When it comes to easy no-bake desserts, icebox cakes are right at the top of the list. And the genius is in their simplicity. Just a few ingredients transform into a spectacularly delicious dessert — all without turning on the oven.
There are a few ways to go about making an icebox cake. You can make it extra special by using a springform cake pan and showcasing it on a pedestal when it’s all done, or you can just layer and serve it right out of a rectangular pan. But no matter what you use to hold it, the method is all the same.
The basic foundation for any icebox cake isn’t actually cake — it’s alternating layers of cookies and fresh whipped cream in a cake pan, which is refrigerated until it’s set.
For the cookies, you can use Oreos, chocolate wafers, vanilla wafers, graham crackers or even chocolate chip cookies chock full of your favorite unexpected ingredients. Next is the whipped cream, which you can infuse with different flavors or mix with add-ins, fresh fruit, nuts or toppings.
While it sits in the refrigerator, the cookies or graham crackers soften just enough to be tender like cake, marrying perfectly with the whipped cream to create something that looks like an impressive layered torte.
