No-Bake Strawberry Ice Box Cake

April 29, 2012
No-Bake Strawberry Ice Box Cake ~ The flavor of fresh strawberries shine in this easy creamy no-bake dessert.  A drizzle of chocolate ganache puts this tasty dessert over the top!

No-Bake Strawberry Ice Box Cake with Graham Crackers and Whipped Cream Image


 It's strawberry season in my neck of the woods!  And I'm very excited about it.

I absolutely love fresh strawberries, straight from the field.  I'm so fortunate that my husband passes by a local farm stand every day on his way home from work.  So what did I do with my first delivery from my sweet hubby this past week?  Whipped up this delicious No-Bake Strawberry Ice Box Cake.

As soon as I came across this recipe, I knew it was right up my alley.  Creamy.  Fresh strawberries.  A touch of chocolate.  Yes, please!

I'm happy to report it was a fabulous choice for my first strawberries of the season.

The flavor of fresh strawberries shine in this easy creamy no-bake dessert.  A drizzle of chocolate ganache puts this tasty dessert over the top!

The method to make this icebox cake is very similar to the No-Bake Chocolate Eclair Dessert I posted a little bit back.

Except, this no-bake cake uses real whipped cream laced with a touch of almond extract (soooooo good!) instead of Cool Whip between the graham cracker layers.  I love Cool Whip, don't get me wrong ... but I really need to whip up the real stuff more often.  Real whipped cream is such a little bite of sweet treat heaven!

So to make this tasty layered dessert, whip up some whipped cream.  Then layer it with graham crackers and sliced fresh strawberries.

No-Bake Strawberry Ice Box Dessert with Fresh Strawberries Image

You'll end up making three graham cracker layers, which form the structure of the icebox cake.

Once the graham crackers, whipped cream, and strawberry layers are done, make a really simple chocolate ganache.

Place some chopped dark chocolate {I used Dove dark chocolate} in a small bowl, and pour a little bit of warmed whipping cream over the top of it ...

Making Chocolate Ganache Image

Let the warm cream melt the chocolate and then whisk it until it's smooth.

Then drizzle the ganache all over the top of the cake.

Drizzling No-Bake Strawberry Ice Box Dessert with Chocolate Ganache Image

Refrigerate the cake over night to allow the flavors to meld and to let the graham crackers become nice and soft.  It may be tempting to skip the "refrigerate over night step," but believe me ... the creamy result is worth the wait.

Once everything's melded together over night, cut yourself a big piece to enjoy.  No ... cut yourself a huge piece.  With it's delicious strawberry and chocolate flavor, and it's comforting creaminess, you'll be so glad you did.

No-Bake Strawberry Ice Box Cake Image

Now, a note to my blogging friends.  {And just a plain old funny note for my non-blogging readers.}

If you make this and happen to want to photograph it, remember to save a couple of your most gorgeous strawberries to garnish your photo shoot plates. 

If, by chance, you happen to forget to save any strawberries and decide to stop at a vacant lot on your drive home from work to "borrow" a few flowers ... you know, so you'll have something red for the side of your photo shoot plate .... make sure not to stand in a fire ant hill while picking said flowers.  Especially while wearing flip-flops.

If, by chance, you happen to accidentally stand in a fire ant hill while "borrowing" flowers and wearing flip-flops, try to refrain from eating all three pieces of this you cut for the photo shoot to help drown out the fire ant "fire" burning in your swollen toes.

It may be tempting to skip the "refrigerate over night step," but believe me ... the creamy result is worth the wait.

Then, if by chance, you happen to decide to place a bag of frozen vegetables on your burning swollen toes as an ice bag to help soothe the fire ant "fire," make sure the bag of frozen vegetables doesn't have a hole in it.

Because if the bag of frozen vegetables does have a hole in it, as the vegetables inside thaw you'll end with green asparagus-water seeping out onto your carpet leaving a lovely pea-greenish stain.  Which you'll end up spending some time the next day steam-cleaning out.

You know, not that any of this happened or anything.

I'm just sayin' ... be sure to save out a couple of your most gorgeous strawberries to garnish your plates.

Check out these other super tasty no-bake desserts:
No-Bake Strawberry Ice Box Dessert Image
Thank you for stopping by The Kitchen is My Playground.  We'd love to have you back soon!

no bake desserts, no bake strawberry dessert, no bake strawberry icebox cake recipe, strawberry desserts, strawberry recipes
Desserts
American
Yield: about 10-12 servings

No-Bake Strawberry Ice Box Cake

No-Bake Strawberry Ice Box Cake

The flavor of fresh strawberries shine in this easy creamy no-bake dessert. A drizzle of chocolate ganache puts this tasty dessert over the top!
prep time: 20 Mcook time: 5 Mtotal time: 25 M

ingredients:

  • 2 lbs. fresh strawberries, washed and sliced into thin slices
  • 3 ½ c. whipping cream, divided
  • 1/3 c. confectioners' sugar
  • 1 tsp. vanilla extract
  • 1/2 tsp. almond extract
  • 1 (14.4 oz.) box graham crackers (about 24 to 28 whole graham crackers)
  • 4 oz. dark chocolate, finely chopped

instructions:

