Espresso and Mascarpone Icebox Cake

A luxurious no-bake dessert featuring layers of chocolate wafers and creamy mascarpone filling, topped with espresso-flavored whipped cream and chocolate wafer crumbs. This elegant icebox cake needs to chill overnight for the perfect texture.

8 servings
9 hr 19 min

Ingredients

  • 3 cups chilled heavy cream
  • ½ cup sugar
  • 1 cup mascarpone cheese
  • 1 box chocolate wafers
  • 1 tablespoon instant-espresso powder
  • 1 piece springform pan

Cooking Instructions

  1. 1.

    Beat 2 cups cream with 6 tablespoons sugar in a bowl with an electric mixer at medium speed until it just holds soft peaks, 2 to 4 minutes. Reduce speed to low, then add mascarpone and mix until combined.

    4 min

  2. 2.

    Spread 1 1/4 cups mascarpone mixture evenly in bottom of springform pan and cover with 14 wafers, slightly overlapping if necessary. Spread with another 1 1/4 cups mascarpone mixture, followed by 14 more wafers arranged in the same manner. Spread remaining mascarpone mixture on top. Smooth top with a metal offset spatula, then cover pan with foil and freeze until firm, about 1 hour. Transfer from freezer to refrigerator and chill, covered, until a sharp knife inserted into center cuts through softened wafers easily, about 8 hours.

    540 min

  3. 3.

    Pulse remaining chocolate wafers in a food processor until finely ground.

    2 min

  4. 4.

    Beat remaining cup cream with espresso powder and remaining 3 tablespoons sugar using electric mixer at medium speed until it just holds stiff peaks, about 3 minutes.

    3 min

  5. 5.

    Remove foil and side of pan and frost cake all over with espresso cream. Sprinkle edge of top lightly with wafer crumbs. Serve cold.

    10 min