Icebox Mocha Cake
Icebox Mocha Cake is easy to assemble with simple ingredients. The chocolate cookies absorb all the flavors of the pudding and make for rich layers.
I’ve made a couple of icebox cakes in the last few years. Some have been perfect and some have been not so great. I mean, they taste great, but the filling is sometimes a little too runny. I’ve adjusted the recipes so you shouldn’t have this problem. But I did. And it makes things difficult when trying to photograph them.
What are icebox cakes?
Icebox cakes are not cakes. They are layers of cookies or crackers along with a filling of some description and topped with whipped cream or whipped topping. They refrigerate for a few hours to allow the cookies or crackers to absorb moisture from the filling. This makes the cookies or crackers obtain a cake like consistency. Hence the cake in the icebox cake name.
They’re fashioned in the same method as a Charlotte or a trifle. With layers cake and creamy fillings. But the recipe, as it is known today, appeared in the 30’s. They helped promote the refrigerator as a new and innovative appliance necessary in every kitchen. The icebox cake made the refrigerator appear essential to every kitchen. And I cannot imagine living without one.
As the refrigerator gained popularity, and more convenience foods are created, the popularity of the icebox cake rose. The original recipe did not include pudding, but now most people make icebox cake with pudding. It can either be homemade or made from a mix. They also make icebox cake with cool whip or whipped topping. These are also convenience foods that gained popularity over the years.
What are typical icebox cake ingredients?
Well, some make icebox cakes with chocolate wafers, and some make them with graham crackers. I like the chocolate graham crackers, but I haven’t been able to find those since the pandemic started. They always seem to be out at the store.
Nabisco Nilla wafers are perfect for icebox cakes. And southern style banana pudding is sort of like an icebox cake. It only needs a few more layers of cookie and pudding and it’s an icebox cake.
Some make icebox cakes with pudding and cool whip. And some make them with homemade pudding and whipped cream. I am not that fancy. Even though I do make a mean banana pudding. And could totally make a banana pudding icebox cake. Maybe I should do that and share it with y’all. What do you think?
What are some icebox cake flavors?
Well, those can be endless! There’s countless flavors of premade pudding mixes and, well, you can make pretty much any flavor of pudding you want, too. I have a wicked witch icebox cake with pistachio pudding in the idea bin for next year. I can’t wait to show that one. It’s fun with layers of green pudding and chocolate cookies.
I made a strawberry icebox cheesecake, a tropical icebox cake, and a no bake banana split cake. That last one is so good! You should try it. Then I have several ideas for icebox cakes. I mean, you can literally make then in any flavor you want. The possibilities are endless.
The classic icebox cake recipes has the filling sandwiched between the cookies. Those cookies are placed vertically in the pan creating vertical layers of cookie and filling. This seems weird to me. Why vertical? It only makes sense to have the cookies be horizontal. So, you can get these delicious layers of goodness. And they look prettier when you serve them, don’t you think?
Can you freeze icebox cakes?
Yes. They are freezable. The ingredients are simple and can be frozen individually. So, it only makes sense that you can freeze them when they’re all together like that. This means you can easily make them ahead of them. Just put them in the fridge overnight to thaw before serving.
Or feel adventurous and serve a frozen icebox cake. Why not? We make pudding pops that are frozen. Ice cream cakes have cookie layers. Why not serve up a frozen icebox cake? They might me a little difficult to slice, but I think it would be well worth trying. Maybe I’ll add that to the idea bin, too.
Well, there’s chocolate with a hint of coffee in there. I used cold brew coffee for this recipe. I am testing out a cold brew carafe from Lardera coffee roasters. They’re associated with Adagio teas. And, well, we all know how amazing their teas are. Their coffee is just as amazing.
I almost made the pudding with only cold brew coffee, but I wasn’t sure how well that would work. I think there’s something about the pudding that needs the milk for it to work. Maybe next time I will try just the coffee and see what happens. From what I’ve read, you can use water so coffee would work, I think. I can’t imagine making it with water. Have you tried that? I’d love to hear from you if you have.
You can see the delicious layers of the chocolate cookies and pudding with the whipped topping on top. There’s a hint of coffee flavor on there which rounds out the chocolate flavors. The cookies have that rich, devil’s food style flavor and texture that icebox cakes are famous for.
