Strawberry Icebox Cake

This light and fruity no-bake classic dessert is only 3 ingredients. Strawberry Icebox Cake is easy to make in one pan with layers of graham crackers, Cool Whip and strawberries. Perfect for summertime parties!

Fresh strawberries are plentiful in the summer months and I can think of one way to use them up on those hot summer days with an easy strawberry dessert! This ice box cake recipe is the ultimate summer dessert in my opinion. It’s creamy, cold and sweet!

I love vintage recipes and this classic icebox cake reminds me of a delicious dessert my grandma used to make. These recipes stand the test of time and for good reasons.

If you love ice box cakes, this is the perfect dessert for you to make this summer.

Why You’ll Love This Strawberry Icebox Cake Recipe

• Easy dessert with simple ingredients
• Creamy dessert with sweetness in every bite
• No bake dessert perfect to make when its hot outside
• Use up your abundance of ripe strawberries
• Crowd pleaser perfect for gatherings
• Can be served as a patriotic dessert for Canada Day or Fourth of July.
• Can be easily made ahead of time

Ingredients

• Graham crackers
• Cool Whip – Use homemade Cool Whip if you like. I make mine with heavy cream, cream cheese, vanilla extract and powdered sugar.
• Sliced strawberries

How to Make No Bake Strawberry Icebox Cake

• Step One: Create an even layer of graham crackers on the bottom on an 8×8 pan, breaking them into pieces to fit as necessary.
• Step Two: Top the graham crackers with an even layer of 1 ½ cups of Cool Whip. Smooth out into an even layer as best as possible using a rubber or offset spatula.

• Step Three: Create a layer of strawberry slices on top of the layer of Cool Whip. Make sure they’re not overlapping and that the layer is as even as possible.
• Step Four: Repeat a second and third single layer of graham crackers, whipped topping and strawberry slices. The top layer should be strawberries.

• Step Five: Refrigerate overnight, or at least 8 hours. Keep chilled until ready to serve.

Equipment Needed

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• Electric mixer
• 8×8 pan
• Offset spatula
• Paring knife

Variations and Substitutions

• Use frozen sliced strawberries to save on time. They may leak a little into the Cool Whip as they thaw, but are still a great alternative to slicing fresh strawberries. I’ve made this easy recipe with frozen strawberries and it turned out fine.
• Try dicing the strawberries instead of using slices for the strawberry layer.
  Add other kinds of fresh berries. Blueberries and raspberries would work well and be a delicious addition. Use your favorite berries.
• Add a layer of strawberry jam on top of the graham crackers for an extra boost of sweetness.
• Substitute the Cool Whip with fresh homemade whipped cream. You’ll need about 4.5 cups.
• Try a different flavor of graham cracker like cinnamon or chocolate. You can try other cookies or crackers too. Vanilla wafers or chocolate wafers are good. Make sure to use something with a flat, easy-to-layer shape.
• Make it in a springform pan or loaf pan instead of an 8-inch baking pan.
• Add a layer of homemade lemon curd on top of the graham crackers.
• Add a layer of cheesecake pudding on top of the graham crackers.

Storage Instructions

This no bake wonder is best served after chilling overnight. The layers will have just settled into each other without getting mushy.

After about 2 days, the graham crackers will become very mushy.

Store in the refrigerator, covered with plastic wrap.

Can I Freeze Icebox Cake?

Yes, you can freeze icebox cake for up to 1 month in the freezer.

Recipe Tips & Tricks

• Many baking dishes have a slight curve at the bottom of the dish making the surface space for the bottom layer of the graham crackers smaller than the top. You’ll need fewer graham crackers for the bottom layer. I used about 3.75 crackers for the bottom layer and then 4.5 for the second and third layers. A baking dish with straight edges won’t have this issue.
• The top layer of strawberries will cause the Cool Whip to “crack” a little as it chills. For the best looking top layer, wait to add the final layer of strawberries until ready to serve.

How to Decorate an Icebox Cake

• Keep things simple by repeating a layer of strawberry slices.
• Use a variety of strawberry cuts to sprinkle across the top: halves, quarters, slices and whole strawberries.
• Add a drizzle of strawberry sauce.
• Sprinkle white chocolate shavings or curls on top.

Why Is It Called Icebox Cake?

Before there were refrigerators, people used iceboxes, a non-mechanical type of refrigerator that were popular in the early 1900s. 

Nowadays, we use the refrigerator to keep the elements of the cake together so it’s also known as refrigerator cake.

No Bake Desserts

• Turtle Ice Cream Sandwich Cake
• Black Bottom Banana Cream Pie
• Pumpkin Pie Cheesecake
• Oreo Pie
• No-Bake Cherry Cheesecake
• Coconut Icebox Cake

You’ll also like these Strawberry Mousse, Strawberry Cake Mix Cookies, Strawberry Cheesecake Bars, Strawberry Pretzel Salad and Strawberry Cream Pie.

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