Nabisco Chocolate Wafer Cake

This recipe is definitely vintage and I would consider it to be an All American Classic Dessert.
It's been around since the 1920's. It can also be made using Nabisco Nilla Wafers. I've included a picture of both boxes of cookies and some optional idea for each cake.
This is a great recipe to make for a family gathering, church pot luck or a neighborhood block party.

"An Ice Box Cake (American), zebra cake (British), or chocolate ripple cake/log (Australian) is a dessert consisting of whipped cream and chocolate wafers. The back-of-the-box recipe on Nabisco Famous Chocolate Wafers indicates that the wafers are stacked to form a log with whipped cream cementing them together, and then the log is laid on its side. A second log is formed and the two are set side-by-side and more whipped cream covers the exterior. The cake is then left overnight in the refrigerator (or "icebox"). The wafers absorb moisture from the whipped cream and the whole can be served in slices. The dessert is usually served by cutting it into slices at a 45-degree angle, so bands of chocolate and cream are visible across each slice. The traditional wafers are the thin and dark Nabisco Famous Chocolate Wafers, but they may be hard to find in some areas so other cookies are sometimes substituted."

"The icebox cake is derived from similar desserts such as the charlotte and the trifle. It was first introduced to the US duringWorld War I. Its popularity took off in the 1920s and 30s, as it used many commercial shortcuts and premade ingredients. In response to the dish’s popularity, companies that manufactured ingredients for the cake, such as condensed milk and wafer cookies, began printing “back of the box” recipes."


For those that are not familiar with this dessert, I'll try to explain how to create it.
I've included pictures at the end with some options for the cake.

You'll need 1  (9oz.) box of Nabisco Famous Chocolate Wafers  or a box of Nabisco Nilla Wafers and 1 recipe of Homemade Whipped Cream.
1 - Banana if you choose to make it with Nilla Wafers, although I also like to add Bananas to the Chocolate Cake too.
That's it, it's quite simple. 

Whipped Cream:
1 Pint of Heavy Cream
3 TBS Granulated Sugar
2 TBS Vanilla
1 TBS Honey
Combine all ingredients in the bowl of a Stand Mixer with a whisk attachment and beat on high until stiff peaks form. ( You may want to made a double batch just to be safe)

I create 4 rows of 9 wafers stacked together side by side to form a log. You can make it as large or as small as you want, depending on the number of servings you want.
You'll need a rectangular serving platter or you can make it in a 9" X 13" baking dish. I prefer the platter for presentation.

Spread a strip of whipped cream down the center of the dish to secure the rows of wafers.
Begin by stacking the wafers 9 high, sandwiched with a dollop of whipped cream.

You'll end up with 4 stacks of 9 cookies.
Lay them down on their side ,next to each other in rows, on the strip of whipped cream. 
You'll have 4 rows of 9 wafers.
Frost the entire log with the remaining whipped cream.
If you run out...... make another batch of whipped cream. The more, the better!
Refrigerate the log overnight.

Slice to serve.

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!

This is an example of the assemble of the cake.

The picture of this cake uses stacks of 6 wafers.
You can top the cake with shaved chocolate, cocoa powder,
or even sprinkle it with crushed toffee bits and miniature chocolate chips.
Be creative and make it your own creation.

You can substitute Nilla Wafers .
Top this one with thin slices of Banana
or even place a thin slice of banana between
each cookie when you create the stacks.