13 Icebox Cakes to Help You Chill Out
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Icebox cakes are one of the greatest make-ahead desserts imaginable. What’s better than layers of whipped cream (or ice cream!), cake or cookies, and all your favorite toppings coalesced into a showstopping centerpiece? And from Memorial Day through Labor Day, this no-bake dessert has the bonus effect of keeping you cool. Wins all around.
Our favorite icebox cake recipes require little prep time and even less equipment (many don’t even require an electric mixer). Just layer up a few store-bought ingredients, then go take a nap while the dish sets in the fridge or freezer. Others may have a homemade cake or custard element. We have recipes that follow the classic formula of fresh berries, whipped cream, and vanilla wafers. Others, like a tiramisu-inspired version, take it up a notch with Kahlúa-soaked ladyfingers. If you’re in the mood for something even richer, our icebox-cake-adjacent recipes include a no-bake cheesecake with press-in crust as well as a cookie dough pie. And for all those summer birthdays, nothing beats a sprinkles-heavy ice cream cake.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Pearl Jones, Prop Styling by Beth Pakradooni1/13Tiramisu-y Icebox Cake
Photo by Heidi's Bridge2/13Blackberry Icebox Cake
A hand mixer makes easy work of the stiff peaks required for this dessert recipe. If you don’t have one, enlist a few friends to help with whisking to lighten the load, or pour the heavy cream into a jar and shake, shake, shake.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Prop Styling by Sean Dooley, Food Styling by Kendra Vaculin3/13Ice Cream Cake With So Many Sprinkles
This stunner stacks confetti cake with vanilla and strawberry ice cream and a ton of rainbow sprinkles. Bake the cake in advance so it’s ready to layer with our favorite vanilla ice cream (straight from the grocery store) whenever you’re ready for cooling satisfaction.
Photograph by Scott Semler, Food Styling by Judy Kim, Prop Styling by Stephanie Yeh4/13Ginger-Lime No-Bake Cheesecake Bars
Alex Lau6/13Pumpkin Spice Icebox Cake
Layers of graham crackers, whipped cream, and pumpkin purée combine to create this simple make-ahead icebox cake with cozy fall vibes.
Photograph by Emma Fishman, food styling by Caroline Hwang, prop styling by Elizabeth Jaime.7/13Lush Vanilla Berry Pudding
Comprised of custard lightened with whipped cream, vanilla wafers, and juicy summer berries (any mix of raspberries, blackberries, wild blueberries, or currants will do), this easy dessert is the result of combining the best of banana pudding with the finest summer fruit. And while it’s not exactly sliceable, we don’t think anyone will mind.
Photograph by William Crooks8/13Frozen Cookie Dough Pie
With layers of whipped chocolate ganache, chocolate chip cookie dough-studded semifreddo, and a cocoa crispy garnish, this delightful no-bake frozen dessert has the energy of an old-school ice cream sandwich cookie.
Michael Graydon & Nikole Herriott9/13Stone Fruit Icebox Cake
Layers of ripe plum, cream-lightened dulce de leche, and pizzelle (Italian waffle cookies) form a tower of pure delight in this Jenga-like icebox cake.
Photograph by Rana Düzyol, food styling by Pearl Jones, prop styling by Beth Pakradooni10/13Strawberry-Biscoff Cheesecake Tart
Fresh strawberries soften in 10 minutes for this sweet, syrupy topping. Swap the Biscoffs for chocolate wafer cookies to create a chocolate-covered strawberries vibe, or whip a dollop of peanut butter into the cream cheese mixture for a PBJ-ish moment.
Photograph by Emma Fishman, food styling by Susie Theodorou, prop styling by Aneta Florczyk11/13Ginger-Raspberry Icebox Cake With Caramel Cream
Photograph by Clay Williams, food styling by Taneka Morris, prop styling by Alexandra Massillon12/13Banana Pudding Jars
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Prop Styling by Sean Dooley, Food Styling by Kendra Vaculin13/13Cookies and Cream Ice Cream Cake
