Quick, just three ingredients, and no baking required? Yes, please! This easy graham cracker Icebox Cake is a delicious dessert to share with the kids. And it’s so darn simple to make!
This graham cracker icebox cake recipe takes me immediately back to my childhood—my mom made Ice Box Cake regularly and I have such fond memories of it. I love to recreate recipes I had as a kid for my own kiddos, and this is a great dish to share because it’s incredibly straightforward.
All you need is graham crackers and pudding. You can choose ones that work for food allergies or your preferences, and you can even make the whole thing ahead of time..all without turning on the oven.
This is a fun kids birthday dessert, a great option to pair with easy summer meals, a perfect easy Memorial Day recipe, or just a simple way to celebrate making it through the day. (Because I know we all need that!)
(You may also like How to Make Popsicles, Ice Cream Cake, and Strawberry Popsicles.)
Table of Contents
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Ingredients You Need
To make this graham cracker icebox cake recipe, you need to have the following ingredients on hand to get started.
- Graham crackers: You can use any brand that you prefer. I usually use plain ones for a classic flavor.
- Vanilla and chocolate pudding or pudding mix: You can make pudding from a mix or start with prepared pudding, according to your preference.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Here’s a look at how to make this graham cracker icebox cake recipe. Scroll down to the bottom of this post for the full information, including the amounts and timing.
Step 1. Make the instant pudding in a large bowl if starting from a mix. Line the baking dish with graham crackers.
Step 2. Top with vanilla pudding. Top with more graham crackers.
Step 3. Top with chocolate pudding. Repeat, to top with a final layer of graham crackers.
Step 4. Finish with crushed graham crackers. Chill, then serve.
TIP: This needs to hang out in the fridge for a bit before eating to allow the graham crackers to soften, so plan to make it ahead of when you want to serve it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Typically, it’s a no-bake layer cake made with wafers or graham crackers and cream, pudding, or another soft filling. It has a soft texture and is usually refrigerated before serving. You’ll need to serve it with a spoon, so don’t expect to cut slices as with typical cake.
I like to store it in the fridge for about 2 hours before serving, and then it can last for 3-5 days if stored covered in the fridge in an airtight container.
Typically, it is stored in the fridge and served cold.
How to Store
Store leftover graham cracker ice box cake in the pan you made it in, covered in the fridge for 3-5 days. Serve cold.
Best Tips for Success
- Dairy-free: Use nondairy pudding or pudding mix, and/or use nondairy milk.
- Gluten-free: Use GF-certified graham crackers.
- Add whipped cream on top if the pudding mixture, if desired.
- Add fresh berries with the graham cracker ice box cake, if desired.
- Icebox cake is best served cold our of the refrigerator and is one of my favorite no bake dessert recipes.
- Try my 3-Ingredient Banana Pudding as another flavor option.
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I’d love to hear your feedback on this recipe, so please comment below to share!
Graham Cracker Icebox Cake
Ingredients
- 4 ounces vanilla pudding from mix (or 2 cups prepared vanilla pudding)
- 4 ounces chocolate pudding from mix (or 2 cups prepared chocolate pudding)
- 16 graham crackers (full-size sheets; 2 standard packages)
Instructions
- If using pudding mix, make the pudding according to package directions.
- Layer graham crackers in the bottom of a 9×11-inch (2-quart) baking dish. Break some up to fill in edges as needed.
- Cover with ½ of the vanilla pudding, spreading to cover.
- Top with another layer of graham crackers.
- Cover with ½ of the chocolate pudding, spreading to cover.
- Repeat the layers to finish, ending with chocolate pudding.
- Top with crushed graham crackers.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours and up to overnight to soften the graham crackers. Serve cold.
Equipment
Notes
- Store covered in the fridge for 3-5 days.
- Dairy-free: Use nondairy pudding or pudding mix, and/or use nondairy milk.
- Gluten-free: Use GF-certified graham crackers.
Nutrition
This post was first published September 2021.
So this is the way I make icebox cake when I’m in a hurry or being lazy. My Grandma used COOKED chocolate pudding and it’s like night and day. Try it and you’re welcome 😉 Of course back then it was before instant pudding. She never used vanilla. I just one
The hardest part is letting it set.lol
My Mom made a version of this dessert. It was essentially the same except she added a layer of sliced bananas in the middle. It’s been many years since I’ve had this and my Mom has since passed, but I finally made it again. Pure deliciousness and wonderful memories!
Where does the whip cream go? Just on top?
You can top it with whipped cream if you like
I’m not generally a pudding person, but I just tried this only I put 2 teaspoons of instant coffee granules in the chocolate pudding. Divine!
This is the exact ice box cake I grew up eating. Pudding and graham crackers. So simple. So good.
Can you replace with lady fingers instead of graham crackers?
Sure!
I grew up with this!
A friend of mine shared a similar recipe from her grandma with graham crackers, vanilla custard and a layer of sliced bananas.
I had house guests this weekend and this was a hit with everyone. And it was so easy to make even with a 2 year old and 3 month hanging on me the whole time 😊
I’m so glad!
Delicious and easy! I folded Cool Whip into the pudding flavors before layering them so that I had more pudding to work with. Thank you, Amy!
YUM! This was fun to make and so easy to eat. Everyone had seconds! I will definitely be making this often!
So glad to hear it!
Delicious and so so easy!
Hello! British mum here. Can you clarify what ‘pudding mix’ is? We use the term pudding for anything that is a dessert. Thanks!
Hi- It’s like custard if that helps.
My mom. Use to. Make. A. Refrigerator. Cake for. MyB day never. Got. The. Hole. Recipe. She. Pass. On. Be. Fore. I. Could. Ever. Get. The. Recipe so. I. Could share sure. Wish. She. Was. Here there. Are. Good. Ideas. But not. The. Rite. One Thanks
Ok, I got the 365 chocolate pudding mix and it turned out clumpy. Any secrets to getting it to set well? Admittedly I put all the powder in at once instead of mixing gradually per the directions…
Maybe that would have been the key? It will probably taste okay!
I always put all the ingredients ,expect the butter, in a blender and then strain it into the saucepan. No lumps or clumps
This was delicious and so easy to make! Thanks for the recipe!