No-bake dessert recipes are perfect for Spring and Summer! This is full of tangy lemon flavor and it's so easy! Perfect for potlucks and casual get-togethers.
Save this recipe by clicking on the ❤️ heart on the right-hand side of the screen or in the recipe card.
Table of Contents
🗝️ Key takeaways
- Bursting with tangy lemon flavor, lemon icebox cake is a refreshing no-bake dessert made with simple ingredients!
- A no-bake lemon dessert like this one is perfect for potlucks, picnics, and special occasions during the spring and on hot summer days.
- My secret? Spread a little bit of the whipped cream mixture on the bottom of the pan so the first layer of cookies doesn’t slide around.
This classic no-bake lemon icebox cake recipe is an easy dessert featuring layers of lemon pudding and softened lemon Oreo cookies. Y'all, this literally evaporates at potlucks!
The hardest part will be waiting for it to chill overnight and not devouring the whole thing the next day!
🧾 Ingredients
This is an overview of the ingredients. You'll find the full measurements and instructions in the green recipe card (printable) at the bottom of the page.
📖 Variations
- You can substitute the mixture of heavy cream and powdered sugar with Cool Whip for even faster prep.
- Sometimes I double the filling.
- Feel free to swap the lemon Oreos with layers of graham crackers, lemon shortbread cookies, or vanilla wafers.
- Try it with pineapple or coconut instant pudding mix for a different tropical flavor.
- Amp up the tart lemon flavor by spreading a thin layer of lemon curd over the lemon mixture. Use my easy microwave lemon curd recipe to make your own lemon curd from scratch!
- You can garnish your easy lemon icebox cake with fresh fruit instead of crumbled lemon Oreos if you'd like.
🔪 Instructions
This is an overview of the instructions. Full instructions are in the green recipe card at the bottom of the page. Click on the image to see it full size.
Layer cookies in bottom of 13x9-inch pan.
Add a layer of cream mixture.
Add another layer of cookies.
Finish with the remaining cream and top with crumbled cookies.
🍴 Equipment
- Electric mixer
- 9x13-inch casserole dish
🎥 Video
Hey y'all! Don't forget to check out my latest video where I guide you through each step of this delicious recipe. It's always great to have a visual guide, right? And as always, my cooking show, Restless Chipotle Kitchen, has got your back. If you're looking for more yummy ideas, dive into our full recipe collection on YouTube. You're gonna love it!
🥫 How to store leftovers
This one goes quickly—everyone always begs for second-helpings! However, you can refrigerate leftover lemon icebox cake covered with plastic wrap for up to four days.
You can also freeze it for up to one month. Simply thaw frozen cake in the fridge or let it sit out at room temperature for 15-20 minutes to soften before cutting in.
Marye's tip:
You need a hand or stand mixer to whip the heavy cream mixture to soft peaks. When you hold the beater right side up, the whipped cream will keep its shape as a pretty point (or "peak") rather than immediately flopping over.
💭 Things to know
- Spread a thin layer of the pudding mixture on the bottom of your baking dish to prevent the first layer of Oreos from sliding around too much.
- Make sure you get an instant lemon pudding mix. Ignore the instructions on the box since you just need the powder for this dessert recipe.
- To get ¼ cup of fresh lemon juice, you’ll need about two medium-sized lemons or three small lemons.
- Use an offset spatula to spread the pudding mixture in an even layer.
- For the best results, let this no-bake cake chill in the fridge overnight. The hours of chilling time allow the creamy filling to soften each cookie layer into a cake-like texture.
- Decorate the top of the cake with extra lemon zest and fresh fruit such as lemon slices or fresh berries. Use bright yellow lemons to make it pretty!
👩🍳 FAQs
Sure! Lemon shortbread cookies, vanilla wafers, graham crackers, or even gingersnaps also work well in this easy recipe.
