I enjoy making desserts that give the impression I've slaved in the kitchen. Simple desserts that appear sophisticated or just ultra cute. Old-fashioned icebox cookies are a great example of this type of dessert. Icebox cookies taste great whether they're put together haphazardly or with great care; a recipe almost impossible to execute incorrectly. But when you do put a little effort into it, they look like you have some baking secrets up your sleeve or a professional hiding at home.
Well, no more secrets, here's the recipe:
Chocolate wafer cookies, Cream.
Whip the cream. Layer the wafers and the cream.
The end.
Oh yeah, they're called icebox cookies because you do have to assemble them in advance, then set them in the fridge for a few hours or overnight to soften.
Alright, now let me give you my secrets. When whipping cream for these cookies, I like to add a bit of powdered sugar (complete recipe at the bottom). I like the cream slightly sweetened and I use powdered sugar because it helps stabilize the whipped cream. I use a decorator's bag with a round tip for piping the cream. This gives you more control than when you're dolloping it on with a spoon. I use 3 layers of Nabisco Famous Chocolate Wafers and then pipe a swirl of cream on top. Tinting the cream (as in the pictures) or placing a slice of fresh strawberry or some chocolate shavings on the cream is nice, but not even necessary to achieve an attractive little dessert. After layering the cookies and cream, I place the cookies in a pan in the fridge overnight. They are soft and ready to serve the next day. Very tasty. Almost embarrassing when someone asks, with awe, if you made them yourself.
After making the cookies pictured below for a friend's baby shower (tinted pink for the baby girl), I was inspired to make another batch adapted for a younger crowd. I needed a treat to serve at a child's Valentine party so I miniaturized the icebox cookie (see photo above). This ended up working out very well. I went with pink cream again, for Valentine's Day, but substituted Oreo Thin Crisps for the Nabisco wafers. I alternated the height on these, layering some with 2 cookies, others with 3. Using the smaller cookies, they soften faster and can be made even more last minute than the traditional variety. Alright!
This is a fun, easy, delicious little cookie that you could make to wow your friends, serve to your children or make with your children.
Whipped cream
1 c heavy whipping cream, well chilled
About 2 Tbs granulated or powdered sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla extract (optional)
Place a metal or glass bowl and your mixer's beaters in the refrigerator until well chilled.
Pour the cream into the bowl. Beat until the cream begins to thicken. Add sugar and vanilla and beat until almost stiff peaks form. Do not over beat or cream begins to curdle. Use immediately.
You can store leftovers in the fridge for a day, or possibly a few, and revive it with a bit of whisking.
Megan shares more fun recipes, crafts for kids, and vintage goodies at her blog PlumPudding.
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Very cute! How do you make the cream?
Erica, Thanks for asking. I'm updating the post to include a recipe for the whipped cream.
Mmm, this looks super yummy! I think I'm going to attempt to make this for an upcoming shower that I'm co-hosting,
I made these tonight using Trader Joe's vanilla wafers and chocolate whipped cream (I used the Joy of Cooking recipe for that). It was delicious, and best of all, SUPER easy *and* pretty. I love this idea and will be making variations galore for years to come. Thank you so much for the idea!
I want to make these, but I have a question. If I chill overnight, how long can they sit out the next day at room temperature before they are served ?
Andee,
I have not experimented with how long the cookies can sit out, nor have I seen any directions about this particular recipe. My opinion and experience is that they're fine for a couple of hours; for example, letting them sit out on the table during a party. I wouldn't leave them out indefinitely, for sure, since the cream is perishable. Hope that helps!
Thanks for the reply. I made them with vanilla wafers and it turned out great, but I really want to make it with Oreo Thin Crisps. Unfortunately those are not easy to find here.