strawberry icebox cake only 3 ingredients on a red plate.
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Strawberry Icebox Cake Only 3 Ingredients

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I love making no-bake desserts and desserts that don’t require a lot of ingredients. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t mind the more in-depth desserts, but sometimes it is fun to just make something that is quick and super easy, like this strawberry icebox cake.

If you love strawberries, and you love whipped topping and/or whipped cream, and you love graham crackers, you are going to love this 3-Ingredient strawberry icebox cake. Seriously this no-bake dessert is so incredibly easy to make. It is the perfect simple dessert to bring to parties and get-togethers.

The icebox cake, also known as refrigerator cake, is basically a trifle dessert, or layered dessert with fruit, cream, and something like graham crackers or thin flat cookies. There are so many variations that you can make, but my favorite has got to be this strawberry icebox cake.

Also, another thing I like about this dessert is that it has a surprisingly low-calorie count per serving. You don’t feel as guilty eating it. If I can do it, you can do it. Let’s get started!

Step 1: Gather the Ingredients and Tools

Ingredients and tools for strawberry icebox cake on a white counter.

In order to make this super simple strawberry icebox cake, you need just 3 ingredients and a handful of tools:

  • Whipped Topping – I generally just use the generic brand of whipped topping, instead of buying the more expensive Cool Whip brand. You can also just buy heavy whipping cream and make your own sweetened whipped cream. It is totally up to you. I like the easy factor of the already prepared whipped topping.
  • Fresh Strawberries – While this is a specific strawberry icebox cake, you can use other berries like raspberries, blueberries, or blackberries, if you desire.
  • Graham Crackers – I generally use the classic graham crackers, but you can also use the chocolate or cinnamon graham crackers. Other things you can try are vanilla wafers, chocolate wafers, biscoff cookies, digestive biscuits, etc.
slice of strawberry icebox cake on a red plate.

Tools

  • 7×11 inch glass baking dish (although you can use whatever kind you want, and it doesn’t have to be glass)
  • Spatula
  • Knife
  • Cutting board

Step 2: How to make a 3-Ingredient Strawberry Icebox Cake at home

Spatula spreading whipped topping on a the bottom of a green glass baking dish.

There is nothing complicated about this 3-ingredient no-bake dessert. Essentially we are just going to be creating layers of the various ingredients.

Begin by rinsing and drying the strawberries. Then slice them up. You will need between 1 and 2 pounds of strawberries depending on the size of your dish and how packed with fruit you want your icebox cake.

NOTE: You DO NOT have to sweeten the strawberries with sugar, but you certainly can if you like.

Now spread a thin layer of whipped topping (or homemade sweetened whipped cream) on the bottom of your dish. Glass dishes are commonly used for this type of dessert, but you can use whatever rectangle or square dish that you want.

TIP: Other things you can add are any number of flavors of pudding. You could make some homemade chocolate or vanilla pudding and fold that into the whipped topping. Or any number of flavors of instant pudding.

Layer of graham crackers over the whipped cream in a glass baking dish.

Next lay down a layer of graham crackers. You can use any flavor of graham cracker that you want or, use any number of flat biscuits/cookies, etc.

NOTEIt is totally fine if the graham crackers crack on you, and most likely you will have smaller pieces on the bottom layer if your dish flares out a little bit on the sides which a lot of them do.

TIP: If you are using whipped topping/Cool Whip make sure to set it out at room temp for 20 to 30 minutes first, it will make it much easier to spread.

Step 3: Adding more layers of whipped topping and fruit and graham crackers

Hand spreading out more cream on the top of the graham crackers.

Now add another layer of whipped topping on top of the Graham crackers. You can make the cream layers as thick or thin as you want. The thicker the layer the easier it holds the next layer of graham crackers.

Sliced strawberries on top of whipped cream in strawberry icebox cake.

Next, using clean hands or wearing food prep gloves, add a layer of sliced strawberries or another choice of fruit/berries.

6 full length graham crackers on top of a layer of strawberries.

Add another layer of graham crackers on top of the strawberries. Then again, spread on a layer of whipped topping.

Hand holding graham crackers in place while spreading on the whipped cream.

You may need to hold down the graham crackers as you spread so they don’t move. It all depends on how much cream is underneath.

If you use a thicker layer, the strawberries will press down in the cream and the cream will go around them and act like glue and hold the next layer of graham crackers in place. Or just hold them in place as you spread, totally up to you.

Hand placing sliced strawberries in the middle layer of the icebox cake.

Then you guessed it, add another layer of sliced strawberries.

Step 4: Finishing the Strawberry Icebox Cake

Final layer of graham crackers in the icebox cake.

And one more layer of each ingredient.

Again add the graham crackers.

NOTE: With a 7×11-inch dish like the green glass one that I use, the top and middle layer of graham crackers should be full sheets. Only the bottom layer will need to be broken up.

Hand spreading on the last layer of whipped topping for the strawberry icebox cake.