How to cook No-Bake Strawberry Ice Box Cake

  1. With an electric mixer, whip 3 cups of the whipping cream until it just holds stiff peaks. Add confectioners' sugar, vanilla, and almond extract and whip to combine.
  2. Spread a small spoonful of whipped cream in the bottom of a 9x13" dish. Place down a layer of graham crackers. Spread on a thin layer of the whipped cream over the graham crackers, and then top with a single layer of sliced strawberries.
  3. Repeat with two more layers of graham crackers, whipped cream, and strawberries; then top with the last of the whipped cream.
  4. To make the ganache, heat the remaining 1/2 cup whipping cream until bubbles just begin to form around the edges in the pan. Immediately pour over the chopped dark chocolate. Let stand for a couple of minutes, and then whisk until combined and smooth. Drizzle over the top of the layered cake.
  5. Refrigerate overnight.
TRACEY'S NOTES
  1. This recipe can easily be halved and prepared in an 8x8" pan, which is what I did.
  2. The almond extract is optional, but it makes the whipped cream so delicious! I highly recommend including it.
  3. I use Dove dark chocolate.
  4. This is best eaten the day after it is made. While it was still good on the second day, the strawberries do start to "wilt" and lose some of their "perkiness." Our family can't really speak for the 3rd day. :-)
Created using The Recipes Generator


You might also like these other no-bake favorites:


No-Bake Chocolate Eclair Dessert

No-Bake Snicker Bar Pie

{Easy} No-Bake Peach Yum Yum

Classic Oreo Icebox Dessert

No-Bake Chocolate Chip Cookie Pie



No-Bake Strawberry Ice Box Cake ~ The flavor of fresh strawberries shine in this easy creamy no-bake dessert.  A drizzle of chocolate ganache puts this tasty dessert over the top! #nobake #nobakedessert #strawberry #strawberrycake #strawberrydessert #strawberries  www.thekitchenismyplayground.com
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24 comments

  1. Looks good.....I'll have to try this one...minus the fire ants!

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    Replies
    1. Yes, Mom ... I highly recommend staying out of the fire ants.

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  2. I'm drooling. This looks SO good. Now I'm totally craving ice box cake. I must make one!

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    Replies
    1. It's super yummy, Dorothy. Make it, make it! You won't regret it. :-)

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  3. I just made one of these as well with real whipped cream. I like your addition of the almond extract. I actually used some white chocolate and milk chocolate.

    I do have to say your pictures look so much better than mine!

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    Replies
    1. The almond extract was a wonderful compliment to the fresh strawberries ... so yummy. I bet the topping was great with white chocolate in it.

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  4. You're too funny. I love the fire and story. I will definitely be making this, so I'll be sure to save some strawberries for the pictures since I don't like cleaning my carpet much. :)

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    Replies
    1. Thanks for stopping by, Nicole! I'm always happy to entertain ... just sad that this time it was at my toes' expense. :-) They're on the mend, though. If you love strawberries, you'll love this dessert!

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  5. This looks so good, I will definitely have to try it! I would love if you would share this and any other posts at Showcase Your Talent Thursday http://whatscookinglove.blogspot.com/2012/05/showcase-your-talent-thursday-5.html. I hope to see you there!

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  6. I am making this!! It looks so good...so glad you linked it to the party! Kristen

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    Replies
    1. Thanks for hosting your fabulous party each week, Kristen! I love coming over to 'see' you each week.

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  7. Strawberries are coming! As soon as they do, I'll be trying this! Thanks for sharing! Pics are awesome!

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  8. This looks terrific and I'm super psyched because if I leave out the almond extract, it will be safe for my nut and egg-allergic son! We are always looking to expand our baking options for him so this is great.

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    Replies
    1. I'm so glad this recipe works out as a new treat for your son!

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  9. We hope to see you back next week to our "Strut Your Stuff Saturday." Thanks for coming!! -The Sisters

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  10. This looks amazing! Picture perfect :).

    PS: I look forward to seeing you this week at Show Me What You Got Tuesday's at Our Delightful Home via: http://ourdelightfulhome.blogspot.com/2012/05/live-show-me-what-you-got-linky-party.html

    Mrs. Delightful
    www.ourdelightfulhome.blogspot.com

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  11. YUMMYI! Now this is my idea of "baking"! Just delicious! Thanks for joining ON THE MENU MONDAY and bringing this delicious and easy dessert!

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  12. Sorry about your bad mishap!!!! But thanks for sharing this with Weekend Potluck! This looks fresh and light!
    {plus we looove Eclair cake which this reminds me of!}
    Come back soon, and bring more food!
    ~Tonya from 4 little Fergusons

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  13. Tracey,
    This looks wonderful! Pinned and I will be using this in my no bake desserts post. :)

    Julie @ This Gal Cooks

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  14. How do you get the cream to be whipped? I did this recipe and it was soupy.

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    Replies
    1. Hi, Monica. A few tips on whipping cream --- First, make sure you're using whipping cream or heavy whipping cream. Other types of cream won't whip, no matter what you do. Next, chill your bowl and the beaters of your mixer, and also make sure your cream is well chilled. Coldness helps it whip better. Then, start off a slowly and increase the mixer speed as the cream thickness. Once it's thick enough not to spray all over the place, get that mixer speed up to high to really whip in that air. Finally, if the cream isn't thick enough to hold peaks ... keep going. Just keep whipping until it does. Hope that helps!

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