Monday, March 16, 2009

Mexican Chocolate Icebox Cake

A brownie can sit on my counter for days, untouched. Same goes for a chocolate bar or even a huge slice of chocolate cake. But put a piece of this cake in front of me & I will have a hard time saying no. I probably wouldn't even try.

I made this last weekend for my Mexican themed dinner for a small family get together. I had a slice each day after & it was just so delicious. Although there are layers of chocolate in between ladyfingers & homemade whipped cream, there is something very light about this. The hint of cinnamon is perfect to boot. Make this & your guests will be impressed. Believe me, it looks harder than it is!!!! And it's more delicious than it looks!!!


60 sponge-cake-type ladyfingers (from three 3-oz pkgs)
2 3/4 cups chilled whipping cream
4 oz unsweetened chocolate, chopped
1/4 cup sugar
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 oz semisweet chocolate, grated



Line bottom of 9-inch-diameter springform pan with ladyfingers. Line sides of pan with ladyfingers, standing ladyfingers side by side & rounded side out. Stir 3/4 cup whipping cream, unsweetened chocolate & 1/4 cup sugar in heavy small saucepan over low heat until chocolate melts & mixture is smooth. Remove saucepan from heat & cool to room temperature.

Using electric mixer, beat 1 cup powdered sugar, butter & 1 tsp vanilla in large bowl until blended. Beat in cooled chocolate mixture. Combine remaining 2 cups cream, 2 tblsp powdered sugar, 1 tsp vanilla & cinnamon in another large bowl. Using clean dry beaters, beat until peaks form. Fold half of whipped cream mixture into chocolate mixture.

Spread half of chocolate filling in ladyfinger-lined pan. Top with layer of ladyfingers, then remaining chocolate filling. Pipe or spread remaining whipped cream mixture over filling. Sprinkle with grated semisweet chocolate. Refrigerate until firm, at least 3 hours. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and keep refrigerated.) Remove pan sides from cake & serve.


{My Thoughts}

The original recipe doesn't state this but when laying the ladyfingers down, you will want to cut small pieces to fit where you need it (see above). Once I line the sides of the pan with the ladyfingers I plug up any small holes. This time I was so efficient at it that I had no ladyfingers left. In the past I always did.

Also, when whipping the whipped cream, be patient. It can take about 5 minutes. Once you see the peaks forming stop. If you continue to whip then it will curdle on you. If this happens, the taste is still fine but it just won't look as pretty.

44 comments:

~Marie~ said...

Ooooo... this looks so good!!

B said...

Oh my goodness. I'm with you on the brownies, cake, and chocolate bar, so I'm most likely with you on this cake. It looks totally evil and is calling my name in a seductive way. I don't know if we can buy lady fingers up here in Canada, but I'm sure going to find out!

Jen said...

Really, you can say no to brownies and cake? I bow to you!
Oh and this cake looks good. YUM!

Scary Mommy said...

This looks amazing, Steph! Wow. I could really go for this right now!

sassy stephanie said...

Gasp! Did she just say what I think she said? Not a chocoholic? Well, guess I am enough for the both of us.

Homemade whipped cream....w.o.w.

Kristina P. said...

This looks divine! This is most definitely my next company dessert I am making.

Anonymous said...

Oh my gosh!! does that ever sound delicious.. its a must try
Thanks

Ronda said...

I'm so making this, this weekend! It looks outragious!!

Beca said...

Wow that looks great! I'm not much of a chocolate lover either. I'd love to try your recipe but we only have one grocery store in town and they don't carry lady fingers. It looks wonderful though thanks for sharing.

Reeni said...

Holy Moly!! It looks like an upscale bakery cake. It's gorgeous! I can only dream...and drool over how it tastes!

Lorie said...

Oh Yum! I must find an excuse to make that soon!

Lisa@BlessedwithGrace said...

As always, another great recipe, from Steph. Thanks!!

Rachael Schirano \\ Rachael Schirano Photography said...

that looks like yummy. (channeling tina fey) i want to go to there.

Nana said...

Oh my goodness!!!! This looks divine. I am going to give it a whirl.

Debbie said...

OK. My inlaws are coming Thursday and I think I'll make this. If it flops, you are in serious trouble:)

Aubrey said...

Just pass that chocolate cake that's been sitting around my way!! LOL

Pam said...

You are killing me. I would love a big slice of this right now! Delicious.

Sarah said...

This looks delish! I'm with you on the plain chocolate stuff....but add home whipped whipped cream or something then watch out!

Erin said...

YUM! This looks great!
That bowling alley is exactely where you think it is! So cool to see all the cruise ships come in and out- and the food was really good at the bowling alley!

Sandy said...

I'll take a bite of that right now. OH, delicious!

Anonymous said...

Oh my, yum!

Sherry @ Lamp Unto My Feet said...

WOWSA! This sounds abslultely scrumptious!

Ty'sMommy said...

Oh, I am going to have to try this! I have a package of ladyfingers in the pantry leftover from my last batch of tiramisu and have been wondering what to do with them (other than make more tiramisu, that is)! Now I know!

FROGGITY! said...

uhhhhmmmmm ... YUM!

Maria said...

Love this dessert, it looks VERY delicious!

Claremont First Ward said...

It looks soooooooooooooo good. How can you leave a brownie untouched on your counter though? :)

Did you get my email last night about guest posting?

Kacey said...

Oh I am in love. In love with a cake! This looks divine. And while I admire your will power against chocolate and candy...we may need to have a little talk. A brownie? We eat brownies. We eat brownies as soon as they are put in front of us. We eat brownies even if we're not hungry. I thought everyone knew that? :D {HUGS}

Lula! said...

This. Is. Amazing.

Of course I printed it out...

Unknown said...

Oh my good gracious heavens. I want a piece this instant! YUM to the max!

Lana said...

Incredible!!!

Jessica said...

Wow, Miss Fancy Pants! That looks beautiful!!

Anonymous said...

This looks so good, and I love that it's easy!

Natalia said...

YES!!! Chocolate! MORE chocolate!!! LOL

Yummy :)

Brenda said...

This is one of my sons favorites, there are many variations on this recipe and he likes them all :)

Angela said...

Oh wow, this is beautiful girl! Looks a bit like a Mexican version of tiramisu. But seriously now, HOW can you let a poor, pitiful, unloved brownie languish on your counter? That's just wrong!! LOL!

*I can take care of that problem for you; just send any unwanted brownies my way!*

tiarastantrums said...

that just looks too sinful!!!!!

oh and if you need someone to polish off your brownies - I'm your pal!

missy said...

oh my gosh that looks AWESOME!!!!!
may have to try this sometime!!!!!

Mommy2Twinkies-Deb said...

Looks A.MA.ZING. I'll have to try it. Soon. Cheers!

Rachel said...

Now I can see why you can't resist it...I may not be able to either...It looks and sounds amazing!

Chef Chuck said...

Yumm, I am heading to Mexico!!

michelle matthews said...

Oh wow! My mouth is watering! Yummy!

Heather said...

wow this looks delicious. i may just have to try and bake this some day soon... yum.

Unknown said...

I swear you can't be real. How in the world are you still able to move around and function. I would weigh about 500 pounds if I was able to get my hands on your cooking.

Danae Hudson said...

This looks amazing!!