Black Forest Icebox Cake is the Ultimate Recipe You Need to Try
Tired of the same old desserts? Elevate your game with this Black Forest Icebox Cake. It’s a delicious twist on the classic German treat. Your taste buds will thank you.
Growing up my favorite drink as a kid was a Shirley Temple. And yes, that’s basically maraschino cherries and Sprite or 7-Up. Which is also why one of my favorite drinks as an adult is Cherry 7-Up. The love of cherries continues to this day. They’re one of my favorite fruits. And not always the maraschino kind, either. Fresh cherries are sweet and delicious!
Then there’s chocolate covered cherries which are also one of my favorite candies. Every year my parents would get us a box of Godiva chocolates. The last piece I would savor every bite of is their chocolate covered cherries. For those of you that want to get me a gift, just send me a box of those! Consequently, I love all things chocolate and cherry like Black Forest cake!
What is a Black Forest cake made of?
A Black Forest cake is traditionally made of layers of chocolate sponge cake, whipped cream, and cherries. The chocolate sponge cake is rich and moist, providing a deep cocoa flavor that serves as the perfect base for this dessert. The whipped cream adds a light and fluffy texture, balancing out the richness of the cake. Finally, the brandy soaked cherries bring a sweet and tart element that elevates the overall flavor of the cake. All these ingredients come together to create a truly decadent and indulgent cake that is perfect for any occasion.
What’s the difference between chocolate cake and Black Forest cake and red velvet cake?
Chocolate cake and Black Forest cake both have pretty much the same cake. However, Black Forest cake has brandy soaked cherries and whipped cream in it. Chocolate cake is typically spread with a filling between the layers and a coating of frosting around the whole cake. Black Forest cake has layers of whipped cream and cherries between the layers and no coating of frosting. So, while chocolate cake may be a classic favorite, Black Forest cake offers a delicious twist that is sure to impress your taste buds.
Black Forest cake and red velvet cake may be mistaken for each other due to their dark colors, but they are very different in flavor and ingredients. Red velvet cake typically has a subtle cocoa flavor with a hint of tanginess because it’s made with buttermilk. Black Forest cake has no tang. It’s just full of rich dark chocolate.
Why is it called an icebox cake?
Icebox cakes rose to popularity in the early 20th century when actual “iceboxes” were used to keep food and desserts cold before the invention of modern refrigerators. Yes, they had large blocks of ice in a box that would keep food cold. Iceboxes were made of wood with a tin or zinc lining packed with natural insulation like straw or cork. More common styles had a drip pan that required emptying daily while more fancy models captured that melted ice into a spigot that allowed the water to be used for drinking.
hese no-bake cakes gained their name from the method of chilling them in these iceboxes, This allows the layers to meld together over time. The cool temperature of the icebox helps to solidify the whipped cream and puddTing mixture. It also softens the cookies which creates a luscious texture that is both creamy and cake-like.
Ingredients:
- Chocolate pudding
- Milk
- Cherries
- Sugar
- Corn starch
- Whipped topping
- Chocolate crackers
Do you use frozen or fresh cherries in this icebox cake?
Yes, this recipe is about fresh farmers market produce. So, the obvious choice is to select fresh cherries. They’re sweet and make a delicious addition to this icebox cake. Their color is brighter than frozen cherries and extra juicy. And fresh cherries are in season.
Frozen cherries are convenient and available year-round. Simple as that. You can get them any time you want and they usually have a sweet cherry flavor. Sometimes not as sweet as fresh cherries, but when you’re craving Black Forest icebox cake, you have to use what you have on hand.
How do you make this icebox cake?
First, you want to make the pudding. Combine the milk with the pudding mixture and stir with a whisk until it begins to thicken. Cover it with plastic wrap making sure the wrap is touching the surface of the pudding so it doesn’t form a skin.
Make the cherry filling next. Put the cherries with the sugar, cornstarch, and a 1/4 cup of water if you’re using fresh cherries into a saucepan. Bring to a boil and then simmer until thickened. Cover with plastic and cool to room temperature then refrigerate until ready to use.
To make the filling you fold half of the whipped topping into the chocolate pudding mixture in a mixing bowl until there are no streaks of whipped topping visible. Put the cherry mixture into another mixing bowl and fold the remaining whipped topping into the cherries.
To make the cake place a layer cookies into the bottom of your pan. Spread half the chocolate mixture on top. Place another layer of cookies and top with half of the cherry mixture. Then repeat these layers ending with the last of the cherry mixture. Cover with plastic wrap and put in the fridge for at least 8 hours or overnight. This gives the cookies time to absorb the flavors of the layers and turn into soft pieces of fake cake layers.
