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This no-bake Mocha Chocolate Icebox Cake has layers of coffee-flavored filling, chocolate wafer cookies and chocolate ganache. It’s so delightful and easy to make!
No-Bake Mocha Chocolate Cake
This icebox cake really is super easy to make. To start, you’ll dissolve some powdered espresso or coffee into hot milk. The goal here is to get a small amount of very strong coffee.
Add the coffee to the cream cheese and sugar. Beat the cream cheese and sugar together first, then add the espresso. Things combine much smoother when done in that order. Then to lighten it up, make some whipped cream and gently fold it into the cream cheese mixture, making sure not to deflate the whipped cream.
If you’ve never made homemade whipped cream before, do not fear. It might just be the easiest thing ever. It’s just heavy cream that’s whipped at a high speed, which adds air and makes it super fluffy! The powdered sugar helps thicken and stabilize it and the vanilla adds a little flavor. Easy peasy. And because there’s a good bit of powdered sugar in this whipped cream, you don’t have to worry about it wilting. It won’t. Of course, if you’d prefer you can use Cool Whip instead.
The mocha mousse is layered with chocolate ganache and chocolate wafer cookies. And let me tell you, these chocolate wafer cookies are super tasty. I think they taste a lot like an Oreo. And we know I love those.
Also, chocolate ganache – another thing to not be afraid of. I remember back when I first started baking, whipped cream and ganache terrified me. And yet once I finally jumped the hurdle and made them I realized the fear was all for not. Super easy.
Just add three of each layer to the pan and you’re all done! Toughest part is waiting for it to firm up. I usually make desserts like these the night before so they’re sure to be firm. Once it’s ready, finishing up is pretty quick. Just a little whipped cream around the edges, some chocolate sauce and a few chocolate covered espresso beans. A coffee lover’s dream! Yum!!
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Mocha Chocolate Icebox Cake
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 7 minutes
- Total Time: 22 minutes
- Yield: 14-16 Slices
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Stove
- Cuisine: American
Description
This no-bake Mocha Chocolate Icebox Cake has layers of coffee-flavored mousse, chocolate wafer cookies and chocolate ganache. It’s topped with whipped cream and is delightfully easy to make!
Ingredients
Chocolate Ganache and Wafers
- 9 oz (255g) semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 3/4 cup (180ml) heavy whipping cream
Mocha Mousse and Chocolate Wafers
- 3 tbsp (45ml) milk
- 3 tbsp powdered espresso granules
- 12 oz (339g) cream cheese, room temperature
- 3/4 cup (155g) sugar
- 2 1/2 cups (600ml) heavy whipping cream
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 1/4 cups (144g) powdered sugar
- 9 oz package chocolate wafer cookies*
Whipped Cream and Additional Toppings
- 1/2 cup (120ml) heavy whipping cream
- 1/4 cup (29g) powdered sugar
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- Chocolate sauce
- Chocolate covered espresso beans
Instructions
To Make the Chocolate Ganache
- Put the chocolate chips for the ganache in a heat proof bowl. Set aside.
- In a small saucepan, heat heavy whipping cream for ganache until it comes to a boil, then pour over the chocolate chips.
- Cover and allow hot cream and chocolate chips to sit for about 5 minutes, then whisk until smooth. Set aside to cool a bit and thicken.
To Make the Mocha Mousse
- Prepare a 9-inch springform pan by lining the sides with parchment paper or an acetate collar that sticks about an inch above the sides of the pan.
- Pour the milk in a small measuring glass and microwave it to bring it to a boil, then dissolve powdered espresso in the milk. Allow to cool.
- Beat softened cream cheese and sugar for mocha mousse together in a large mixer bowl until smooth.
- Slowly add espresso mixture to cream cheese mixture and beat until smooth. Set cream cheese mixture aside and make whipped cream.
- Whip heavy whipping cream on high until it begins to thicken. Add vanilla extract and powdered sugar and continue to whip on high until stiff peaks form.
- Carefully fold whipped cream into espresso cream cheese mixture.
