Strawberry Gingersnap Icebox Cake with Whipped Coconut Cream

I was really busy over the weekend with wedding stuff, and didn�t have a chance to do a Father�s Day post.

We�re making our invites and DIY decorations (with the help of some friends, of course, plus floral by my lovely friend Brit), and taking care of all the business�banquet permits, flatware rentals, parking permits for the� oh, wait that�s a surprise. etc�all by ourselves. I�m kind of a control freak, so I can�t imagine not doing it all, but man� this is hard work!

Wedding, wedding, wedding. Sorry, it�s all I talk about and think about and do right now. If you�re my sister/mom/fianc�/friends: thank you for your help and for putting up with my constant wedding chatter! PS. 107 days!

So anyway, I had a full Father�s day post planned, with some of my favorite things he used to make us when we were kids, but I didn�t get around to it yet. I will soon though. Because my dad is amazing and hilarious and I love him so much. Everyone who meets him loves him so much.

And he LOVES fresh strawberry pies. Every spring and summer, he whips up a million fresh strawberry pies. You know, the kind with a graham cracker crust, strawberry filling with maybe a layer of vanilla pudding or whipped cream.

This icebox cake is sort of a retro remix of the fresh strawberry pie. But the fresh strawberry pie is kinda retro too. So I mean� Retro remix of a retro recipe?

If you aren�t familiar with icebox cakes, they�re basically layered wafer cookies and whipped cream, chilled or frozen�the ultimate no bake summer dessert. The cookies soften in the whipped cream, and the whole thing kind of melds together into a cool, refreshing, super simple treat.

I added strawbs to this, because duh, and instead of classic wafers, I used gingersnaps, because strawberries and ginger go really well together! And also, I swapped out regular whipped cream with whipped coconut cream, and tossed a whole bunch of toasted coconut on top. The final product is creamy, slightly sweet, gingery, strawberry filled perfection.

Strawberry Gingersnap Icebox Cake with Whipped Coconut Cream

This recipe is a breeze to throw together, but you do need to plan ahead. The coconut milk needs to chill overnight before whipping, and then the cake itself needs to chill at least 8 hours for maximum cookie softness. If you do happen to dig in early, the cookies will be crunchy and everything will be less melded together, but it will still taste great!

2 cans full fat coconut milk

� cup powdered sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 pound of fresh strawberries, sliced

About 30-40 gingersnap cookies (I used store bought�the thinner the better)

�-1/3 cup toasted coconut flakes

First, chill the coconut milk (this helps the solids separate from the liquids). Place both cans in the fridge overnight. 

Flip them upside down, open, and drain the liquid into another dish (set aside for a different use). Scoop the thick cream into a chilled bowl or bowl of your stand mixer, and whip until fluffy stiff peaks begin to form. Add powdered sugar and vanilla, whip to combine/ until smooth.

Assemble: In a baking dish or pie plate (I used a standard pie plate), add a layer of cookies (not overlapping). Spread half of the whipped coconut cream on top, and top that with the sliced strawberries (these can overlap). Top with another layer of cookies, and then the remaining cream. 

Cover and chill at least 8 hours. Serve cold or room temp. 

Add the coconut just before serving. 

Peach Pineapple Crisp with Coconut & Ginger Crumble

Ok so, it's in the 80s in Seattle� I know, it's crazy and wonderful. I also know that the last thing anyone in Seattle wants to do on an 80 degree day is turn on the oven. A lot of our apartments and houses don't have AC, so it can be pretty miserable indoors on beautiful Seattle days. And, I mean, who wants to be inside when it's so amazing outside? 

That being said, if you happen to find yourself in an AC equipped home, or you don't live in Seattle, or you just love amazing tropical tasting desserts�then you should make this crisp. 

Peaches and pineapple together is such a winning combo. It reminds me of a tropical drink. And then if you top that with a buttery crumbling oat topping that has gingersnaps and coconut in it� c'mon guys. Turn on the AC. Blast the fan. Do what you need to do. Just make this dessert happen. 


And then go outside and enjoy this amazing summer weather.

Peach Pineapple Crisp with Coconut & Ginger Crumble 

I wanted to keep this really light and fresh tasting, so I didn't add a thickening agent to the fruit. It comes out a little runny and less set up this way, but I happen to think that it works. If you do want a firmer filling, add a tablespoon of cornstarch to the fruit and sugar mixture. 

2.5 cups cubed fresh pineapple (about half a large pineapple)

3 large peaches, cubed (no need to peel)

1/4 cup sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

1.5 cups old-fashioned oats

1/2 cup flour

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt

6 tablespoons melted butter (1 stick)

10 gingersnap cookies, crumbled

1/2 cup desiccated coconut 

1 tablespoon turbinado (course) sugar

Preheat oven to 425, with rack in middle. Stir together pineapple through vanilla. Place in a buttered 2.5-quart baking dish (or two 1-quart dishes). 

Stir together oats, flour, brown sugar ,and salt. Blend in butter with your fingers until mixture is thoroughly moistened. Stir in gingersnaps and coconut. Press over fruit and sprinkle with turbinado sugar. 

Bake until juices are bubbling and topping is golden brown, about 25 minutes. 

Cool slightly, and serve with ice cream.