Cassata Recipe

Italians are credited for creating yet another famous dessert, the Cassata. The name cassata literally means "little case" due to its brick shape. Cassata is an ice-cream, shaped like a brick, consisting of layers of ice-creams of different flavours on liqueur soaked sponge. This is the Sicilian version of the dessert.
I have chosen ready-made ice-cream to make a quick dessert. You may make the ice-cream yourself at home.
Rum steeped sponge cake, topped with a layer of strawberry ice-cream, flavoured rum soaked sultanas, candied peel, finally topped with coffee cinnamon ice-cream and garnished with grated chocolate. You can prepare the cassata upto 2 to 3 days in advance and keep it frozen.
A great dessert for a great evening!

Cooking Time and Serve Estimate for Cassata Recipe

Cooking Time : Nil.
Preparation Time : 15 mins.
Setting Time : 7 hours. 7 hours.

Serves 4.

Ingredients for making Cassata Recipe

For the first layer

1/2 recipe sponge cake
1 tablespoon powdered sugar
2 tablespoons rum

For the second layer

250 ml. vanilla ice-cream
4 tablespoons rum
2 tablespoons sultanas
2 teaspoons candied peel, chopped
1 tablespoon roasted almonds, chopped
2 teaspoons strawberry crush

For the third layer

250 ml. coffee ice-cream or vanilla ice-cream mixed with 1 teaspoon of instant coffee powder, dissolved in 1 teaspoon warm water
1/8 teaspoon cinnamon powder

For the garnish

grated chocolate

Method for preparing Cassata Recipe

For the first layer

1. Line the sponge cake on the base of 125 mm. (5") diameter glass bowl or a freezer proof dish.

2. Mix the powdered sugar and rum with 2 tablespoons of water and soak the sponge with this mixture.


For the second layer

1. Soak the sultanas and candied peel in the rum for about 2 to 3 hours.

2. Mix the vanilla ice-cream with the rum soaked sultanas, candied peel, almonds and strawberry crush.

3. Spread this mixture over the first sponge layer.

4. Freeze for about 3 to 4 hours until the ice-cream is firm.


For the third layer

1. Combine the coffee ice-cream with the cinnamon.

2. Spread this coffee ice-cream mixture on top of the second layer (of ice-cream), cover and freeze till it has set for approximately 3 to 4 hours.

3. Cut into pieces and serve chilled, garnished with grated chocolate.