icebox cake
{{Short description|Dessert}}
{{Infobox food
| name = Icebox cake
| image = Icebox cake is chocolate pudding and Graham crackers in layers.jpg
| image_size = 200
| caption = An icebox cake in a glass, made of graham crackers and chocolate pudding, topped with whipped cream
| alternate_name = zebra cake, chocolate ripple cake, refrigerator cake, graham cake
| place_of_origin =
| region =
| creator =
| course = Dessert
| served =
| main_ingredient = Whipped cream and chocolate
| variations =
| calories =
| other =
}}
An icebox cake (also known as a chocolate ripple cake or log in Australia) is a dairy-based dessert made with cream, fruits, nuts, and wafers and set in the refrigerator. The recipe for one particularly well-known version used to be printed on the back of boxes of thin and dark Nabisco Famous Chocolate Wafers.{{cite web |last1=Splawn |first1=Meghan |title=This 100-Year-Old No-Bake Cake Recipe Is as Easy as It Is Delicious |url=https://www.thekitchn.com/an-ode-to-the-original-icebox-cake-22931840 |website=Kitchn}}
History
The icebox cake is derived from similar desserts such as the charlotte and the trifle and made to be more accessible to prepare.{{cite web |last1=Sagon |first1=Candy |title=Assemble, Chill And Serve Icebox Cake, a Dessert Anyone Can Make |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A18114-2004Jul27_2.html |work=The Washington Post |access-date=14 October 2019}} It was first introduced to the United States in the 1920s, as companies were promoting the icebox as a kitchen appliance.{{cite web |last1=Hill |first1=Meggan |title=Icebox Cake Recipe |url=https://www.culinaryhill.com/icebox-cake/ |website=Culinary Hill |access-date=14 October 2019}} Its popularity rose in the 1920s and 30s, as it used many commercial shortcuts and pre-made ingredients, such as pre-packaged cookies instead of sponges or ladyfingers that people had to bake at home.{{cite news | last=Prichep | first=Deena | title=Famous Chocolate Wafers are no more, but the icebox cake lives on | newspaper=NPR | date=July 14, 2023 | url=https://www.npr.org/2023/07/14/1187468958/famous-chocolate-wafers-are-no-more-but-the-icebox-cake-lives-on | access-date=July 15, 2023}} In response to the dish's popularity, companies that manufactured ingredients for the cake, such as condensed milk and wafer cookies, began printing recipes on the backs of their boxes,{{cite web |work=The Food Timeline |first=Lynne |last=Olver |author-link=Lynne Olver |title=Icebox Cake |url=http://www.foodtimeline.org/foodcakes.html#icebox}} including those of Nabisco's Famous Chocolate Wafers.
Regional variations
=Australia=
In Australia the cake is made from Arnott's Chocolate Ripple biscuits, hence the name in that country of Chocolate Ripple cake. The biscuits are covered in sweetened whipped cream, and placed in a log formation. This dessert is typically made the day before serving and kept in the refrigerator overnight. It is often decorated with crumbled chocolate, fresh berries or grated Peppermint Crisp.{{cn|date=October 2024}}
=Philippines=
File:Mango float (Cebu City).jpg from the Philippines, an icebox cake variant of crema de fruta]]
In the Philippines, mango float{{cite web
|url=https://www.pinoyrecipe.net/mango-float-recipe/|title=The Best Mango Float Recipe |author=Ed|date=11 December 2011|publisher=Pinoy Recipe at Iba Pa|access-date=1 April 2018}} is a popular icebox cake variant of the traditional crema de fruta layered dessert. It is made with graham crackers or broas (ladyfingers) in between layers of whipped cream, condensed milk, and fresh mangoes.{{cite web
|url=http://maputingcooking.com/recipe/crema-de-fruta-christmas-dessert/|title=Crema de Fruita a Festive Christmas Dessert |author=Jane|date=5 December 2016|publisher=Maputing Cooking|access-date=1 April 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://www.thelittleepicurean.com/2015/06/mango-royale-icebox-cake.html|title=Mango Royale (Mango Icebox Cake)|author=Maryanne|date=15 June 2017|publisher=The Little Epicurean|access-date=1 April 2018}}
=United Kingdom=
A biscuit cake is an icebox cake commonly served as a tea cake in the United Kingdom. At the request of Prince William a chocolate biscuit cake was served as a groom's cake at his wedding.{{cite news |title=Chocolate biscuit cake |url=https://www.thestar.com/life/food_wine/recipes/2011/04/06/chocolate_biscuit_cake.html |work=The Star}}{{cite news |title=Queen Elizabeth II's Favorite Cake: Chocolate Biscuit Cake |url=https://www.today.com/recipes/queen-elizabeth-favorite-dessert-food-chocolate-biscuit-cake-t109969 |publisher=Today}} It is made by heating butter and chocolate and whisking in eggs or condensed milk. Some versions also include golden syrup. After the mixture is cooled, crumbled digestive biscuits are incorporated into the batter. Optionally other dry ingredients may be mixed in as well such as assorted dried fruits, nuts and candies.{{cite news |title=Konditor & Cook's chocolate biscuit cake recipe |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink/recipes/10782869/Konditor-and-Cooks-chocolate-biscuit-cake-recipe.html |publisher=The Telegraph}}{{cite web |title=Chocolate Biscuit Cake |url=https://www.connachtgold.ie/recipes/chocolate-biscuit-cake/ |website=Connacht Gold}}{{cite web |title=Chocolate Biscuit Cake |url=https://www.odlums.ie/recipes/chocolate-biscuit-cake/ |website=Odlum's}}
=United States=
The Nabisco version of the icebox cake indicates that the wafers are stacked to form a log with whipped cream cementing them together, and then the log is laid on its side. A second log is formed and the two are set side by side and more whipped cream covers the exterior. The cake is then left overnight in the refrigerator (or icebox). The wafers absorb moisture from the whipped cream and the whole can be served in slices. The dessert is usually served by cutting it into slices at a 45-degree angle, so bands of chocolate and cream are visible across each slice.{{cn|date=October 2024}}
A variation of icebox cake is made using pudding (usually chocolate) and graham crackers or vanilla wafers layered in a square or rectangular baking dish. Additional variations include alternating layers of chocolate and vanilla pudding, or the addition of sliced bananas or pineapples between the layers. While this can be done with cold instant pudding, if given ample time in the refrigerator, the best results come from assembling the dessert with still-hot, stove-cooked pudding, and then refrigerating overnight.{{cn|date=October 2024}}