Strawberry Icebox Cake

Strawberry Icebox Cake is a layered, fruity, no bake delight that only needs 5 ingredients to make! It's a summertime favorite with layers of creamy whipped topping, fresh strawberries, and honey graham crackers.

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Keyword no bake strawberry dessert, strawberry icebox cake, strawberry icebox cake with cream cheese

Prep Time 20

Chill Time 6

Total Time 6 20

Servings

Calories 218kcal

Author Jessica - Together as Family

Equipment

Ingredients

2 bars (8 oz each) cream cheese softened
1 cup granulated sugar
16 ounces Cool Whip thawed
21 whole graham crackers
16 ounces fresh strawberries (rinsed, hulled, thinly sliced)

Instructions

Prep : Get a 9x13 baking pan out so it's ready to go. No need to spray it.
Strawberry Prep : Rinse the strawberries, hull them (slice the green leafy part off), and slice them thinly.
16 ounces fresh strawberries
Using a mixing bowl with an electric hand mixer, or a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, beat the cream cheese and granulated sugar together until it's creamy and combined.
2 bars (8 oz each) cream cheese, 1 cup granulated sugar
Add in the Cool Whip and blend on LOW speed until combined.
^{* Don't increase the speed at all, as that can deflate the fluffy whipped topping texture.}
16 ounces Cool Whip

Assemble The Icebox Cake

Layer 7 whole graham cracker sheets into the bottom of a 9x13 baking pan, breaking apart the graham crackers as necessary.
Spoon 1/3 of the cream cheese mixture over top and smooth it out into an even layer with a spatula.
Spread 1/3 of the thinly sliced strawberries in an even layer over the cream cheese layer.
Repeat the above steps 2 more times - Do not add the final top layer of sliced strawberries (save those in an airtight container, in the fridge, for later).
Cover the pan with plastic wrap or a lid and refrigerate for at least 6 hours, or up to overnight is even better because it allows time for the graham crackers to soften.
^{* I make this the night before so mine usually refrigerated for closer to 18 hours before serving it.}
Add the final layer of sliced strawberries and cut into 15 slices! This is best served chilled from the fridge.

Notes

Cream Cheese : Make sure you are using the bars of cream cheese (wrapped in the foil) and not the tub of whipped cream cheese or the spreadable kind. You will need 2 bars of cream cheese (8 ounces each) for a total of 16 ounces of cream cheese. To soften it, leave the bars out at room temperature for no longer than 2 hours before making the recipe.

Chill Time : Don't rush this! The magic happens as the icebox cake refrigerates, which thickens and sets the layers, and all the flavors meld together and create this magically light amazing tasting dessert. You need a minimum of 6 hours of fridge time but I always do closer to 12-18 hours. I think it tastes best with the longer chill time because it allows time for the graham crackers to soften.

Nutrition