Easy Black Forest Icebox Cake Recipe

This black forest icebox cake is your old-fashioned chocolate icebox cake taken up a notch. Plus, it is incredibly easy to put together. This is a perfect choice for any time you need a tasty dessert.

woman in apron holding blue baking dish of icebox cake

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Black Forest Icebox Cake
Variations of this Icebox Cake
Ingredients For the Icebox Cake
Kitchen Tools Needed
How to Make the Black Forest Icebox Cake
Frequently Asked Questions
What Else Can I Add to the Icebox Cake
Tips & Tricks to Make the Black Forest Icebox Cake
Recipe
Discussion

Black Forest Icebox Cake

There’s just something about the colder months of the year that gets you in the mood to celebrate and dig into some delicious and chocolatey sweet treats. And thankfully, it doesn’t take a lot to make a dessert that the whole family enjoys.

Icebox cakes are the way to go if you’re one of those who don’t like to spend a lot of time in the kitchen. They’re versatile and super easy to make. And this black forest icebox cake, in particular, is chock full of flavor and deliciousness.

And if you want something just a bit different, check out this great no-bake eclair cake recipe that is absolutely decadent!

square slice of icebox cake on white plate sitting on blue table

Variations of this Icebox Cake

Fresh cherries and chocolate shavings are the classic toppings for your black forest icebox cake, but if you’re bringing in some variation with the flavors and additions to this cake, you can also experiment with the toppings.

Here are a few ideas you can never go wrong with.

Candied pecans
Chopped walnuts
Almond slivers
Coconut flakes
Mini chocolate chips
Fresh berries, sliced
Caramel sauce
Chocolate sauce
Nutella spread
Peanut butter cups
Oreo thins
Crushed Oreos
Sprinkles

round white plate on yellow table topped by cherry icebox cake

Ingredients For the Icebox Cake

You’ll need just 4 simple ingredients to put this decadent cake together. How cool is that?

2 packs chocolate wafer cookies
1 can cherry pie filling
2 cups heavy whipped cream
½ cup powdered icing sugar

Kitchen Tools Needed

Featured Img of Black Forest Icebox Cake

How to Make the Black Forest Icebox Cake

In a large bowl, beat together the whipping cream and powdered sugar until soft peaks form then set aside.

In a baking dish or pan, place a single layer of chocolate cookies.

Then spread ½ of the whipped cream over the top of the cookies.

hand spreading cool whip over top of cake in blue pan

Next, spread ½ of the cherry pie filling over the whipped cream.

hand spooning cherry pie filling on top of whipped cream on cake

Repeat this process one more time using the remaining cookies, then whipped cream, then cherry pie filling.

hand spreading whipped topping over top of cake

Cover loosely and chill for at least 6 hours.

Add additional whipped cream, cherries, or sprinkles on top before serving.

slice of black cherry layere cake on top of white plate

Frequently Asked Questions

What Can I Use Instead of Chocolate Wafer Cookies?

Chocolate wafer cookies are an absolute must for this recipe, simply because they’re classic and easy to work with. Oreos are great too, but then again, they’re round, and they won’t give your cake that perfect flat, a fit edge that you’re looking for. If you’re looking for an alternative, chocolate-flavored graham crackers are your best bet.

Can I Use Cool Whip Instead of the Heavy Cream?

ally can! To balance out the flavors and the creaminess of this icebox cake, you might need to add in a bit of condensed milk too though.

How Do I Store the Black Forest Icebox Cake?

Got some leftovers that you need to store? Just transfer them to an airtight container and refrigerate them. You can have them within 3 days. Anything beyond that will just be a soggy mess, thanks to the wafers soaking up all the moisture and turning limp and sad. If the cake slices feel too delicate to be moved to a container, you can store them in the same container you made them in. Just make sure you cover it well and you’re sorted.

icebox cake being lifted out of baking pan

What Else Can I Add to the Icebox Cake

One of the best things about an icebox cake is the fact that it is your literal playground to experiment with different flavors, textures, and additions. While the black forest icebox cake is a heavenly classic that you just can’t go wrong with, you can still bring about a little variation if feel like it.

For example, you could use any berry jam or compote as a swap for the cherry pie filling in the recipe for a bit of a different flavor. Top the cake with some coconut flakes to take it to the next level.

You could also ditch the fruit completely and use chopped or candied nuts instead- they’ll also lend your cake a nice bit of crunch and bring in a little variation in texture too.

And if you’re doing that, you can also mix a bit of espresso powder into the cool whip if you’re a coffee lover.

If you’re making this dessert during fall, you can sneak in a bit of pumpkin pie spice into the whipping cream, and use pumpkin puree too.

Tips & Tricks to Make the Black Forest Icebox Cake

Think you’ve got it all covered? Wait up! You might want to keep these little tips in mind to nail the recipe.

Before you refrigerate the cake, make sure you cover it with a lid or tinfoil. This will ensure that the cake doesn’t end up having those weird refrigerator smell once you get it out and serve.
If your whipping cream isn’t forming the stiff peaks as you would want it to, you can allow the cake to refrigerate for 15 minutes after every layer of whipping cream, so that the cake is well set and holds its shape.
This cake ideally needs 12 hours of setting time in the refrigerator to get that perfect cake-like soft texture and for the flavors to blend in and develop, but if you’re making this on a bit of short notice, you can allow it to refrigerate for a minimum of 6 hours, and then serve it.
Make sure the cream is cold when you start to whip it. If your kitchen seems hot, you can also chill the bowl and whisk for a while, and then use them to whip the cream.
To get some extra chocolatey flavor into this dessert, you can also add a bit of cocoa powder into the whipped cream.

Loved how easy it was to make this black forest icebox cake? Looking for some more similar easy and quick dessert recipes? Here are some you might want to try out.

Recipe

Yield: 8