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Melon Icebox Cake

17/11/2023

The Melon Icebox Cake is a refreshing and colorful dessert, perfect for the summer. Here is the recipe to prepare this delight.

Ingredients

  • For the base:

    • 200 g of dry biscuits (like Digestive)
    • 100 g of melted butter

  • For the melon gel:

    • 500 g of blended and strained melon pulp
    • 100 g of sugar
    • 12 g of sheet gelatin (or fish glue) or an equivalent of powdered gelatin
    • The juice of half a lemon

  • For the decoration:

    • Melon slices as desired
    • Fresh mint leaves

Preparation

  1. Preparing the base:

    • Finely grind the biscuits in a food processor until you get a fine flour.
    • Mix the melted butter with the ground biscuits until you obtain a homogeneous mixture.
    • Press the mixture into a springform pan (preferably 22-24 cm in diameter) previously lined with parchment paper, creating an even layer.
    • Refrigerate the base for at least 30 minutes so that it hardens.

  2. Preparing the melon gel:

    • Soak the gelatin in cold water for 10 minutes.
    • In a saucepan, lightly heat part of the melon juice with the sugar. It should not boil, but only warm up enough to dissolve the sugar and the squeezed gelatin.
    • Remove from the heat and add the rest of the melon juice and lemon juice. Mix well.
    • Pour the obtained mixture over the now cooled biscuit base, then let it cool and place in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours, better if overnight.

  3. Finishing and decoration:

    • Once the gel has reached the desired consistency, remove the cake from the mold.
    • Decorate the surface with fresh melon slices and mint leaves for a touch of color and freshness.

Curiosity

The Melon Icebox Cake is a variation of the more traditional melon gel, a dessert typical of Sicilian cuisine. Often in Sicily, the gel is prepared in individual cups and served as a refreshing end to a meal. This cake is a modern reinterpretation that maintains the flavors but transforms it into a dessert to share in company.

If desired, you can also add a touch of melon liqueur to flavor the melon gel further, or use chopped nuts on the biscuit base for an additional crunchy note.