Italian Ice Cream Cake
Incassare in Italian means “to put in a box,” and in this case the boxing consists of flavored ricotta in a light sponge cake, often decorated with candied fruits and chocolate. It is a dessert that, once filled and sealed, keeps well for a few days. That is why Italian American restaurants had it on the menu: low maintenance with good flavors. This versatile dessert can be filled with various flavors of ice cream, so try substituting that in place of the ricotta filling (in which case you will have to keep the cake in the freezer). Sicilian in origin, cassata is most easily found in areas of America that experienced a large influx of Sicilian immigrants, such as New Orleans.
Recipe information
Yield
serves 8 or more
Ingredients
for the cake
for the filling
for the syrup
for the glaze
Preparation
Step 1
For the cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter and flour the bottom and sides of a 9-inch springform pan. Sift together the flour and baking powder in a bowl.
Step 2
Whisk the eggs in a mixer fitted with the whisk attachment on high speed until very light and fluffy, about 5 to 6 minutes. With the mixer on medium, slowly pour in the sugar, and mix until thick and glossy, about 1 to 2 minutes, then stir in the orange zest. Fold in the sifted flour with a spatula just until incorporated—don’t overmix. Pour the batter into the prepared pan, and bake until a cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean, about 20 minutes. Let the cake cool on a wire rack, then run a knife around the sides of the pan to loosen and unmold.
Step 3
For the filling: Dissolve the gelatin in 2 tablespoons hot water in a small bowl. Beat the ricotta and confectioners’ sugar in a mixer fitted with the paddle attachment on medium speed until smooth, about 2 minutes. Scrape in the dissolved gelatin and mix to distribute. Stir in the chocolate and lemon peel with a spatula.
Step 4
For the syrup: Bring the sugar to a boil with 1 cup water in a small pot. Boil until reduced by about a quarter, about 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from heat, and stir in the Grand Marnier. Let cool slightly.
Step 5
To assemble: Line the inside of a 9-inch-diameter bowl with plastic wrap, letting several inches of excess wrap drape down the outside.
Step 6
Cut the cake into three circular layers of equal thickness, using a serrated knife. Line the bottom of bowl with one cake slice, pressing to fit, and brush with some of the syrup to soak it evenly. Fill half of the cavity of the bowl lined with the cake with some of the filling. Fit another cake layer on top of the filling, pressing to fit snugly to the sides of the bowl, then brush with more syrup. Continue to fill the cavity with the remaining filling, and fit the final layer flat on top. Soak the last layer with the remaining syrup. Fold the excess plastic wrap over the top, and weight top with a heavy plate. Chill overnight, or until the filling is set; if filled with ice cream, set in the freezer.
Step 7
For the glaze: Sift the confectioners’ sugar into a large bowl, and whisk in the lemon juice to make a smooth, spreadable glaze. If necessary, add a little more confectioners’ sugar or some water to get the correct consistency.
Step 8
Remove the cake from the bowl and unwrap. Invert with dome up on a cake plate or stand. Spread the glaze over the top of cake, and let it slide down the sides, guiding it with a spatula to cover the cake completely. Let the glaze set at room temperature before serving.
