Classic/Classic Update: Lemon Icebox Cake

The Classic: Lemon Icebox Cake
Scott Phillips
The Update: Frozen Lemon Cream Cakes with Toasted Meringue and Caramel Sauce
Scott Phillips

May 5th, 2010

In this corner, the classic light-as-air summer cake, and in that corner, a pastry chef’s inspired reinvention. Which will you choose?

The classic New York City cookbook author and baking expert Rose Levy Beranbaum shares her recipe for this homemade angel food cake layered with a luscious lemon mousse. Icebox cakes date back to the early 1900s (before refrigerators), when the icebox was cutting-edge technology. Nabisco printed their version of the Famous Wafer icebox cake recipe on its chocolate wafer cookie box in 1929. It soon became the most recognized version of the icebox cake. Early icebox cakes were festive chilled desserts made in molds with layers of cake (be it angel food, sponge cake, or lady fingers) and custard or cream. Here, layers of angel food cake and lemon mousse are molded together in the cake pan.		The Classic: Lemon Icebox Cake

The update Denver pastry chef Yasmin Lozada-Hissom turns the classic into an impressive individual frozen dessert that boasts a graham cracker crust, layers of lemon curd, lemon cream, and toasted meringue, with a luscious caramel sauce and fresh berries. Like the original, these “cakes” are layered, but they’re shaped in individual metal ring molds instead of in a cake pan. Leaving cake to the classic, this version defies tradition with a base made from homemade graham crackers. These creamy treats are frozen—not refrigerated—and have the texture of ice cream. Fluffy meringue is spooned atop the frozen dessert and toasted with a small kitchen torch just before serving.		The Update: Frozen Lemon Cream Cakes with Toasted Meringue and Caramel Sauce

Recipes by Rose Levy Beranbaum and Yasmin Lozada-Hissom
from Fine Cooking #105, pp. 66-71

Photos: Scott Phillips

posted in: Blogs, classic/classic update, lemon ice box cake

kcondefer writes: I recently had a dinner party and thought the lemon icebox cake, in the June/July issue, would be a perfect light ending to the meal. I have been baking for years and when I read through the recipe, I noticed something different from angelfood cakes I made in the past. When I read that you are to lightly oil the inside of the tube pan, I was surprised because I remember that you should have beaters and tube pan free from any grease, in order for the cake to be high and light. Well, I did follow the directions and when I inverted the pan for cooling, the cake slipped right out and was wasted. Now thinking that I maybe didn't bake it long enough, I proceeded to make the recipe again and again it was wasted. The third time I made my past recipe from an old "McCall's recipe book, without oiling the pan and the cake was perfect. I also had no problems unmolding. I would definitely recommend this cake for a special occasion, but please advise your readers to make sure there is no grease on the beaters or tube pan. Sincerely, Karen Posted: 5:20 pm on July 22nd

kcondefer writes: I recently had a dinner party and thought the lemon icebox cake, in the June/July issue, would be a perfect light ending to the meal. I have been baking for years and when I read through the recipe, I noticed something different from angelfood cakes I made in the past. When I read that you are to lightly oil the inside of the tube pan, I was surprized because I remember that you should have beaters and tube pan free from any grease, in order for the cake to be high and light. Well, I did follow the directions and when I inverted the pan for cooling, the cake slipped right out and was wasted. Now thinking that I maybe didn't bake it long enough, I proceeded to make the recipe again and again it was wasted. The third time I made my past recipe from an old "McCall's recipe book, without oiling the pan and the cake was perfect. I also had no problems unmolding. I would definitely recommend this cake for a special occasion, but please advise your readers to make sure there is no grease on the beaters or tube pan. Sincerely, Karen Posted: 5:16 pm on July 22nd

You must be logged in to post comments. Log in.

You might also like:

< previous next >

Cookbooks, DVDs & More

Check out all cooking Books & DVDs