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Easy No-Bake Berry Icebox Cake for Labor Day

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This easy no-bake berry icebox cake for Labor Day is the perfect end-of-summer dessert. Layers of creamy filling, fresh berries, and graham crackers soften overnight into a cool, sweet slice of summer—no oven required.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 standard box (about 14–16 full sheets) graham crackers
  • 2 cups (480 ml) heavy whipping cream, cold
  • 1/3 cup (40 g) powdered sugar
  • 8 ounces (226 g) cream cheese, softened to room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 pint (about 300 g) fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
  • 1 pint (about 170 g) fresh blueberries
  • 6 ounces (170 g) fresh raspberries
  • Zest of 1 lemon (optional)

Instructions

  1. Prep your berries. Wash and dry all the berries. Hull and slice the strawberries. Set aside about a cup of mixed berries for topping later.
  2. Make the cream filling. In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened cream cheese with an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add the powdered sugar and vanilla extract, and beat until combined. Scrape down the sides of the bowl.
  3. Whip the cream. In a separate bowl, pour in the cold heavy cream. Using clean beaters, whip on medium-high speed until stiff peaks form, about 3-4 minutes.
  4. Fold everything together. Gently fold the whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture using a spatula and a light hand. Fold just until no white streaks remain.
  5. Start layering. Spread a thin layer of the cream mixture (about 1/2 cup) on the bottom of a 9×13-inch baking dish.
  6. First cracker layer. Arrange a single layer of graham crackers on top of the cream, breaking them to fit as needed.
  7. First berry layer. Scatter about a third of the sliced strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries over the crackers. Sprinkle a little lemon zest over the berries.
  8. First cream layer. Spread about a third of the remaining cream mixture over the berries.
  9. Repeat layers. Add another layer of graham crackers, followed by another third of the berries, and another third of the cream. Repeat one more time, ending with a final layer of cream on top.
  10. Finish the top. Spread the remaining cream evenly over the top. Arrange the reserved berries on top.
  11. Cover and chill. Cover the dish tightly with plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least 8 hours, but overnight is better.

Notes

For best results, let the cream cheese soften at room temperature for 30-40 minutes before starting. Keep the heavy cream cold for whipping. Do not overwhip the cream—stop at stiff peaks. The cake needs at least 8 hours to chill; overnight is ideal for the graham crackers to soften completely. Use a light hand when folding to keep the filling airy. For clean slices, run a knife under hot water and wipe dry between cuts.

Nutrition

Keywords: no-bake dessert, icebox cake, berry cake, Labor Day dessert, summer dessert, easy dessert, graham cracker cake

Find it online: https://jollyfork.com/easy-no-bake-berry-icebox-cake-for-labor-day/