If there is a sight that gives some respite from the horrid heat wave in India, during the summer months, then it is envisioning slabs of cool ice cream to dip into. But if you thought tubs of creamy ice-cream or licklollies in varying but often synthetic flavours were your only options to beat the heat, then let us introduce you to another chilled classic goodness. An icebox cake, is the latest trend to be on its way to hit chi-chi party circuits and cosy dinner soirees in India. This heavenly looking dessert, though looks straight out of a gourmet’s repertoire is surprisingly simple to make. This dessert requires no baking time and is in fact, layers of cookies along with whipped cream topped on top of one another in an aesthetic manner. But if you thought that it must have been an easy day discovery in the kitchen, then you are wrong because its origin and history goes back to the 1940s in America. Here’s everything that you need to know about an icebox cake. And once you get a taste of it, don’t blame us if you find yourself digging into it most of the summer!
The Origin
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An icebox cake is a dessert that originated in America but is also popular in Australia, where it is known as a ripple log. The famous recipe for the cake, first appeared on the back of a carton of the famous Nabisco wafers in America. The simple process required layering of wafers and whipped cream on top of one another and refrigerating it overnight. The overnight chilling process sets the cake and the slices when cut beautifully to form symmetrical patterns of wafer and cream. But even before the recipe of the icebox cakes began appearing on the cookie boxes, according to historians it gained grounds during the World War I.
Variations Galore
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Once icebox cake reserved its space amongst the gourmands for its easy appeal and yummy taste, there were some variations that were introduced to the original recipe too. Soon graham crackers began getting used as a layer to sandwich the cream and the cookies. Many chefs now add more appeal to it by adding to the layers slices of fruits such as strawberries, pineapple, cherries or according to many cooks whatever is left in your refrigerator.
Easy-Peasy Prep
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While the heavenly taste of this cake belies its easy prep, according to many chefs it is the simplest recipe any novice cook can stir up in their kitchen. All you need to do is think of the ingredients in your home and layer them turn by turn and voila you have a masterpiece of a dessert ready. The best summer treats, as they say are often the simplest ones and an icebox cake proves it to the hilt.
So, ditch those artificial flavors and sweeteners in icecream shops and gorge on this comfort food rightaway.
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