Chocolate Ricotta Icebox Cake
An icebox cake gets its name from the fact that this is not a cake that is baked, but one that sets up in the refrigerator – a.k.a. the icebox, hence the name. The cakes are usually made with a mousse-like mixture that is stacked with layers of crisp cookies, like chocolate wafer cookies or graham crackers, and left to setup and meld together in the fridge. You can put together an icebox cake with any flavors, but this Chocolate Ricotta Icebox Cake is a great basic recipe because it is chocolate (which just about everybody loves) and so easy to make!
The cake reminds me a bit of a ricotta cheesecake, as it has a hint of ricotta texture to it and is lighter than a cheesecake made with cream cheese would be. It is not very sweet, however, and you can really taste the dark chocolate. For this reason, I definitely recommend using a dark chocolate that you like the flavor of – and choose one this is not too dark or bitter, or your icebox cake might be a little too bitter from the chocolate. I definitely recommend using dark chocolate that is no more than 65% cacao or so in this, rather than something darker. And also know that you can even get away with using semisweet chocolate chips in a batch and still get a nice, chocolatey result.
To assemble the cake, you spread chocolate wafer cookies with the ricotta and chocolate mixture and stack them together, then lay the stacks into a loaf pan and surround them with more of the ricotta mixture. This is one of the easiest ways to put the cake together, and allows for a fast assembly. Serve the cake with chocolate shavings and whipped cream to lighten it up and highlight the chocolate even more.
This cake needs to be refrigerated, so plan to make it well in advance of when you want to serve it. It should chill at least overnight (12 hours) for the best results, and it will keep in the refrigerator for up to 2 or 3 days. IF you want to keep it longer, try freezing the cake and defrosting it in the fridge a few hours before you want to serve it.