Spread on the last layer of whipped topping and add a final layer of fruit.

Finished strawberry icebox cake in a green glass dish on top of a white counter.

Super easy right?

Now cover it tightly with a piece of plastic wrap and place it in the fridge for at least 4 hours or overnight. This 3-Ingredient Strawberry Icebox cake actually tastes a little better the next day!

NOTE: If you are in a hurry, you can also freeze it for 2 hours. But I find it works a little better in the fridge for a longer period of time.

Hand holding a strawberry icebox cake

Once it has had time to chill you can serve it up. I usually cut it into 12 equal square servings about the size of one graham cracker square, but you can cut it however you like.

Fork poking a slice of strawberry icebox cake.

The longer the dessert sits in the fridge, the softer the graham crackers become.

Enjoy!

How long does a strawberry icebox cake last?

This delicious 3-Ingredient icebox cake will last 2 to 3 days in the fridge. However, I doubt it will last that long, it is so yummy. It can also be frozen for longer-term storage for a few months. Then just thaw it in the refrigerator overnight before you want to serve it.

Can I make this icebox cake gluten-free?

Sure! Just use your favorite gluten-free graham crackers. Something like these Pamela’s Honey Grahams will work awesome. Then you can use them for gluten-free s’mores as well.

3-ingredient strawberry icebox cake pin for Pinterest.
(Pin it!)

Here are other recipes you may like:

No-Bake Chocolate Cheesecake

No-Bake Classic Cheesecake

Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies No Bake

Homemade White Chocolate Only 3 Ingredients

3-Ingredient Fudge

strawberry icebox cake only 3 ingredients on a red plate.
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5 from 5 votes

Strawberry Icebox Cake Only 3 Ingredients

Learn how to make this super yummy 3-ingredient strawberry icebox cake. All you need are strawberries, whipped topping, and graham crackers.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time0 minutes
Chilling Time4 hours
Total Time4 hours 15 minutes
Course: Cakes, Dessert, Desserts, Snack
Cuisine: American
Keyword: cream, easy, fruit, no bake, sweet
Servings: 12 people
Calories: 148kcal
Author: Matt Taylor
Cost: $5

Equipment

  • 7×11 inch glass baking dish (although you can use whatever kind you want, and it doesn't have to be glass)
  • Spatula
  • Knife
  • Cutting board

Ingredients

  • 8 to 12 oz of whipped topping or whipped cream depends on how thick you want it (226g to 340g)
  • 1 to 1 1/2 lbs of fresh strawberries sliced. (You can use other fruit like blueberries, blackberries, etc.) (454 to 681g)
  • 18 full sheets of Graham crackers amount will depend on the dish you use

Instructions

  • Rinse and dry the strawberries then slice them.
  • Spread a thin layer of whipped topping or whipped cream on the bottom of your dish.
  • Then add a layer of graham crackers.
  • Add a layer of whipped topping on top of the graham crackers.
  • Next, add a layer of fresh sliced strawberries.
  • Add another layer of graham crackers on top of the strawberries.
  • Spread a layer of whipped topping on top of the graham crackers, you may need to hold them in place.
  • Next, add another layer of strawberries
  • And then one final layer of graham crackers on top of those strawberries.
  • Follow that up with the final layer of whipped topping.
  • Finally, add your last layer of strawberries.
  • Cover tightly with a lid or piece of plastic wrap and chill in the fridge for at least 4 hours. Then serve! I usually cut it into 12 squares about the size of a graham cracker.

Video

3 Ingredient Strawberry IceBox Cake Recipe

Notes

NOTE: It is totally fine if the graham crackers crack on you, and most likely you will have smaller pieces on the bottom layer if your dish flares out a little bit on the sides which a lot of them do.
TIP: If you are using whipped topping/Cool Whip make sure to set it out at room temp for 20 to 30 minutes first, it will make it much easier to spread.
NOTE: If you are in a hurry, you can also freeze it for 2 hours. But I find it works a little better in the fridge for a longer period of time.
list of nutritional ingredients for strawberry icebox cake
Tried this recipe?Mention @WPRecipeMaker or tag #wprecipemaker!

Nutrition

Calories: 148kcal

Do you like the recipe? Please give it a rating and comment down below, I really appreciate it. Save the Pin to Pinterest! If you make it tag me on Instagram @inthekitchenwithmatt. Also, sign up for the newsletter so you won’t miss out on any of my new posts and recipes.

Check out my other website 101 Creative Dates for fun date ideas. Food and dating go hand in hand!

10 Comments

  1. Vicki Warner

    5 stars
    I made this for a family get together that was canceled. Can I freeze it for another time? BTW, it looks delicious and was very easy to prepare.

  2. 5 stars
    I love strawberry icebox cake. Thanks for sharing an easy and tasty recipe. Home-made is so easy.

  3. Barbara J. Malone

    5 stars
    Love these simple but delicious recipes. Thank you!!!

  4. 5 stars
    Easy to make and delish

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