Have you ever made radiator cake?

[wildflower]

Hi everyone,

I swear I saw this once on Martha Stewart, and to my surprise, I couldn't find it on the Web.

From what I remember, it involves layering graham crackers with whipped cream (it isn't an actual cake). I don't recall any other ingredients.

I'm wondering if it is a Depression-era recipe?

Have any of you made such a "cake"?

[AwakeAtLast]

1. Just from your short description I'm reminded of 'Eclair Cake'

It's not cake either. Graham cracker bottom, vanilla pudding mixed with cool whip (or whipped cream), then another layer of grahams, last layer of pudding and cream, last layer of grahams, then thinly ice it with chocolate icing.

Probably not what you are thinking of, but now I' thinking I need to go buy some Cool Whip and chocolate icing! :9

[wildflower]

4. Thanks! This is interesting...

I looked it up and I think it may be synonyms with "icebox cake." There's also Trifle, which seems to share some similarities.

I wonder where the term radiator cake comes from.

I tried looking up "eclair cake" "radiator cake" and got just one hit... this thread. :) I just tried "eclair cake" "graham crackers" though, and got a bunch of hits! I'm off to look at them now.

Sometimes I can't decide if Google is a foodie's dream, or nightmare. :)

[The empressof all]

2. I thought they were called Refrigerator or Icebox Cakes

They are layered lady fingers or cookies with pudding or mousse and sometimes fruit. Tiramisu is one of the more famous versions. They get their name from time to chill out in the fridge to let the flavors meld together.

Here are some recipes:

http://www.epicurious.com/tools/searchresults?search=icebox+cake

[wildflower]

3. Aha...I looked up "icebox cake" "graham "crackers"...

and hit gold! Thanks. I will swear to the end of time, though, that Martha called it a "radiator cake."

This article calls these cakes "no-bake solutions to hot kitchens": http://www.post-gazette.com/food/20000629mailbox.asp

So I can see it as a way to save money, via saving energy and using leftovers. I like those use-what-you-have-and-be-creative kinds of recipes, especially in this economy.

P.S. (on edit) Thank you for the epicurious recipes, I'm perusing them now.

[grasswire]

5. that popular chocolate cookie-whipped cream thingie...

....is another variation. Those thin chocolate cookies, layered with whipped cream and positioned in a roll, then chilled and then sliced thin. I enjoyed that as a kid.