15‑minute no‑bake checkerboard cake: A dessert delight
The checkerboard cake is tempting even before cutting into pieces. It's an easy dessert recipe without needing an oven, mess, or long preparations. In just 15 minutes, you can create a delicious cake for the entire family.
No-bake cakes are the ideal solution for those who feel they have two left hands in the kitchen. No need to worry about something collapsing, failing to rise, or becoming a disaster. My proven recipe for a quick dessert is the checkerboard cake with cookies and a simple cream based on whipped cream and mascarpone.
Checkerboard cake - a simple no-bake dessert recipe
When I don't have much time for preparations but still want to serve guests a delicious dessert, I make the checkerboard. Between colourful cookies hides a simple mixture of whipped cream and mascarpone, blends perfectly with a layer of dulce de leche. To break the sweetness, I add fresh raspberries, but if I can't find them at the store, I skip this addition.
You can also add chocolate cream or fruit purée to the cream if you want to give it a different flavour. Preparation takes no more than 15 minutes, but it's worth being patient—the cake should spend at least 3 hours in the fridge to allow the cookies to soften.
Ingredients:
- 250 grams light cookies,
- 250 grams dark cookies,
- 500 grams mascarpone cheese,
- 200 millilitres well-chilled heavy cream (30% fat),
- 1 tablespoon powdered sugar,
- 1 can of dulce de leche,
- raspberries (optional).
Instructions:
- Pour the chilled cream into a bowl and whip it at high speed with a mixer along with the powdered sugar.
- Toward the end of whipping, gradually add the mascarpone. The cream should be smooth and lump-free.
- Line a baking pan approximately 24x24 centimetres with parchment paper.
- Alternatively, place light and dark cookies on the bottom to form a checkerboard pattern.
- Spread half of the cream, add raspberries, then spread more cream and a layer of cookies. If you're adding chocolate or fruit purée, add it to one part of the mixture. If you're not using any additions, spread everything at once.
- Spread the dulce de leche over the cookies and cover again with a layer of checkerboard cookies.
- Place in the fridge for at least 2-3 hours to allow the cookies to soften.
After that time, the delicious checkerboard cake is ready. Preparation takes only 15 minutes and it disappears from plates even faster. Enjoy!
