Mocha Chocolate Icebox Cake

Yield: 1 cake; serves 8 to 10 | Prep Time: 20 minutes | Chill Time: 3 hours

My fondest memories of my grandmother are her morning cups of coffee and her long list of icebox desserts that she’d turn to each week in the summer. When I eventually began drinking coffee, both the smell and taste brought back these memories. I don’t know if I remember her combining that morning coffee into any of her icebox cakes, but if she did, it would be exactly this cake.

INGREDIENTS

1 (9-ounce) package chocolate wafer cookies

3 tablespoons whole milk

3 tablespoons instant espresso powder

3½ cups cold heavy whipping cream

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1¼ cups powdered sugar

12 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature

¾ cup granulated sugar

12 ounces chocolate chips or melting chocolate wafers

DIRECTIONS

  1. Crush the cookies in a food processor to the consistency of wet sand.
  2. In a small saucepan, heat the milk until it begins to steam. Stir in the espresso powder and set aside to steep.
  3. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the wire whip, whip 2½ cups of the heavy whipping cream on high until foamy. Add the vanilla and powdered sugar and continue whipping until stiff peaks form. Transfer to a large bowl and set aside.
  4. In the same mixer bowl (no need to wash) using the paddle attachment, combine the cream cheese and granulated sugar and mix for 2 minutes, scraping down the sides of the bowl, until smooth. Add the espresso-milk mixture and stir to incorporate. Fold the two mixtures together until no white streaks remain. Place in the refrigerator to chill.
  5. Meanwhile, put the chocolate chips in a large bowl. Heat the remaining 1 cup heavy whipping cream in a small saucepan over medium heat until steamy. Pour the cream over the chips and stir until a smooth, shiny ganache forms.
  6. Place half the crumbs into a greased 8-inch springform pan and press with your fingertips to form a bottom crust. Spoon in half the whipped filling and smooth. Pour ½ cup of the ganache over the filling and carefully smooth. Repeat the layering.
  7. Chill the cake for at least 3 hours before serving.