This strawberry icebox cake is an easy no bake dessert recipe layered with graham crackers, a fluffy whipped cream cheese filling and sliced strawberries. Made in one pan it’s a crowd-favorite at potlucks!
Best Strawberry Ice Box Cake Recipe
While a traditional strawberry cake recipe is a favorite, no-bake desserts are easy, delicious, and perfect for summer. This strawberry icebox cake is at the top of my list as well as banana split dessert, strawberry tiramisu and no bake eclair cake!
This strawberry icebox dessert is made with layers of graham crackers, a whipped cream cheese filling, and sliced strawberries. The cream layer softens the graham crackers and the berries add sweetness. Along with strawberry lasagna it’s one of our favorite summertime strawberry desserts!
Ingredient Notes
Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.
- Graham crackers: These are the base of the cake. Line them in the pan so that there’s no empty space. The cream layer gets spread on top, meaning the crackers will soften and taste super sweet and delicious. Use vanilla wafers or cinnamon graham crackers if preferred.
- Cream cheese filling: This layer tastes like a mix between cheesecake and homemade whipped cream. It’s creamy, light, a tad bit tangy, and has a hint of vanilla flavor.
- Fruit: The fresh fruit layer makes the cake super refreshing and sweet. I love to use fresh sliced strawberries, especially when they’re in their peak season in the summer. Other types of berries can be used as well.
- Garnish. Top the strawberry icebox cake recipe with extras like melted chocolate, chocolate chips, or pieces of shaved chocolate.
How to Make Strawberry Icebox Cake
- Combine. Pour the heavy cream into a large mixing bowl and mix with an electric mixer on medium speed until a stiff peak forms, about 4 to 5 minutes. Then add the softened cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla. Mix just until smooth.
- Layer. Line a 9×9″ baking dish with the graham crackers and set aside. Spread 1/3 of the mixture onto the graham crackers. Then layer 1/3 of the sliced strawberries on top. Repeat with 3 layers. Save the strawberries you’re putting on top, until ready to serve.
- Refrigerate. Place cake in the refrigerator for at least one hour, to allow the graham crackers to soften.
- Serve. Add the top layer of strawberries right before serving. Slice and drizzle melted chocolate on top if desired.
Recipe Tips and Variations
- Chill your bowl and beaters. 15 minutes prior to making the whipped topping, place your stand mixer bowl and beaters (or whisk) in the freezer. You can also use store-bought whipped topping or homemade Cool Whip.
- Bottom layer. Before adding the first layer of graham crackers, try spreading a thin layer of cream on the bottom of the pan. This way the graham crackers will stick to the cream and won’t slide around in the pan.
- Slice the fruit thin. I like to slice the strawberries thin (you could even slice them in half again) for the layers, so there aren’t huge chunks in the middle. Add remaining fresh strawberries on top of the cake right before serving.
- Chilling the cake. This summertime dessert needs to chill in the fridge for at least an hour before serving so that the graham cracker layer can soften. I like to place mine covered with plastic wrap in the freezer for about 30 minutes before serving so it firms up a little bit. Then I add the top layer of strawberries right before serving.
- Slicing the cake. Use a sharp knife to cut the strawberry icebox cake into slices. For a clean cut, wipe knife with a wet paper towel in between each slice so that there isn’t any extra cream and or crackers stuck on the sides.
Make Ahead
This strawberry icebox cake needs to be made at least an hour beforehand so that the graham crackers have time to soak up the whipped topping. You can make it up to 1 day in advance but I wouldn’t prepare it any earlier than that though, so that the whipped cream stays firm and the berries don’t get soggy.
You can also prepare the different layers in advance and then wait to assemble the cake until a few hours before serving. Make the homemade whipped cream, slice the strawberries, and then store them both separately in the fridge to chill. This makes assembling the cake extra easy the next day.
Need more no bake dessert recipes? Try chocolate lasagna, Oreo ice cream cake and this pistachio dessert recipe.