What does this icebox cake taste like?
The combination of rich chocolate wafers, fluffy chocolate mousse, and sweet tart cherry filling creates a scrumptious blend of flavors in this Black Forest icebox cake. The chocolate wafers provide a chocolate cake-like base for the layers in this dessert. The mousse like chocolate layer adds a light and creamy texture that helps soften the cookies.
Then there’s the burst of cherry flavor from the whipped cream and cherry layer in every bite. This adds a refreshing and slightly tangy element to the overall sweetness of the cake. When the chocolate and cherry flavors come together after chilling in the refrigerator, they meld into a luscious and indulgent treat that is sure to satisfy any sweet tooth.
Black Forest Icebox Cake
Tired of the same old desserts? Elevate your game with this Black Forest Icebox Cake. It's a delicious twist on the classic German treat. Your taste buds will thank you.
Ingredients
- 3.5 ounces chocolate pudding
- 8 ounces whipped topping
- 4 cups cherries
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/4 cup water
- 2 to 3 tablespoons cornstarch
- 9 ounces chocolate cookies
Instructions
- Combine the milk with the pudding mixture and stir with a whisk until it begins to thicken. Cover it with plastic wrap making sure the wrap is touching the surface of the pudding so it doesn’t form a skin and refrigerate one hour.
- Put the cherries with the sugar, cornstarch, and a 1/4 cup of water if you’re using fresh cherries into a saucepan. Bring to a boil and then simmer until thickened. Cover with plastic and cool to room temperature then refrigerate until ready to use.
- To make the chocolate filling you fold half of the whipped topping into the chocolate pudding mixture in a mixing bowl until there are no streaks of whipped topping visible.
- Put the cherry mixture into another mixing bowl and fold the remaining whipped topping into the cherries.
- To make the cake place a layer cookies into the bottom of your pan. Spread half the chocolate mixture on top. Place another layer of cookies and top with half of the cherry mixture. Then repeat these layers ending with the last of the cherry mixture. Cover with plastic wrap and put in the fridge for at least 8 hours or overnight.
Nutrition Information
Yield
8Serving Size
1Amount Per Serving Calories 370Total Fat 18gSaturated Fat 11gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 6gCholesterol 32mgSodium 142mgCarbohydrates 51gFiber 2gSugar 44gProtein 3g
More Farmers Market Recipes:
- Basil Pesto Hummus by The Spiffy Cookie
- Caramelized Onion Quiche by Art of Natural Living
- Citrus Rainbow Carrots by Jolene’s Recipe Journal
- Dolly Parton’s Coleslaw by Palatable Pastime
- Easy Tomato Tart by Our Good Life
- Fresh Mango Salsa by Karen’s Kitchen Stories
- Honey Butter Skillet Corn by Cheese Curd In Paradise
- Instant Pot Applesauce by Blogghetti
- Pearl Fruit Platter by Magical Ingredients
- Black Forest Icebox Cake by A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures
- Spinach and Feta Frittata by Our Crafty Mom
- Summer Cherry Ketchup & Barbecue Sauce by Faith, Hope, Love, & Luck Survive Despite a Whiskered Accomplice
- Thai Basil Chicken by A Day in the Life on the Farm
Well. Once I stop drooling I will be saving this recipe and making it.
Thank you! I was surprised that hubs wanted to eat this one. He usually doesn’t touch the icebox cakes.
My chocolate and cherry loving husband would be over the moon with this!
Yes, he would! Because that’s my fave pairing and I devoured this.
Love chocolate and cherry together and any dessert that does not require me to get near an oven is a winner with me!
Thank you! That is always my inspiration for a no bake cake. The no oven part.
Every time I see a dessert like this, it reminds me that I really need to make more icebox desserts and invite neighbors over for a weekday summer dessert! What a great way to celebrate summer!
Thank you! They really are a great way to celebrate summer. And I have a few of them on the blog, too.
My favorite cake without having to turn on the oven. Perfection.
Thank you!
This is a cherrylicious idea! I am loving the use of chocolate cookies. Black forest is my go to cake and this easy to make ice box with my favorite cake flavor sound amazing! Loving it!
Thank you! The Maria chocolate cookies are perfect in this dessert. And there’s enough leftover to snack on later.
I love ice box cakes. Are the crackers Graham crackers? I know they discontinued the chocolate wafers and I’ve been on a quest to find a replacement!
Me, too!! Sometimes I can find the chocolate grahams, but these are Maria chocolate cookies. My Walmart has them and they’re perfect for icebox cakes and cookie crusts.