Nope! Storebought lemon juice contains preservatives and additional ingredients that make it taste bitter and artificial. Besides, you need a fresh lemon to get the lemon zest. Use fresh lemon juice for the best flavor!
I like to add extra lemon zest and crumbled Oreos on top, but you can also garnish your cake with fresh fruit. Add curled slices of citrus fruits like lemons, blood oranges, or limes, or sprinkle fresh blueberries or raspberries over the whipped topping. You can even add sprinkles!
Lemon icebox cake is best enjoyed within four days. Much longer than that and the cookies will get too soft and mushy. For longer storage, wrap the dish tightly in plastic wrap and freeze the cake for up to one month. Thaw it in the fridge or at room temperature for 15-20 minutes before serving.
📚 Related recipes
- No Bake Lemon Icebox Pie is one of my favorite lemon desserts with a tart lemon filling poured over a buttery crumb crust—the best part is you only need three ingredients!
- Eclair Icebox Cake is an easy sweet treat with the creamy texture and rich taste of chocolate eclairs—minus the hassle of making pastries!
- Strawberry Punch Bowl Cake is another great no-bake summer dessert with layers of moist angel food cake, rich cream, and sweet strawberries.
🍽️ Serve with...
Ready in just 30 minutes, Creamy Lemon Chicken is a one-pan dinner made of crispy chicken in a rich lemon sauce seasoned with Italian herbs and fresh rosemary.
My Lipton Onion Soup Mix Potato recipe is a super easy side dish that’s rich and buttery with lots of onion flavor. It's a perfect way to upgrade simple spuds!
Crisp Oven Roasted Asparagus is the perfect spring side dish to serve with meats and other roasted veggies. And, it's so easy!
📞 The last word
Y'all, I think this is a perfect Easter dessert, but I love it all summer long! It's so easy, and since you can make it ahead of time, it's stress-free.
If you click on the number of servings in the recipe card you can adjust the measurements up or down for the exact number of servings you need.
If you love this recipe please comment below and give it 5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
📖 Recipe
Lemon Icebox Cake
Print Pin Recipe Save Recipe Rate RecipeIngredients
- 3 cups heavy cream
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- 3.2 ounces instant Lemon pudding mix
- ¾ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ cup fresh lemon juice
- 4 tablespoons lemon zest, divided use
- 26.7 ounces lemon Oreos, or similar cookie
Instructions
- Whip the heavy cream and powdered sugar until the mixture thicks slightly.
- Whip in half the pudding powder and vanilla.
- Add the remaining pudding powder, lemon juice, and 3 tablespoons lemon zest and whip until very thick. See video above.
- Spread a thin layer of the whipped cream mixture on the bottom of a 13x9-inch baking dish. This will keep the cookies from sliding around.
- Add a layer of lemon Oreos.
- Top with ⅓ of the whipped cream mixture.
- Repeat the layers until all the cookies and whipped cream have been used, ending with whipped cream. This will take 1 to 2 more times.
- Top with crumbled Oreos and more lemon zest.
- Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.
- Serve cold or partially frozen.
Notes
- Make sure you get an instant lemon pudding mix. Ignore the instructions on the box since you just need the powder for this dessert recipe.
- To get ¼ cup of fresh lemon juice, you’ll need about two medium-sized lemons or three small lemons.
- You need to let this no-bake cake chill in the fridge overnight for the best results. The hours of chilling time allow the creamy filling to soften each cookie layer into a cake-like texture.
Nutrition Facts
Nutrition information is estimated as a courtesy. If using for medical purposes, please verify information using your own nutritional calculator. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
This recipe has been tested several times. If you choose to use other ingredients, or change the technique in some way, the results may not be the same.
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Lucille Borella says
I doubled the recipe and took this to a church function. It was a hit and gone in a flash. Many asked for the recipe! I made it other times and used "thin" Oreos. It was just as good. One man thanked me for the recipe and said he was on the way to the store to purchase ingredients. Thanks Marye!