“Life is uncertain. Eat dessert first.” Ernestine Ulmer
A layered cake is always a crowd pleaser at a party and looks like you went through a great deal of effort to make it. This dessert comes together in minutes, is chilled overnight and is perfect for easy entertaining. Because of its coffee flavoring, I served it recently at a summer brunch. With Kahlua, espresso, chocolate and mascarpone, the filling ressembles tiramisu in texture and taste. The fun secret ingredient is actually layers of chocolate chip cookies! This is a Barefoot Contessa recipe that I adapted. The original had 5 layers in an 8 inch springform pan but was hard to slice. I made mine in a 9 inch pan with only 3 layers. This yielded 12 servings instead of 8 and with a cake this rich, that was perfect. Ina recommends Tate’s Bakeshop cookies. I chose Trader Joe’s gluten free cookies. Any cookie works but you want to choose crispy, flat ones. When the cookie layers soften, the chocolate chips end up blending with the filling and you get a nice chocolate crunch in every bite of cake. A nice cool summer special occasion cake that doesn’t heat up the kitchen.
CHOCOLATE~MOCHA ICEBOX LAYERED CAKE
2 c whipping cream
12oz tub of mascarpone cheese
1/2 c sugar
1/4 c Kahlua liqueur
2 T unsweetened cocoa powder
1 t instant espresso powder
1 t vanilla
2-7oz packages of Trader Joe’s GF chocolate chip cookies
shaved dark chocolate for garnish
In a large bowl whip together all ingredients except the cookies and dark chocolate. This will be thick and creamy. In an 9 inch springform pan, place a layer of cookies. Fill in any gaps with broken cookies. Top with one third of the cream mixture. Repeat twice. Cover and refrigerate overnight. In order for the cookies to soften, make 24 hours before serving. Let rest at room temperature about 10 minutes and run a knife around the edges before removing the sides of the pan. Shave some chocolate on top before serving.

These GF cookies from Trader Joe’s are so good! An airplane size of Kahlua is the perfect amount for this recipe!
” Life’s too short to skip dessert!” Michelle@ Giraffes Can Bake
That cake looks amazing Johanne!! Yummm…
Thank you Naina! Good summer dessert.
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This cake looks amazing Johanne! Love the secret cookie layer, so much yum!!
Me too! So easy, Michelle. Unlike you , I am less of a baker than a cook. These types of desserts are my salvation.
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😀 You can’t be a nice, no bake dessert – especially in the summer!
I will gladly eat dessert first before anything else. 😀 Happy FF and have a lovely weekend.
I like the way you think Jhuls!!! Enjoy the rest of your weekend!
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Thank you for the lovely scrumptious cake Johanne! Much appreciated! 🙂
YOU are the master of cake making Lili and every week I am in complete awe of your creations! I hesitate to post any of mine on FF but I am thrilled you are sharing a compliment. Thank you so much!!!
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Wow.. thank you Johanne! That’s very sweet and really your cake here looks so delicious you’d just have to hesitate about whether you really want to share it with us or keep it all to yourself! hee hee 🙂
Life is sweeter when on shares!
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Reblogged this on Chef Ceaser.
Johanna, this is sooo cool! I wish I had a slice right now.
Hope you had a happy fourth!
Mollie
Thanks Molly! Other than our fireworks getting rained out, it was a lovely 4th. Hope yours was as well.
Johanne Lamarche
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