Since my cookies were thicker than usual, they needed a little extra time to “marinate” in the pudding. I made sure they were in the fridge for at least 24 hours. This gives the Maria cookies plenty of time to absorb the liquid from the pudding the whipped topping. If you use thinner cookies, you don’t need to leave it in the fridge for so long. It was torture waiting for it to be ready to devour.

Icebox Mocha Cake
Icebox Mocha Cake is easy to assemble with simple ingredients. The chocolate cookies absorb all the flavors of the pudding and make for rich layers.
Ingredients
- 3.9 ounces chocolate pudding mix
- 1 cup half and half
- 1/2 cup cold brew coffee
- 8 ounces whipped topping
- 24 chocolate cookies (I used Goya Marie cookies)
Instructions
- Combine the pudding mix with the half and half and cold coffee in a mixing bowl.
- Whisk for 1 to 2 minutes or until the pudding mix is dissolved.
- Cover and refrigerate 2 hours.
- Remove the pudding from the fridge and add 2/3 of the whipped topping to the pudding.
- Fold the whipped topping into the pudding.
- Place one layer of cookies in the bottom of a loaf pan lined with plastic wrap.
- Layer half the pudding mixture on top.
- Please another layer of chocolate cookies on top and the rest of the pudding mixture.
- Layer the rest of the cookies on top of the pudding.
- Top with the remaining whipped topping.
- Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 8 hours. Overnight is best for the cookies be truly cake like in texture.
More Chocolate Recipes
- Brownie Mix Cookies from Kathryn’s Kitchen Blog
- Brownie Muffins from Cheese Curd In Paradise
- Chocolate Caramels from Jolene’s Recipe Journal
- Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cookies from Palatable Pastime
- Chocolate Meringue Pie from Cindy’s Recipes and Writings
- Easy Black Forest Bundt Cake from Blogghetti
- Easy Chocolate Mousse from Devour Dinner
- Easy Peanut Butter and Dark Chocolate Fudge from The Spiffy Cookie
- Homemade Chocolate Syrup from Art of Natural Living
- Hot Chocolate Fudge from Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks
- Ice Cream Cake Roll from An Affair from the Heart
- Icebox Mocha Cake from A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures
- Orange Curd Brownies from Karen’s Kitchen Stories
- Pork Tenderloin with Chocolate Molasses Gravy from A Day in the Life on the Farm
- Red Velvet Pancakes from That Recipe
- Starbucks White Hot Chocolate from The Fresh Cooky
- Valentine Treat Board from Magical Ingredients
- White Chocolate Blondies from Shockingly Delicious
Ice cream cakes are the BEST and I love how you can add extra toppings inside each layer too.
Yes! Layer it up!
This would be a perfect summer dessert! Well any time really!
For sure!
I love icebox cakes as they are easy to make! Love chocolate and this mocha icebox cakes hits the right spot for me! YUMMY!
Thank you! They’re so fun to make.
This looks so yummy! I am thinking summer, but yes, really no need to wait!
Thank you! No need to wait at all!!
I don’t make icebox cakes enough….must try this one. Love mocha anything.
Thank you! I hope you try it!
This is icebox cake is fabulous and I love how it’s made with only 5 super simple ingredinets. The layers are gorgeous and so delicious. Thansk for the deliciously easy recipe!
Thank you! They are simple to make and fun to mix and match the flavors.
I’m a big fan of icebox cakes. I am an even bigger fan of mocha! Sign me up!
Thank you!
I haven’t made an ice box cake in ages, and this looks amazing, like a simpler version of a Tiramisu! Love the addition of cold brew! Can’t wait to make it!
It’s like the poor person’s tiramisu! I hope you enjoy it!
I haven’t made an icebox cake in forever and I love all things mocha. Must give this a try!
I hope you do!
Who doesn’t love an icebox cake? The Banana Split one is a brilliant idea.
Right? The banana split one was my favorite!
I never had an icebox cake. I need to try this one!
Yes, you should! They’re so good and easy to make.
Yum! I love a good icebox cake and the coffee addition here is yummy!
Thank you! I love coffee and chocolate together.
I love your twist on an ice box cake! I need to make these more often. I’ll have to hunt down those cookies too.
Right? I got spoiled with the chocolate cookies. Now I can’t find them. I like regular grahams, but the chocolate ones are tastier.