When the weather’s too hot to turn on the oven but you still want to show off, this lemon icebox cake with Oreos comes to the rescue. It’s cool, creamy, and loaded with sunshiney lemon flavor—basically the potluck queen in a 9x13 dish. No sweat, no bake, no regrets
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🎥 Video
Watch how this lemony magic comes together in just minutes—no oven, no drama, just pure citrusy bliss. Press play. 🍋🎥
🗝️ What makes this easy lemon icebox cake our summer go to?
- 🍋 Bursting with bright lemon flavor and creamy layers, this icebox cake is pure Southern sunshine in a dish.
- 🧊 It’s the no-bake MVP for potlucks, Easter, or any day too hot for real pants.
- 🤫 Pro tip: A swipe of cream under that first cookie layer keeps it from ice skating across the pan.
Reader Review: I doubled the recipe and took this to a church function. It was a hit and gone in a flash. Many asked for the recipe! I made it other times and used "thin" Oreos. It was just as good. One man thanked me for the recipe and said he was on the way to the store to purchase ingredients. Thanks Marye! Lucille B
What is Lemon Icebox Cake?
Lemon icebox cake is a no-bake dessert made by layering cookies or graham crackers with a lemon-flavored whipped filling. It chills overnight until the cookies soften into a cake-like texture. This version uses lemon Oreos for an extra burst of citrus flavor.
🧾 Ingredients for lemon icebox cake
- Lemon Oreos add to the bright citrus flavor but you can tone it down some by using golden Oreos.
- Fresh lemons are needed for the juice as well as the lemon zest. There's no substitution for it.
- Lemon pudding mix gives another layer of lemon as well as helping to stabilize the heavy cream. Make sure to get instant.
- Heavy cream brings added richness to the pudding mix.
- Powdered sugar is another stabilizer and adds sweetness without worrying about sugar crystals not dissolving.
- Vanilla softens and sweetens the lemon flavor of the icebox cake.
Get all the tips, storage info, and more in this printable lemon icebox cake kitchen cheat sheet. Totally free - you won't even need your email.
📖 Recipe
Easy Lemon Icebox Cake with Lemon Oreos
Print Pin Recipe Save Recipe Rate RecipeIngredients
- 3 cups heavy cream
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- 3.2 ounces instant Lemon pudding mix
- ¾ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ cup fresh lemon juice
- 4 tablespoons lemon zest, divided use
- 26.7 ounces lemon Oreos, or similar cookie
Instructions
- Whip the heavy cream and powdered sugar until the mixture thicks slightly.
- Whip in half the pudding powder and vanilla.
- Add the remaining pudding powder, lemon juice, and 3 tablespoons lemon zest and whip until very thick. See video above.
- Spread a thin layer of the whipped cream mixture on the bottom of a 13x9-inch baking dish. This will keep the cookies from sliding around.
- Add a layer of lemon Oreos.
- Top with ⅓ of the whipped cream mixture.
- Repeat the layers until all the cookies and whipped cream have been used, ending with whipped cream. This will take 1 to 2 more times.
- Top with crumbled Oreos and more lemon zest.
- Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.
- Serve cold or partially frozen.
Notes
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- Make sure you get an instant lemon pudding mix. Ignore the instructions on the box since you just need the powder for this dessert recipe.
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- To get ¼ cup of fresh lemon juice, you’ll need about two medium-sized lemons or three small lemons.
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- You need to let this no-bake cake chill in the fridge overnight for the best results. The hours of chilling time allow the creamy filling to soften each cookie layer into a cake-like texture.
Nutrition Facts
Nutrition information is estimated as a courtesy. If using for medical purposes, please verify information using your own nutritional calculator. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
This recipe has been tested several times. If you choose to use other ingredients, or change the technique in some way, the results may not be the same.
🔪 How to Make Lemon Icebox Cake (Step-by-Step)
- Layer lemon Oreo cookies in bottom of 13x9-inch pan.
- Add a layer of the lemon cream mixture.
- Add another layer of lemon cookies.
- Finish with the remaining lemon cream and top with crumbled cookies.
Marye's tip:
When the whipped cream forms soft peaks, you’re ready. That means it stands up like it’s proud of itself—but still has a little Southern humility.
📚 Related recipes
Y’all, this one’s practically made for Easter brunch—but it shows up strong all summer long, from cookouts to church socials to that one cousin’s baby shower.
- No Bake Lemon Icebox Pie is one of my favorite lemon desserts with a tart lemon filling poured over a buttery crumb crust—the best part is you only need three ingredients!
- Eclair Icebox Cake is an easy sweet treat with the creamy texture and rich taste of chocolate eclairs—minus the hassle of making pastries!
- Strawberry Punch Bowl Cake is another great no-bake summer dessert with layers of moist angel food cake, rich cream, and sweet strawberries.
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Lucille Borella says
I doubled the recipe and took this to a church function. It was a hit and gone in a flash. Many asked for the recipe! I made it other times and used "thin" Oreos. It was just as good. One man thanked me for the recipe and said he was on the way to the store to purchase ingredients. Thanks Marye!