4th of July Icebox Cake (video)
This icebox cake is cool and refreshing with its layers of softened graham crackers, luscious cream filling, and fresh berries. It’s easy to make, there is no baking, and it can be made in advance. It’s a perfect summer treat and a great way to celebrate the 4th of July!
With the 4th of July coming up, I thought I would salute my American friends, family, and followers with a festive and patriotic dessert. So something red, white and blue to celebrate the nation’s independence. I also wanted to make something cold and summery to celebrate the season. A lovely icebox cake dressed with blueberries and strawberries seemed to fit all the criteria.
Why this recipe is so great:
- No-bake dessert – There is no need to turn on your oven during the summer heat with this recipe. Just assemble and let the cake set in the fridge.
- Make-ahead recipe – You can make this cake 4 hours in advance or the day before, so it gives you plenty of time to prepare for and enjoy the party.
- Tastes amazing and can feed a crowd – This 4th of July icebox cake tastes like a fancy torte or 3-tier fruit-filled cream cake, but it’s so much easier to make. The flavor in this cake is nutty from the graham crackers, creamy from the filling and slightly tart from the fresh berries. It’s not too sweet and best served cold. It’s an easy make-ahead dessert, yet it’s impressive and can feed a crowd.
- Here are some reviews:
“I made this yesterday with some berries I had picked with my boys. We all loved it. Not overly sweet, so it’s easy to eat. I love that it’s nice and cold from the fridge, just the thing you want on a hot July day. And she’s right, the mix of the sweet cream with the tart berries is the perfect combo.” – Sara
“Made this for the 4th of July picnic and everyone loved it. It’s hard to stop eating it if the pan is in front of you.” – Steven
How to make this no-bake 4th of July dessert:
(the ingredient amounts are listed in the printable recipe card further below)
- You start by beating the heavy cream to stiff peaks. Set aside.
- Then you combine a block of cream cheese with the instant vanilla pudding mix.
- Slowly mix in the milk.
- Fold in the whipped cream until the mixture is combined.
- In a 9×13″ pan, spread a thin layer of cream on the bottom and layer some graham crackers on top.
- Spread 1/3 of the cream mixture on top of the crackers followed by a cup of blueberries.
- Repeat for another layer with strawberries.
- Then finish the last layer with the remaining crackers, cream, and berries. Chill for 4 hours or overnight and let the fridge do its magic.
While the cake chills in the fridge, the graham crackers soften into a tender cake-like layer. Even the berries get more flavorful and softened by the cream as well. It’s like a marriage of all the flavors and textures between all the layers. There is a tanginess from the cream cheese in the filling and a rich vanilla flavor from the pudding mix. The whipped cream adds a light-airy texture to the filling. The overall dessert is cool, creamy and not too sweet.
Expert tips:
- Make sure the cream cheese is softened – Take your cream cheese out 1 hour before you plan to start to ensure that it’s softened. This will make it much easier to mix with the other ingredients, especially the milk.
- Add the milk slowly and gradually – Adding the milk a little at a time and mix in between will prevent a lumpy cream mixture. But not to worry of your cream mixture does get lumpy during the process, just keep mixing and it will become smooth.
FAQ:
- Why is it called an icebox cake? This style of cake was created back in the 1920s before refrigerators were invented and most homes were equipped with iceboxes. The name stems from the fact that an icebox was used to set the cake instead of an oven. (source: Baking Bites)
- Can you freeze this icebox cake? No, because the texture of the fresh fruit in the cake will change once frozen.
- How long does this icebox cake last? This icebox cake will last 2-3 day covered and stored in the fridge.
You might also like:
- Mini Cheesecakes topped with berries (red, white and blue)
- No-Bake Key Lime Pie
- Cheesecake Rice Krispie Treats (red, white and blue)
- Strawberry Pretzel Salad
- Easy Eggless Tiramisu
Did you make this recipe? Please kindly leave a comment with your star rating below.
4th of July Icebox Cake
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup (180ml) heavy cream
- 1 pkg (250g) cream cheese, softened
- 2 pkgs (102g each or 3.4oz each) INSTANT vanilla pudding mix, (see notes*)
- 2 & 1/2 cups (600ml) milk
- 1 box (400g) graham crackers
- 2 cups blueberries
- 2 cups sliced strawberries
Instructions
- In a medium bowl and using an electric mixer; beat the heavy cream until stiff. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese and the dry pudding mix until combined. Slowly and gradually beat in the milk until smooth. Fold in the whipped cream.
- Spread a thin layer of the cream mixture onto the bottom of a 9×13″ baking dish. Layer the graham crackers on top. Spread 1/3 of the cream onto the crackers. Sprinkle half of the blueberries over the cream.
- Repeat with another layer of crackers, cream, and half of the strawberries.
- Repeat with a final layer of crackers and the remaining cream. Decorate with the rest of the berries. Cover and chill for 4 hours or overnight. Serve cold.
Notes
Recipe adapted from Cakescottage.
I couldn’t give this recipe less than 5 starts because it tasted so good but mine turned out mushy and liquidy. I tripled checked the recipe and made sure I did the correct measurements. I followed everything exactly. Only thing is I made it the night before so it was in the fridge for 24 hours before serving it. What did I do wrong?
Hi Aimee, I’m glad it tasted good but it should have not been liquidy. What kind of pudding powder did you use, instant or cook?
I thought the same thing! So I dug the boxes from the trash- jello vanilla instant pudding mix , 2 boxes at 3.4 oz each. I wish I could show a picture but the boxes were yellow. I used 2 percent milk, but I thought I read the milk type didn’t matter. Hmm
I rarely leave reviews but this cake was such a hit I knew I had to leave one! This cake is so delicious and so easy to make! Quick tip, get a larger sized box of graham crackers than the recipe calls for, I was 2 short and had to run out for a second box. I made it with white chocolate jello pudding mix instead of vanilla because vanilla was sold out and it was still delicious! I ran out of filing but ended up doing a layer of cool whip on the top instead and it worked out great. Highly recommend, this will be a staple for years to come!
Recipe tasted great, but I felt like the recipe needed more of the cream filing. It was barely enough the cover the fruit of each layer, and it was a little dry in the center. I would increase the filling by about 1/3.
Instead of using vanilla pudding mix, I made a white chocolate ganache by melting white chocolate chips (2 packages) in a double boiler and mixing in heavy cream until getting a smooth consistency (let cool before mixing with cream cheese). I didn’t need the 2 1/2 cups milk, but I did need to double the cream cheese (2 packages) and heavy cream (1 1/2 cups) for the whipped cream. I followed the recipe otherwise, and it came out delicious!
I live in a country where instant pudding mix is not available. Can I substitute homemade vanilla pudding for the instant and milk?
Yes, I don’t see why not. I would beat the cream cheese and whipping cream together until combined and thick, then fold in the homemade pudding. Let me know if you have any other questions:)
This ice box cake was amazing . I made it for the 4th of July and everyone loved it. So easy to make and delicious .
Although I would recommend using a smaller pan. I barely had any filling for a 9×13 dish and luckily had some whipped topping I could use to cover up the top layer and then add the decorative fruit
I simply enjoyed making this dessert. I don’t often get to make a dessert from scratch. I did make it sugar free (except for the graham crackers) for my T1D family. We also use four fresh picked blueberries as well. Thank you for sharing.
You’re very welcome and happy 4th of July!