Looking for the ultimate 4th of July dessert? This Red White and Blue Icebox Cake is a simple and festive recipe for a crowd! No baking required and only a few ingredients to layer and put this icebox cake together!
Icebox cake is having a major moment right now. For good reason! It’s made with only a couple of ingredients and you don’t even have to turn on the oven. It’s the perfect summer recipe.
And when you add blueberries and strawberries it becomes the perfect red white and blue dessert!
What is Icebox cake?
Icebox cake was a fairly new recipe to me a few months ago and once I found out exactly what it was I understood what all the hype is about. What is icebox cake? It’s a layered frozen cake made out of whipped cream and a crunch cookie, like a graham cracker.
Once you make the whipped cream and buy the graham crackers the options are endless as to what to add in each layer. You could do a blueberry sauce, a chocolate ganache or even add your favorite candy bar.
Because 4th of July is right around the corner I wanted to celebrate with a festive recipe. The layers in this icebox cake have whipped cream, graham crackers, strawberries and blueberries. Each fruit layer has both types of fruit to make the most beautiful (and delicious) dessert.
Icebox cakes are not only perfect for 4th of July but they’re perfect for summertime in general becuase you don’t have to turn that oven on! All you need is your mix and a freezer and this recipe is complete.
How to Make an Icebox Cake
This icebox cake with graham crackers may look a little intimidating if you look at it quickly. There are a lot of layers, but don’t let those scare you! Here are some simple steps on how to make an icebox cake.
Start by making the whipped cream. It’s a traditional whipped cream made with some sugar, vanilla and heavy cream. Whip it for a few minutes until it’s light and fluffy and stiff peaks form. Be careful not to over-mix the whipped cream! This is the base of the recipe and if it’s over-mixed the texture once frozen could be crackly. You want the peaks of the whipped cream to just fall over when you lift your mixer out.
Next, grab your fruit and graham crackers and start assembling. Here’s how to layer an icebox cake:
- Start by spreading a small amount of whipped cream on the bottom of the bottom of the plastic lined loaf pan.
- Cover the cream with graham crackers. You may need to break them up to cover it evenly. It’s okay if there are spaces!
- Add 3/4 cup whipped cream
- Blueberries and strawberries
- Whipped cream
- Graham crackers
- Whipped cream
- Blueberries and strawberries
- Whipped cream
- Graham crackers
- Whipped cream
- Top with the rest of the blueberries and strawberries
Even writing that out it seems like a lot, but once you start assembling you’ll see the pattern and it will be super simple. Basically, a layer of whipped cream always surrounds the graham crackers and the berries.
I made the whipped cream and layered this icebox cake in less than 20 minutes! That’s my kind of dessert. It also (obviously) freezes really well so you can make it a few days in advance and have a delicious 4th of July dessert ready for your family and friends to enjoy. You don’t have to worry about making it the day of.
It makes quite a bit of cake so you can easily share it with a large group when you’re celebrating the 4th. I’m already envisioning your family and friends chowing down while watching the fireworks or playing with sparklers! Those are by far my favorite 4th of July activities. Aside from eating icebox cake:)
Once the cake has frozen I have one trick to making sure it’s sliced easily so everyone can see all the pretty layers.
How do You Cut Icebox Cake?
Just like ice cream cake, there’s a simple trick to making this happen.
How to cut icebox cake?
Let the cake sit room temperature for 10-15 minutes then run a knife under warm water before cutting.
The warm knife heats the frozen ice cream and makes a clean line for you to cut all the way through.
I promise you will end up with delicious and festive layers of red white and blue icebox cake when you slice the first piece this way.
And that’s all! a few ingredients, only 20 minutes of work and the easiest cutting tip and you’ve got a festive red white and blue icebox cake. I can’t wait for the 4th of July to share this recipe with my friends and family!
I hope everyone has a safe and happy holiday!!
Red White and Blue Icebox Cake
Red White and Blue Icebox Cake
Description
Ingredients
- 2 cups cold heavy cream or heavy whipping cream
- 1/4 cup powdered sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 cups fresh blueberries
- 2 cups fresh strawberries, hulled and quartered
- 7-8 full-sheet graham crackers, about 1 standard sleeve
Instructions
- Line a 9x5 inch standard loaf pan with plastic wrap with overhang over the edges to easily lift the cake out of the pan.
- Set aside.
- Make the whipped cream first. Using a hand mixer or a stand mixer with a whisk attachment, beat the heavy cream, powdered sugar and vanilla on medium-high speed until soft peaks form, about 3 minutes. Be careful not to over beat.
- Once whipped, layer the cake:Spread a few Tablespoons of whipped cream into a thin layer on the bottom of the prepared pan. This will help the bottom layer of graham crackers stick.
- Layer graham crackers on top to make an even layer. It's okay if it's not completely covered and there are cracks.
- Spread a approximately ¾ cup of whipped cream on top of the graham crackers.
- Then layer 1/2 cup chopped strawberries and 1/2 a cup of blueberries, another ¾ cup whipped cream, another layer of graham crackers, ¾ cup whipped cream, another layer 1/2 cup chopped strawberries and 1/2 a cup of blueberries, ¾ cup whipped cream, graham crackers, then the rest of the whipped cream and the rest of the berries.
- Cover the icebox cake with plastic wrap and place in the freezer for at least 4 hours or overnight to set.
- Allow to soften at room temperature for 10-15 minutes then use a warm knife to cut into slices.
Notes
Nutrition
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No Churn Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream
Got a hankering for ice cream but don’t have time to churn it? This recipe is for you!
Bry Jaimea
This looks delicious! Might have to give it a whirl once the weather warms up!
Shawnna Griffin
hey girl- this cake looks so yummy!