But I’ll give it another shot someday.

  12. Update: I made this recipe again! This time I whipped the cream by hand and it turned out great. I just struggled a little with the quantities. I made the exact same recipe, used a smaller pan to shape the cake, had, of course, leftover cookies (almost half of the total) but not enough cream to make something with them. Hopefully they taste good just by themselves. 😉

    1. Hi Carol,

      Thank you for the update, so glad the cream worked out this time. Do you think it was just a matter of whipping it longer?

      Try the cookies with some nutella or even a scoop of ice cream!

      Thanks, Zoë

  13. I have made this recipe twice. The first time I had a really hard time getting the caramel cream to whip to soft peaks. It turned out more like thick runny cream. Everything was ice cold (it had chilled overnight). Put it in the freezer and we ate it frozen so it was still great to eat. The only heavy whipping cream I have available is the ultra pasteurized, so I thought that was the problem. Made the recipe yesterday – same problem. Then realized that I had been using a plastic bowl – switched to a stainless steel one and the cream whipped right up! We still froze it because our boys like it better that way. Hope this helps anyone having the same problem.

    1. Hi Kathy,

      This is amazing info, thank you so much for letting me know. I will try the recipe in a plastic bowl and see if I have the same reaction.

      Thanks! Zoë

  14. I tried making this today. Started last night with the cookies and it was all going well until it was time to whip the caramel cream. It would not whip. I had let it cool for 2 hours in the fridge as per instructions and had cooled the stainless steel mixing bowl of my stand mixer beforehand as well. When it hadn’t started whipping after 15 minutes in the stand mixer on a medium speed (which feels extremely long and if it was meant to be longer than this I feel like it should be noted in the recipe), I became desperate and started adding plain thickened (heavy) cream but in the end I was left with an aerated sort of whipped cream that looked a bit lumpy. It was meant to be a birthday cake for tonight so I’ve still constructed it and put it in the fridge although I’m almost certain it won’t set and will probably form a slop.

    I’m not too sure what the issue is. I never deviate from the recipe and measure things exactly and used your IG videos as guidance for colouring of the caramel etc.

    Anyway, only posting this review to say don’t be me! Don’t make this for a birthday/event on the first attempt. Try it first on your own time to see if the recipe works out for you the way it should.

    1. Hi Fathia, so sorry you struggled with the caramel cream. There are a few things that could have contributed to the issue: Not letting caramel cook long enough. Make sure the caramel is cooked until it’s smoking and a deep amber color. If it’s undercooked, you’re essentially adding a lot more liquid, which will make it difficult to whip properly. You also need to make sure the caramel is absolutely cold before adding. The other thing is, every mixer is different, so you may need to turn up the speed a bit to medium-high to get the desired effect. I hope this helps if you do decide to try again!

  15. 5 stars
    Made this twice now! For me it is a very intensive recipe because I’m not a very experienced baker. But also fun and delicious.

    I too had a bit of trouble with the Caramel whipped cream. I did get it to work though! It just took a long time to whip. I had to whip it about halfway. Then stuck it in the fridge for a few hours and finished whipping. I think it has to do with the sugar.

    The second time I made my Caramel and whip cream separate and for me it helped a lot. I whipped the plain cream (with a bit of milk powder for stabilization) to about 60% whipped. Then I add my pre made and cooled caramel (one cup sugar, 1/4 water and a little over cup of cream) to my whipped cream. I will note when I added my Caramel my cream wasn’t fully whipped it was at about 60% and then I finished whipping/ incorporating the Caramel.

    My cookies I added less milk because I was using home ground sifted flour and 1/3 cup milk made to a wet dough and even after refrigerating it was too sticky. In later batches I only needed about 3TBS of milk with my flour it gave the right dough consistency.

    I didn’t add any sugar to my coffee whipped topping because the cookies and caramel were enough sugar for me:)

    Let that Caramel get dark (like in the picture)! My first time I was afraid to let it let it burn and the Carmel came out a light blond. It was delicious but once all the cream was added it ended up tasting like extremely sweet whip cream you could hardly taste the Carmel flavor. The second batch I let get dark. I almost thought it was to dark like it was really bitter but once it’s mixed with the cream its soooooo good!

    This was an experience! Thanks for this recipe Zoe! It was fun! I’ll defiantly be trying more of yours‍

  16. Hi, your chocolate wafer recipe mentions brown sugar in the ingredients, but never gives the amount or mentions brown sugar again in the directions. My sister is the family baker and she could find it either. Hoping it was just a typo. Thanks for your response. Tory G.

    1. Hi Tory, please be sure to use the full recipe at the bottom of the post! This recipe was recently updated as Zoe was testing the cookie recipe for her upcoming book, and we forgot to update the text in the blog post itself. Thank you so much for letting us know about the discrepancy. It’s been updated now. Happy baking!

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