To Assemble the Icebox Cake
- Place a single layer of chocolate wafer cookies on the bottom of the pan, then top with about 1/3 of the espresso mixture (about 2 1/3 cups). Spread about 1/3 of the ganache (about 1/2 cup) evenly on top of the espresso mixture.
- Repeat previous step two more times so that you have 3 of each layer. Refrigerate until firm, 4-5 hours or overnight.
To Make the Whipped Cream Topping and Finish the Cake
- Once firm, remove icebox cake from pan.
- Whip heavy whipping cream on high until it begins to thicken. Add vanilla extract and powdered sugar and continue to whip on high until stiff peaks form.
- Pipe the whipped cream around the top edge of the cake, then drizzle with chocolate sauce. Finish off cake with chocolate covered espresso beans, if desired.
- Refrigerate until ready to serve. Best if eaten within 3-4 days.
Notes
Chocolate wafer cookies. Originally this recipe was made with Nabisco Chocolate Wafer Cookies. Sadly the cookies were discontinued in 2023. To make the chocolate wafer layer you can use whole Oreo cookies (including the filling), or you can scoop out the filling and just use the crisp chocolate cookies. You could also use chocolate graham crackers or other brands of chocolate wafer cookies from your local grocery store or Amazon.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 Slice
- Calories: 553
- Sugar: 47.5 g
- Sodium: 209.2 mg
- Fat: 35.1 g
- Carbohydrates: 57.7 g
- Protein: 5.7 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg
Filed Under:
Enjoy!
Lindsay, I am making this for my husband’s burthday, coffee mousse and chocolate are his two favorite things! May I ask what espresso powder you recommend? Thank you so much for your amazing blog! I have discovered it a couple of weeks ago and just got hooked!!!
Hi Lindsay,
The chocolate wafers used in this recipe is not available where I live. Can you recommend an good alternative?
Much appreciated.
I would recommend using Oreos or a similar chocolate cookie.
Can you use cool whip for short cut?
Yes, you can.
Just made this for father’s day, huge hit! Everyone loved it. I did 4 layers instead of 3 because I had extra wafers. Great recipe, will definitely make again.
So glad you enjoyed it!
Can we freeze this cake
Should be fine.
what kind of chocolate wafers should i use for this?
These are the ones I used.
Thank you! I will definitely make this for the next family BBQ.
Have a great day!!!!! 🙂
I made this for a group of 60 in large rectangular pans . This was my first time making this recipe , normally i wouldn’t use a recipe I hadn’t tried before for a large group but i had confidence because everything I have tried from your blog has been fantastic. once again it was a huge hit. so glad I stumbled across your blog on pinterest.
Hi Pam! I’m so glad you stumbled across it too and have enjoyed the recipes! Thanks!
Looks great pinning it to make it later!
Just got done making this one!!! Tastes good!!! Love it. Can’t wait to cut it on my birthday party later today. I used chocolate gram crackers instead of wafers. I wasn’t sure if I suppose to layer it three times with cookies, though. So, I made only two layers of crackers but three full layers of the ganache and espresso. Let’s see how it turns out. Thanks for your fabulous recipes!!!
The cake turned out to be delicious!!! Everyone loved it!!! Thanks so much for your recipes!!!????
I’m so glad everyone enjoyed it! 🙂
H! I love your recipes! I just have one question, would I use heavy cream or whipping cream, as they are two different things? Or does it not make much difference in this particular recipe?
I use heavy whipping cream.
Oh wow that looks incredible! As a lover of all things mocha, I’d be all over this cake 🙂
What great flavors for an icebox cake! This looks incredible!
Coffee and chocolate!…looks and sounds delicious. I can’t wait to try it! I goofed the last time I made ganache, hopefully the next time I can make it work. 🙂
I used to be afraid of whipping cream, too. But then the KitchenAid solved that problem! 🙂 And ganache sounds hard, but it’s so easy. Love the ganache always.
Mocha icebox cake has got to be the best flavor!