More Icebox Dessert Recipes
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Strawberry Icebox Cake
Video
Ingredients
- 2 boxes graham crackers
- 1 pint heavy cream
- 8 ounce package cream cheese
- 5 Tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 pint strawberries , sliced
- ½ pint strawberries , cut in half (for top of cake)
- ¼ cup melting chocolate wafers , optional
Instructions
- Prep: Line a 9×9″ pan with the graham crackers and set aside.
- Fluffy whipped cream filling: Pour heavy cream into a large bowl and mix with an electric mixer on medium-speed until a stiff peak forms, about 4 to 5 minutes. Then add the cream cheese, 5 Tablespoons sugar and 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla. Mix just until smooth.
- Spread 1/3 of the mixture onto the graham crackers. Then layer 1/3 of the sliced strawberries on top. Repeat with 3 layers. Save the strawberries you’re putting on top, until ready to serve.
- Chill. Place icebox cake in the refrigerator for at least one hour, to allow the graham crackers to soften.
- Add the top layer of strawberries right before serving. Slice and drizzle chocolate on top if desired.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
Categorized as: 4th of July, American, Cake + Cupcakes, Desserts, Frozen Desserts, Fruit Desserts, No-Bake
Jamielyn Nye is the founder and recipe creator at I Heart Naptime. She is the author of the I Heart Naptime Cookbook and shares easy family-friendly recipes and desserts for every occasion.
Any suggestions for making this gluten free
Mainly the graham cracker crust
Thank
You could use gluten free graham crackers :)
Yummy very delicious
Number one cake, loved it
The perfect summer treat!! So so good!
My family is going to absolutely love this recipe especially my daughter! So excited to give this a try!
My absolute favorite! Everyone loved it, thank you!
What a wonderful treat. We loved this quick and easy to make cake. I garnished with blueberries, strawberries, blackberries and raspberries for a berry wonderful topping. Loved the flavor of the whipped cream/cream cheese topping. Thank you so much for sharing this lovely recipe. BK
Sounds delicious! I’m so glad you enjoyed it! :)
What a lovely recipe. It was really easy to make with excellent results. We really enjoyed this cold refreshing treat. I used a combination of blueberries, blackberries, strawberries and raspberries for the garnish on top. Thank you for sharing a recipe that I will make again.
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! :) Thanks for leaving a comment and review.
WONDERFUL, So easy and very light for a summer desert.
I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
Delicious + just perfect for summer BBQs!
Yes! The perfect summer dessert!
I love this cake so much and am looking forward to making it more this summer!
I’m glad you enjoyed it! Thanks so much for your comment and review Ashley! :)
Good food
Can I use graham cracker crumbs for the layers? I feel like it would be easier to spread the cream on them rather than the crackers shifting all over and having a large piece of cracker when your eating the cake.
Highly recommend❣️ Took to a picnic buffet. It was delicious & went quickly. Not too sweet, which I appreciate. Should’ve doubled the recipe. It wasn’t that pretty once cut (couldn’t see distinct layers) but oh well.
I’m not sure why the recipe calls for 2 boxes of graham crackers tho. I didn’t use all the crackers from 1 box for a 9×9 pan. Maybe I used a different size box?
I imagine the crumbs would make spreading the whipped cream a huge mess. Here’s what I did: Once the crackers were in place(& they stay on top of the strawberries well) , I put the whipped cream in a quart bag, cut a .5” hole in the corner & squeeze the wh cream on top of the crackers. I even out the layer with a spreader.
This tasted amazing. Loved the fresh strawberries with whipped cream!
Where do you buy graham crackers in Australia
Hi Jenny! I believe you can order them online here: https://usafoods.com.au/pages/search-results-page?q=graham%20crackers
Delicious! Perfect for summer :) And for the winter it could be made with bananas and cocoa cream :)))
This looks so yummy!
This looks amazing! Can’t decide if I’d rather have it drizzed with chocolate sauce, or with the extra berries. Either way– yum!!