Memorial Day No-Bake Icebox Cake (Printable version)

Layers of whipped cream, graham crackers and fresh strawberries chilled into a festive no-bake summer cake.

# What you need:

→ Dairy & Cream

01 - 2 cups heavy whipping cream, cold
02 - 1/4 cup powdered sugar
03 - 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

→ Cookies & Base

04 - 1 (14-ounce) box graham crackers

→ Fruit

05 - 1 1/2 pounds fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced

→ Optional Garnish

06 - 1/4 cup blueberries
07 - Fresh mint leaves

# Steps to follow:

01 - In a large mixing bowl, beat the cold heavy whipping cream with powdered sugar and vanilla extract until stiff peaks form.
02 - Spread a thin layer of whipped cream on the bottom of a 9x13-inch baking dish.
03 - Arrange a single layer of graham crackers over the whipped cream, breaking the crackers as needed to cover the entire surface.
04 - Spread 1/3 of the remaining whipped cream over the graham crackers. Top with 1/3 of the sliced strawberries.
05 - Repeat the layers twice more—graham crackers, whipped cream, strawberries—finishing with a final layer of whipped cream and arranged strawberries on top.
06 - For a patriotic touch, scatter blueberries over the top and garnish with fresh mint leaves if desired.
07 - Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight, to allow the cake to set and the layers to meld.
08 - Serve chilled, slicing carefully with a sharp knife for clean layers.

# Expert tips:

01 -
  • You truly don’t need any fancy skills or equipment to impress with this cake—the fridge does the magic for you.
  • Each chilled slice tastes like summer, and the vibrant berries never fail to perk up a table or picnic blanket.
02 -
  • One time I got impatient and tried to serve it after just two hours—the crackers were still crunchy and didn’t have that lovely cake texture, so don’t rush the chilling.
  • Swapping in a quick homemade berry jam between layers one year took the whole thing up a notch and made people ask for the recipe in hushed tones.
03 -
  • If you want a firmer whipped cream, add a teaspoon of cornstarch with the sugar—it holds up beautifully overnight.
  • Gently pat the sliced strawberries dry; this prevents excess moisture from making the top layer runny.
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