Strawberry Cream Cheese Icebox Cake is an easy to make no-bake dessert that combines creamy filling with sweet strawberries and graham crackers to make a cool refreshing dessert that is great to make on a hot day or any time you need a last minute dessert. This recipe is easy to make without the need of an oven and is rich in flavor and a beautiful presentation.
In order to prepare this delicious dessert, begin with the preparation of your strawberries. Wash and dry 2 pounds of fresh strawberries, cut off the tops and cut them into 1/4-inch slices. Put the slices aside. Place a single layer of graham crackers in a 13×9 inch baking dish (3-quart capacity) breaking them to make them fit evenly.
Put one 8-ounce package of cream cheese (at room temperature) and one 14-ounce can of sweetened condensed milk together in a large mixing bowl. Whisk the mixture using an electric mixer until it becomes smooth and creamy. After mixing, add two 3.4-ounce packets of instant cheesecake-flavored pudding mix and 3 cups of milk. Keep mixing on low speed 4-5 minutes or until the mixture becomes slightly thickened. Next, fold in lightly 2 cups of the whipped topping of a 12-ounce container until the filling is smooth and well-blended.
In your dish, pour half of the cream cheese mixture on top of your graham crackers and spread it out. Slice strawberries on top of the cream mixture in one even layer. Put another layer of graham crackers on top of the strawberries, and the remaining cream cheese filling. Spread it over with a spatula. Complete the assembly by placing the remaining slices of the strawberries on top of the cream layer.
Place a lid or plastic wrap over the dish and store the cake in the refrigerator at least 6 to 8 hours or overnight. This resting period enables the graham crackers to absorb the moisture in the filling and become soft like a cake.
Sprinkle the rest of the whipped topping on the dessert just before serving. To top it off, use any remaining graham crackers and crush them up and sprinkle the crumbs over the whipped topping to give it a little crunch and look. Serve cold and relish the fresh, creamy and fruity layers that make this Strawberry Cream Cheese Icebox Cake a favorite with the crowd.
This dessert is simple to make and also versatile. You may substitute it with other berries or flavored pudding, although the traditional strawberries, cheesecake pudding, and whipped cream are difficult to resist. It is light and cool and decadent, an ideal make-ahead party dessert or birthday cake or simply a sweet finish to any day.
