Orange Cardamom Icebox Cake with Whipped Mascarpone

By AislePrompt Editorial · ·

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are developed and reviewed.

Layered delicate cookies soaked in orange-cardamom syrup, topped with lightly sweetened whipped mascarpone for a no-bake chilled dessert. This Italian-inspired recipe, ready in about 30 minutes, layers ladyfinger cookies, fresh orange juice, granulated sugar into a dessert worth slowing down for — great for weekend baking, holiday tables, or any time you want a sweet payoff at the end of a meal. Each serving lands at about 320 calories and feeds 8, so it slots into a weekend bake or a special-occasion dessert tray. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Prep: 25 min Cook: 5 min Serves 8 Italian cuisine 320 cal/serving
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Ingredients

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Instructions

  1. Step 1: In a small saucepan, combine 1 cup fresh orange juice, 1/2 cup granulated sugar, and 1 tsp ground cardamom. Heat over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until sugar dissolves and the syrup is slightly thickened, about 5 minutes; remove from heat and cool to room temperature.
  2. Step 2: In a large bowl, whip 2 cups mascarpone cheese with 1 cup heavy cream and 1/4 cup powdered sugar until soft peaks form, about 3-4 minutes.
  3. Step 3: Quickly dip each of the 24 ladyfinger cookies into the cooled orange-cardamom syrup for 1-2 seconds to soak without becoming soggy.
  4. Step 4: Arrange a layer of soaked ladyfingers in the bottom of an 8x8-inch dish, then spread half of the whipped mascarpone mixture evenly over the cookies.
  5. Step 5: Repeat with another layer of dipped ladyfingers and the remaining mascarpone mixture. Smooth the top with a spatula.
  6. Step 6: Cover and refrigerate the cake for at least 6 hours or overnight to allow flavors to meld and cookies to soften.
  7. Step 7: Before serving, garnish the top with 2 tsp fresh orange zest for a bright citrus aroma.

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