A light, sweet, no-bake chocolate icebox cake made with a homemade vanilla whipped cream and chocolate ganache layered over chocolate graham crackers.
Well my weekend was a complete and total blur, how about yours? I’m still recovering and trying to get caught up, so today I’m re-sharing one of my favorite summer recipes with you: an easy chocolate icebox cake.
This cake was so popular on the blog last year, so I thought I’d freshen it up and share it with you again. Until I set out to make this cake, I was fairly inexperienced with icebox cakes.
I had no idea how they were made, and was impressed at how curiously neat and thin the “cake” part was (probably obvious spoiler alert – it’s graham crackers).
I spent hours poring over different recipes and devoted my weekends to trials and experimentation in order to finally bring you this perfected simple and sweet chocolate icebox cake.
While most icebox cakes use Cool Whip as a base ingredient, I wanted something homemade and from-scratch, and so instead a combination of cream cheese and heavy cream is used here for a sweet but not too heavy dessert.
Don’t be intimidated by whipping your own cream. All you need is an electric mixer (though I’ve done it by hand before — not recommended!) and five minutes for homemade whipped cream and you’ll never want to go back to the store-bought version again.
Each layer is drizzled with a semisweet chocolate ganache that keeps this cake from being too sweet. Allow it to set in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours so that the cracker layer softens to a cake-like texture.
The result is a decadent but light, simple but rich, chocolate icebox cake.
Enjoy, and if you’re craving a less chocolaty version of icebox cake, make sure to check out this strawberry cheesecake icebox cake that I recently shared over on The Spruce!
Ingredients
- 14.4 oz box chocolate graham crackers
Ganache
- 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
- 3/4 cups heavy cream
Cream Filling
- 16 oz cream cheese softened
- 3 cups heavy cream
- 1 3/4 cups powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/3 cup mini chocolate chips optional
Instructions
Ganache
- Prepare your ganache by combining chocolate chips and heavy cream in a small saucepan over medium-low heat.
- Stir frequently until chocolate has melted and mixture is smooth.
- Remove from heat and set aside
Filling
- In stand mixer or in a large bowl with hand mixer, stir cream cheese until smooth.
- Gradually stir in about half of the heavy cream. Stir until smooth, pausing once to scrape down the sides of the bowl.
- With mixer on medium-speed, gradually add the remaining heavy cream.
- Increase speed to medium-high and beat until mixture begins to thicken (about one minute).
- Pause to scrape the bowl and stir in powdered sugar and vanilla.
- Gradually increase speed to high once again and beat until stiff peaks.
Assembly
- Cover the bottom of a 9x13 pan with an even layer of chocolate graham crackers (break graham crackers as needed to best fit. One sleeve will not completely cover the bottom of the pan, this is fine, just evenly space the crackers.).
- Spread about 1/3 of the cream cheese mixture over the graham crackers.
- Drizzle about 1/3 of the chocolate ganache evenly over the cream layer (make sure your ganache is not too hot or it will melt the cream -- allow it to cool at least 10 minutes before drizzling).
- Place another sleeve of graham crackers over the ganache, evenly spacing as needed.
- Spread half of the remaining cream over the graham crackers. Drizzle with 1/2 of the remaining chocolate ganache.
- Top with another layer of graham crackers.
- Spread with the remaining cream cheese mixture.
- Drizzle with remaining ganache (I ran a toothpick point through mine for design).
- Sprinkle with mini chocolate chips, if using.
- Cover and refrigerate at least 4 hours before serving.
This post was originally published 7/11/16, text updated 8/7/17
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Dee Taylor says
Awesome recipe! The cream cheese gives it a more substantial flavor that reminds me of tiramisu which is my favorite dessert. Although I did not make the whip cream myself, I used light Cool Whip. I also did not want to use my stand mixer and did not have a hand mixer, so I used whipped cream cheese instead of regular and am happy to report doing this means you can easily mix by hand which was what I wanted. I use this recipe as a base, for all of my icebox cakes. The recent one, I used the modified creamy part and chocolate Grahams, but instead of chocolate ganache I used salted caramel sauce. Delicious!
Sam says
I am so glad you enjoyed the icebox cake, Dee! 🙂
Cindy says
I found another recipe like this, but I bought the ingredients, and forgot where the site was! Found YOUR recipe, (I always have cream cheese in the fridge) so I made your recipe, but with Oreo thins. I am so thankful for your addition of cream cheese! Wonderful!
Sam says
I am so glad you enjoyed the icebox cake, Cindy! 🙂
Kathie says
Wonderful and easy to make. Made it for a function on Saturday night almost nothing leftover
Sam says
I am so glad you enjoyed it, Kathie! 🙂
Deb says
I made this exactly per recipe and it was delicious! I never made an ice box cake and didn’t even know what it was but my son requested it.
I’m going to make it again and bring it to a Christmas Eve dinner for dessert! Thanks so much for your hard work developing this recipe!
Sam says
I’m coming to your house Christmas Eve! I am so glad you enjoyed it, Deb. 🙂
Becca says
Is it okay to refrigerate it for more than 4 hours? I was going to make this tonight for an event tomorrow night so it’ll be about 24 hours.
Sam says
That will be fine. The cracker layers get really soft but that’s not a bad thing at all!
Shawnna says
hey girl- this cake looks so yummy!
Sam says
Thank you so much, Shawnna! 🙂
Earl Williams says
Thank you for all the work you did to develop this marvelous recipe.
Sam says
Thank you so much for commenting, Earl!! 🙂
Janet says
We dont have graham crackers here in my country so what would i use
Michele P says
You can use a vanilla wafer crust…so good!
Leah says
Hi Sam,
I made your Chocolate Ice Box Cake yesterday for a birthday celebration and it was delicious!! Everyone raved about it and it was a nice break from traditional cake and frosting. Great recipe, I will definitely make it again!!!
Sam says
Yay! I’m so glad everyone enjoyed, thank you so much for coming back and letting me know how it turned out, Leah!!
Nada says
Hi Sam!
Oh my god I am salivating at the thought of eating this it looks so delicious! Three questions for you though. I want to use this as a base for my original recipe for a baking contest do I have your permission to use this recipe but altered to make it mine? Can I substitute the graham crackers with oreos and would it taste just as great? And should I garnish it with chocolate curls or chocolate chips? Thank you for the wonderful recipe and for your help!
Nada
Sam says
Hi Nada!
Recipes may be adapted so long as my photos aren’t used and the recipe is altered and re-written entirely in your own words.
I haven’t tried it with graham cracker crumbs, so I really can’t say for sure, and I think the chocolate curls vs chocolate chips is just a matter of preference. I hope that helps!
Chris says
Really impressed your recipe uses so few ingredients but looks so delicious. Love the presentation and your trifles look amazing. Must give this a go.
Sam says
Thank you so much, Chris!
Hira says
I LOVE ice box cakes! They’re easy to make and delicious to eat… win, win! I’ve never made a chocolate version, which sounds totally delightful. 🙂
Sam says
Thank you, Hira! 🙂
Medha @ Whisk & Shout says
I had no idea how icebox cakes were made, either! It makes total sense to use graham crackers and have their texture soften in the freezer. I love the homemade whipped cream (I’m not a huge fan of Cool Whip!) and the ganache sounds perfect. Can’t believe this uses only 8 ingredients!