4th of July Icebox Cake

Delicious layers of strawberries and blueberries with cream cheese and graham crackers combine for one of our favorite desserts. This often makes an appearance at our annual Memorial Day cookout and 4th of July celebration. Everyone always asks about it and looks forward to it year after year.

It is perfect for hot Summer days when you want something sweet but not too heavy. The whipped cream and cream cheese make this dish so creamy and one bite is never enough. This is one of our favorite Memorial Day Food Ideas and Memorial Day Desserts.

What is an Icebox Cake?

An icebox cake is an easy no bake dessert made by layering creamy filling with graham crackers, cookies, or wafers. As the dessert chills in the refrigerator, the layers soften into a cake-like texture.

This patriotic berry icebox cake combines cream cheese, whipped cream, strawberries, blueberries, and graham crackers for an easy summer dessert everyone loves.

Ingredients

• Cream Cheese – Start with softened cream cheese for a creamy texture
• Heavy Whipping Cream – You can also use whipped topping
• Graham Crackers – Try vanilla wafers, shortbread cookies, or even layers of sponge cake.
• Fresh Fruit – For the best red, white and blue dessert we like using Fresh Blueberries and Fresh Strawberries. Raspberries and blackberries are another great option.

Scroll down to the recipe card below this post for ingredient quantities and full instructions.

How to Make 4th of July Icebox Cake

Step 1 – Combine cream cheese and sugars – First, get out a large mixing bowl. Mix the cream cheese and sugar together with electric mixer or whisk together by hand. Cream this until smooth.

Step 2 – Add cream and vanilla – Second, add the heavy cream and vanilla extract. Beat this mixture until it thickens and forms peaks with the whisk attachment. Set this aside for later.

Step 3 – Add Graham Crackers – You will need a 9×13 pan. Line graham crackers on the bottom of the pan in a single layer.

Step 4 – Top with cream cheese – Now add part of the cream cheese mixture all over the graham crackers. Be careful spreading and make sure to do so gently. You can use a spatula or back of a spoon to help spread it out.

Step 5 – Top with Berries – Once the mixture is spread out, add a portion of the blueberries and strawberries.

Step 6 – Final layer of graham crackers – Keep repeating the layers two more times.

Step 7 – Top with more berries – Finally, on the top layer, add strawberries and blueberries all over. You can sprinkle them or make a pattern on top. Just make it your own! Let the kids help decorate and see what fun ideas they come up with.

Step 8 – Rest Cake – Put the cake in the fridge covered in plastic wrap. Let it set for a couple of hours. Normally, 2 to 4 hours will do the trick. You just want the layers to settle into each other for the best flavor.

Tips for Success

• Pan Size – Make sure you have a nice 9×13 pan. If you are taking this to a potluck or cookout. The disposable pans are so handy because you can just toss it.
• Rest Overnight – While 2-4 hours in the fridge is sufficient, I prefer to make this cake the night before. I think the extra time really allows all the flavors to come together and chill.
• Mixing Ingredients – You can use a hand mixer. But I prefer my stand mixer to cream the sugar and cream cheese together. Mix until stiff peaks form in a large bowl.
• Knife – To easily cut the icebox cake, we recommend using a serrated knife so the slices have clean lines.

Variations and Substitutions

• Cream Layer – You can easily change the cream layer to a instant pudding mixture. Mix vanilla pudding mix or cheesecake pudding mix as directed on the package with beaters for a delicious layer.
• Cookies – You can layer the cake with vanilla wafers instead of graham crackers.
• Lemon Zest – Feel free to add in lemon zest or lemon juice to the cream layer for a light and refreshing taste.