Memorial Day Icebox Cake (Printable)

Layers of whipped cream, graham crackers and fresh strawberries chilled until set for a patriotic, no-bake summer treat.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Dairy & Cream

01 - 2 cups heavy whipping cream, cold
02 - 1/4 cup powdered sugar
03 - 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

→ Cookies & Base

04 - 1 (14-ounce) box graham crackers

→ Fruit

05 - 1 1/2 pounds fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced

→ Optional Garnish

06 - 1/4 cup blueberries
07 - Fresh mint leaves

# Directions:

01 - In a large mixing bowl, beat the cold heavy whipping cream with powdered sugar and vanilla extract until stiff peaks form.
02 - Spread a thin layer of whipped cream on the bottom of a 9x13-inch baking dish.
03 - Arrange a single layer of graham crackers over the whipped cream, breaking the crackers as needed to cover the entire surface.
04 - Spread 1/3 of the remaining whipped cream over the graham crackers. Top with 1/3 of the sliced strawberries.
05 - Repeat the layers twice more—graham crackers, whipped cream, strawberries—finishing with a final layer of whipped cream and arranged strawberries on top.
06 - For a patriotic touch, scatter blueberries over the top and garnish with fresh mint leaves if desired.
07 - Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight, to allow the cake to set and the layers to meld.
08 - Serve chilled, slicing carefully with a sharp knife for clean layers.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Let me tell you, this is my go to when I want something festive and make ahead—but with barely any fuss involved.
  • The strawberries get all jammy and sweet under the whipped cream, tasting even better the longer you let it sit overnight.
02 -
  • I learned the hard way not to rush the chilling—the longer it sits, the cleaner your slices will be and the more the flavors cozy up together.
  • Once I tried layering with slightly damp crackers and ended up with a soggy, sad cake; keep them crisp and dry for perfect layers every time.
03 -
  • Always use extra cold cream and blend until just stiff—overbeating can break it, underbeating won’t hold layers together.
  • A sheet of parchment under your first cream layer helps with easy lift and clean slicing when serving to a crowd.
Go Back