If baking isn’t your thing, this Icebox Log Cake is for you! Layers and layers of chocolate wafers and fresh whipped cream are my ultimate dream dessert.
The holidays doesn’t have to be ALL about baking – you can have a perfect festive dessert without turning on your oven. Icebox Log Cakes were always part of my childhood. I love making these with my mom every year. There’s truly no better dessert for me than layers of chocolate wafer cookies and whipped cream. It’s simple, but absolutely decadent and delicious.
Part of what I love about this recipe is that it’s such a fun activity for me and the kids. Chloe and Gemma love making the whipped cream and then we all get together and layer cookie after cookie with it and it’s so much fun. A little tip, put a thin layer of whipped cream on the serving platter so that the wafers are able to have something to stand up on. It’ll help it to have a foundation when you’re spreading the whipped cream on top at the end.
Once you’ve built your cake, it sits in the freezer for a few hours (or over night) so the cookies get nice and soft. That’s probably the hardest part of this recipe… waiting! But, that also means it’s a great recipe to make ahead so you have less on your plate the day the holiday party comes around. And believe me when I tell you, everyone will be impressed when you whip this out of your freezer.
If you’re looking for more holiday dessert recipes, try out a few of my favorites like Holiday Chocolate Chip Sprinkle Bars, Fresh Gingerbread Bundt Cake and these classic Sugar Cookies. You can make these ahead of time as well, which I love.
Chocolate Wafer Cookie Substitutes
I, like many of you I’m sure, found out that the famous chocolate wafer cookies that are used in this recipe have been discontinued. I’m so bummed of course, but have some ideas for substitutes! My first choice would be Tate’s chocolate chip cookies. They’re a similar shape, size and crispiness. You could also try to use Oreo Thins, or I’ve heard of another brand called Dewey’s that has a product called Brownie Crisp Cookies that I bet would work great too! Hope that helps! Let me know in the comments if you try any of these substitutes and what were your favorites!
I hope you all have a beautiful holiday season! Tag me on social media if you make this recipe this year!
Icebox Log Cake
Ingredients
- 1 pint whipping cream
- 2 tablespoons confectioner’s sugar
- 1 package famous chocolate wafer cookies (see notes)
- 2 tablespoons cocoa powder (optional, for dusting)
Instructions
- Place whipping cream and sugar in a large bowl. Using a hand mixer, whip for 2 minutes on medium speed increasing to high speed until thick and creamy making sure not to over whip the cream.
- Spread 1 tablespoon of whipping cream on top of each cookie and cover with another cookie creating stacks of 8 cookies and whipped cream.
- Using a large platter, spread a thin layer of whipped cream in the shape of the log (this helps keep it in place.) Place 3/4 of the stacks on their side creating a log.
- Place the remaining side in the center of the log “gluing” with whipped cream to make the side of the log.
- Spread the remaining whipped cream over the log allowing the ends to remain uncovered.
- Place the cocoa powder in a small sieve and dust the top of the log with cocoa powder.
- Place in the freezer for a couple hours or overnight. Slice and then serve.
I made this recipe for Christmas 2022 and it was a big hit!
I want to make it again this year, but it seems nabisco is no longer making the famous wafer cookies!
Any recommendations for substitutes? Thank you
Agh I heard! So bummed 🙁 I haven’t tried any others yet, but I’m hearing a few substitutes that might work. Tate’s chocolate chip cookies would be amazing and are the same shape and a good size. Oreo Thins would probably work too. They would give you a slightly smaller log cake. I’ve also heard of a brand called Dewey’s that has something really similar called a “brownie crisp cookies”. Let me know if you try any of them and how it turns out!
I’m going to try the Goya Maria cookies. They are chocolate and around the same size. They might work
Let me know how it turns out! 🙂
what are you using in place of chocolate wafers now that nabisco discontinued them?
I just heard about this, and I’m so bummed! I haven’t tried anything yet this year, but I’m thinking about using Tate’s crispy chocolate chip cookies and seeing how it turns out. Let me know if you try anything and how it goes!
Looks yummy! But a couple hours and over night are VERY different. How do I know how long to leave it in the freezer?
Hi Amy! I said a couple hours because it should be frozen and able to be served after that amount of time, but if you wanted to make it ahead and leave it in the freezer overnight that would also work. There’s really not too long of a time to have it in the freezer. Hope that helps!
I was so excited to see this recipe. My friends and I used to make these when I was in college a million years ago and, as simple as it is, I’ve been trying to remember how we did it. I can’t wait to make it with my grandchildren. Thank you!