4.5 16 Published May 22, 2019, Updated Jul 03, 2024 The first time I ever heard about icebox cakes was from Maria a few years ago. She was raving about Ina Garden’s Mocha Icebox Cake (made with Tate’s cookies) and mentioned that she makes it for her sister’s birthday each year. I’ve never been a huge regular cake person and have always enjoyed ice cream cakes and cookie cakes more, so the idea of an icebox cake, which is kind of a hybrid of both, immediately piqued my interest. I had to try the recipe for myself so I made Ina’s cake for a Labor Day party and it was a HUGE hit. Ever since I’ve been wanting to make a healthier icebox cake.
Old Fashioned Icebox Cake
Classic icebox cakes, like Ina’s, are loaded with heavy ingredients. Traditionally, they’ll have things like vanilla pudding mix, heavy cream or whipped cream, a layer of graham crackers and sometimes even cream cheese. You can imagine how rich and delicious it is! I love layered desserts, and although the ingredients in traditional versions of this cake aren’t exactly EBF friendly, I knew I could create an upgraded version.
Healthy Icebox Cake Swaps
For this icebox cake, we’re keeping things super easy with only three simple ingredients:
Coconut whipped cream – You can totally make your own if you’d like, but to keep things simple I recommend buying the frozen So Delicious brand coconut whipped topping (I find it at our local Whole Foods). Coconut whipped topping doesn’t have hydrogenated oil or high fructose corn syrup like regular Cool Whip and it also keeps this icebox cake dairy-free. Gluten-free + vegan cookies – I opted for dairy-free and gluten-free chocolate chips cookies to make this cake a tad healthier and enjoyable for almost all dietary preferences. I used the Simple Mills brand crunchy chocolate chip cookies. Dairy-free chocolate chips – Keeping with the dairy-free theme, I used dairy-free chocolate chips from EnjoyLife. You could also use Lily’s stevia-sweetened chocolate chips if dairy isn’t a concern and you want the recipe to have less sugar.
How to Make an Icebox Cake
It’s soooo simple! The basic idea is to layer cookies and whipped cream in a springform pan, on a platter or in a baking dish. I layered Simple Mills chocolate chip cookies and coconut whipped topping. Top with vegan chocolate chips and cookie crumbs and then chill in the fridge for at least 6 hours (or overnight). Trust me, waiting the six hours is the hardest part of this recipe. The cookies absorb some of the whipped topping and soften… almost cake-like. So good!
Equipment Needed for an Icebox Cake
The only special equipment needed for an icebox cake is a springform pan, and technically it’s only really needed if you want the cake to look uniform and tidy. Otherwise, you can use a plate/platter, a square or rectangular baking dish or even a bowl to layer your cookies and whipped topping. So don’t stress if you don’t have a springform pan – just opt for a different container.
More Dessert Recipes to Try
Healthy Birthday Cake Flourless Chocolate Cake Healthy Banana Pudding Healthy Greek Yogurt Berry Tart Greek Yogurt Popsicles
Be sure to check out my full collection of dessert recipes here on EBF!
More No Bake Desserts for Summer:
Avocado Ice Cream Healthy No Bake Cookies Healthy Samoas No Bake Brownies Chocolate Caramel Banana Ice Cream Bars No Bake Protein Balls No Bake Peanut Butter Balls
