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Perfect No-Bake Strawberry Shortcake Icebox Cake

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A creamy, no-bake dessert with layers of fresh strawberries, cream cheese filling, and softened graham crackers. Perfect for summer gatherings and make-ahead entertaining.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 16 ounces cream cheese, softened
  • 1 cup powdered sugar, sifted
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 2 cups heavy cream, cold
  • 2 pounds fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced (about 6 cups)
  • 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice, freshly squeezed
  • 2 packages (about 14 ounces each) graham crackers (about 3 sleeves)
  • 1/4 cup strawberry jam, warmed (optional)
  • 1 cup heavy cream, cold (for topping)
  • 2 tablespoons powdered sugar (for topping)
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract (for topping)
  • Fresh strawberry slices and mint leaves for garnish

Instructions

  1. Prepare the strawberries: In a medium bowl, combine the sliced strawberries, 3 tablespoons granulated sugar, and lemon juice. Stir gently to coat. Let them sit for about 15-20 minutes while you work on the filling. The sugar will draw out the juices, creating a beautiful syrup. Give them a stir halfway through.
  2. Make the cream cheese base: In a large bowl, beat the softened cream cheese with an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth and creamy—about 2 minutes. Add the powdered sugar and vanilla extract, and beat until combined, scraping down the sides as needed. This should take about 1 minute. The mixture should be light and fluffy with no lumps.
  3. Whip the heavy cream: In a separate cold bowl, pour in 2 cups of cold heavy cream. Using clean beaters, whip the cream on medium-high speed until stiff peaks form. This usually takes about 3-4 minutes. You’ll know it’s ready when you lift the beaters and the cream holds its shape without collapsing. Be careful not to overwhip—you don’t want butter!
  4. Fold it all together: Gently fold the whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture using a rubber spatula. Work in thirds, folding gently until just combined. You want to keep as much air in the mixture as possible—this is what gives the filling its light, mousse-like texture. Don’t overmix, or it will deflate.
  5. Layer one – the base: Arrange a single layer of graham crackers in the bottom of your 9×13-inch dish. You’ll need to break some crackers to fit the edges—that’s totally fine. They should cover the bottom completely, with minimal gaps.
  6. Layer two – the filling: Spread about one-third of the cream cheese mixture evenly over the graham crackers. Use your offset spatula or the back of a spoon to smooth it out. Don’t press too hard—you don’t want to push the crackers around.
  7. Layer three – the strawberries: Spoon about one-third of the macerated strawberries (with their juices) over the filling. Spread them out evenly. If you’re using the optional strawberry jam, you can drizzle a little over the strawberries now for extra flavor.
  8. Repeat the layers: Add another layer of graham crackers on top of the strawberries. Repeat the filling and strawberry layers two more times, ending with a final layer of graham crackers on top. You should have three layers of filling and strawberries, with graham crackers at the bottom, between each layer, and on top.
  9. Cover and chill: Cover the dish tightly with plastic wrap or aluminum foil. Refrigerate for at least 6 hours, but overnight is best—8 to 12 hours gives the graham crackers time to soften perfectly. The longer it sits, the more it transforms into a cake-like texture.
  10. Make the topping: Just before serving, whip the remaining 1 cup heavy cream with 2 tablespoons powdered sugar and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract until soft peaks form. Spread this over the top layer of graham crackers. Garnish with fresh strawberry slices and mint leaves if you’re feeling fancy.

Notes

Don’t rush the chilling time. Give it the full overnight rest (8-12 hours) for the best texture. Room temperature cream cheese is essential to avoid lumps. Cover tightly while chilling to prevent the top graham crackers from drying out. For best results, use fresh, ripe strawberries in season.

Nutrition

Keywords: no-bake strawberry shortcake, icebox cake, summer dessert, no-bake dessert, strawberry dessert, graham cracker cake, make-ahead dessert

Find it online: https://willarecipes.com/perfect-no-bake-strawberry-shortcake-icebox-cake/