Dark and Stormy Icebox Cake

I love cooking. I actively dislike dessert making. It always feels fussy.

Still, sometimes needs must, especially in the case of a dinner party or celebratory meal, and I love icebox cakes. They are easy, infinitely adaptable, and delicious. They are also perfect for the summer because no heat and very little effort is involved and you have to make it the day before.

This particular version, based on the flavors of a Dark and Stormy cocktail, one of which I happened to be drinking when I thought of this, is really delicious.

1 package of your favorite ginger cookies (There are many brands and variations out there. I bought Ivins Famous Spiced Wafer Cookies because I like them, and used about 2/3 of the box to make this recipe and happily enjoyed the rest of the cookies dunked in tea.)

1 pint heavy whipping cream

3 Tbsps granulated sugar

2 Tbsps dark rum

2 Tbsps finely chopped crystalized / candied ginger

Zest and juice from 2 limes

Line a bread tin with plastic wrap, ensuring that there is excess wrap hanging over the edges.

Place the lime zest, lime juice, and chopped candied ginger together in a small bowl. Stir to combine and set aside.

Make your whipped cream by combining the sugar, rum and cream together and whipping until stiff. I have found that the fastest way to do this is with an immersion blender as it takes less than a minute, but a hand held beater will work too as will a whisk and elbow grease though this defeats the purpose of an easy dessert.

Dollop a few generous spoons of the cream into the plastic wrap lined tin. Add a layer of ginger cookies, followed by a drizzle of the lime and ginger mixture. Repeat until you have reached the top of the tin or run out of whipped cream, ending on a layer of the cookies.

Fold the plastic wrap overhang over the final cookie layer and refrigerate overnight to let the flavors marry and the cookies to soften.

When ready to serve, open the plastic wrap, unmold the icebox cake onto a serving platter, remove the tin and the plastic wrap and - voilà! - a thing of beauty.