Three Mountains Wafer Cake with Hazelnut Crème (Summarinese Torta Tre Monti)

Torta Tre Monti (from Italian: "three mountain cake") is a traditional Sammarinese cake made of layers of thin waffled wafers cemented together by chocolate or hazelnut creme. It is considered to be the national dessert of San Marino. It is named for one of its peaks that the tiny county is famous for. It is thin layers of waffled wafers that has a hazelnut chocolate (aka nutella) and cream filling. It is glazed with chocolate icing and served with a topping of dark chocolate gelato with a cherry on top. It is similar to other layered desserts common to San Marino, this one being representative of the Three Towers of San Marino. In San Marino, the torta has been commercially produced by La Serenissima since 1942. The bakery markets both a full-size cake and snack-size version, in addition to a variation that includes coffee.

1 pkg waffled wafers
1 cup nutella
2 cups whipped cream
1 cup chocolate icing
1 pint gelato
8 maraschino cherries

Open the package of waffled wafers and set aside.

Mix together the nutella and whipped cream until well combined.

Spread the nutella cream over one waffled wafer and repeat with the other layers, leaving the top layer empty.

Frost the sides of the wafers with chocolate icing.

Serve the Torta Tre Monti with a scoop of gelato and a cherry on top.

Makes 8 servings.