Easy No-Bake Strawberry Icebox Cake
A quick and easy no-bake dessert featuring layers of fresh strawberries, whipped cream, and graham crackers that soak overnight for a soft, melt-in-your-mouth texture. Perfect for summer gatherings and potlucks.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 4 hours 15 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 cups fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
- 2 sleeves graham crackers (about 12 ounces / 340 grams)
- 2 cups heavy whipping cream (480 ml), cold
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar (60 grams), sifted
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened (optional)
- Zest of one lemon (optional)
Instructions
- Rinse and hull about 4 cups (600 grams) of fresh strawberries. Slice them evenly and set aside.
- In a large bowl, pour 2 cups (480 ml) of cold heavy whipping cream. Using an electric mixer on medium speed, beat until soft peaks form (about 2-3 minutes).
- Add 1/2 cup (60 grams) powdered sugar and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, then continue beating until stiff peaks form. Be careful not to overbeat.
- Optional: In a separate bowl, beat 4 ounces (115 grams) of softened cream cheese until smooth. Gently fold it into the whipped cream mixture.
- Zest one lemon and fold it gently into the cream mixture for brightness.
- Spread a thin layer of the whipped cream mixture on the bottom of a 9×13 inch (23×33 cm) dish.
- Arrange a single layer of graham crackers over the cream, breaking a few to fill gaps if needed.
- Spoon a generous layer of sliced strawberries over the crackers, then spread more whipped cream on top, smoothing evenly.
- Repeat layering graham crackers, strawberries, and whipped cream until ingredients are used, finishing with a thick layer of cream on top.
- Cover the dish with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight, to allow the graham crackers to soften and soak up the cream and strawberry juices.
- When ready, slice into squares and serve chilled. Garnish with extra fresh strawberries or lemon zest if desired.
Notes
Use cold heavy cream and a chilled bowl for best whipping results. If the top layer is too soft to slice, chill in the freezer for 10-15 minutes before serving. For dairy-free, use coconut cream and gluten-free graham crackers. Drain excess strawberry juice if very juicy to avoid sogginess.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (1/12th of c
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 14
- Sodium: 150
- Fat: 20
- Saturated Fat: 12
- Carbohydrates: 18
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 3
Keywords: no-bake, strawberry, icebox cake, summer dessert, easy dessert, whipped cream, graham crackers, quick dessert