A few years ago, I shared with you my grandma’s super-simple recipe for what she always referred to as “icebox cake.” It was an easy dessert that graced her table on countless Sundays – two alternating layers of graham crackers and vanilla pudding, topped with crushed graham crackers. Sometimes she’d throw Cool Whip on top, sometimes not. It was familiar, refreshing and comforting. In the past year or so, I’ve been seeing a ton of icebox cake recipes pop up all over the internet. Most of them use chocolate wafers as the base and whipped cream in between layers. Recently, I saw an Oreo Icebox Cake over on Cookies & Cups that inspired me to slightly tweak my grandma’s recipe. Basically, instead of graham crackers I used Double Stuff Oreos and instead of vanilla pudding, I used cheesecake-flavored pudding. I threw a layer of Cool Whip on top for good measure, then drizzled it with chocolate sauce and chopped Oreos. Game, set, match.
It isn’t exactly a secret that I have a love affair with Oreo cheesecakes, so anytime I can finagle a way to incorporateboth Oreos and cheesecake flavor into a dessert, you better believe that I’m going all-in on that project. I love how incredibly easy and versatile icebox cakes are to make. Use whatever favorite graham crackers or cookies you have, your favorite pudding flavor, and you’ll have it assembled in less than 15 minutes. The hardest part is having to leave it in the fridge for a few hours to set up. If you’re desperate, you could always nibble on leftover Oreos to tide you over (not that I know anything about that).
Oreos weren’t something that my grandma stocked her pantry with regularly (she was more of a Keebler and Chips Ahoy lady), but if she were here today, there’s no doubt in my mind that she’d gobble this up and ask for seconds… and then promptly skip dinner. That’s how she rolled. A woman after my own heart.
Line the bottom of a 9x13-inch baking dish with Oreos, breaking them to fill in any big gaps along the edges.
Whisk together 1 box of instant pudding with 2 cups of the milk for 5 minutes, or until the pudding thickens and appears set. Pour the pudding evenly over the layer of Oreos, using a rubber spatula to spread into an even layer.
Top with another layer of Oreos, again breaking them into pieces if needed to fill any large gaps.
Prepare the second box of pudding as you did the first, with the remaining 2 cups of milk. Pour the pudding over the 2nd layer of Oreos, spreading it into an even layer with a rubber spatula.
Top with the Cool Whip, using a spatula to spread into an even layer. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours. Prior to serving, garnish the top with chocolate syrup and chopped Oreos.
Hi Sherry, I would probably make it no more than 2 days in advance, as the cookies could get pretty mushy. I don’t know how well it would freeze, I’ve never tried it.
I just made this recipe…followed recipe except I dunked the oreo ‘s in milk so they wouldn’t be to hard…I took this into work for our carry in Friday night and it was a BIG hit. Every one loved it! And it was gone before lunch time. :) :) I will definitely make this again. :) :)
Alice, You would have to serve it immediately and not plan on having leftovers. Real whipped cream, while delicious, isn’t stabilized like Cool Whip, so it will start to weep after awhile.
I made this over the weekend too (in addition to the Key Lime Bars) and this was a another huge hit. People went nuts over it. And it is incredibly easy…. which I love.
Fabulously refreshing & perfect for summer parties. EASY enough for the Kids to help, or to make for Father’s Day, etc. Love this Michelle… Grammy rocks!
This looks amazing. However, going to the grocery store I looked for cheesecake flavored pudding mix and apparently I went to the wrong store because I didn’t find any but I decided to use white chocolate pudding hopefully it will still taste amazing.
This looks beyooonnd divinne!! But im worried about the cool whip since we donthave that where i live! Could i replace with homemade whipped cream?and how many cups? And can i replace vanilla pudding instead of cheesecake flavor?thank you!!
Hi Christine, You can replace with whipped cream (I would whip 2 cups of cream for the topping). You can also replace the pudding with vanilla if you’d like.
i made this using single oreo cookies. double is too sweet for me. everyone liked it and wanted the recipe.it lasted one week and the cookies got softer the longer it sat. it was better with the softer cookies
I seriously couldn’t stop eating this after dinner last night. This is probably one of my favorite desserts of yours now. Gram would be proud ;-) Love you!
What a lovely idea? I love that graham crackers are so versatile and lend themselves to so many recipes . I have been seeing so many icebox recipes but some how one passsed down from grandmas are always more delicious! Great clicks.
I think this looks awesome and I honestly have no problem with prepackaged food, but I am staunchly anti-Cool Whip. I think it’s totally nasty. (My opinion–my hangup is the taste and no high-minded anti-processed food reasoning.) If I were to make this, could I use just heavy whipping cream? Or would you suggest something else? Thanks!!! p.s. – My grandma always made the stuff you describe your grandma making, too, but she called it “ice cream dessert.”
Hi Diana, I didn’t count them, but after looking online, it says there are 36 cookies per package, so I probably used about 75-80 cookies (I chopped 6 cookies for the top garnish).
This recipe looks great!! And insanely easy to make a vegan version, which is hard to find on your site with all the cheese, cream, and bacon. Thank you!!!
This looks yummy and want to try it soon. Just a little confused, you state there is only 2 layers of oreos but there appears to be 3 in the picture. Please clarify.
This looks pretty mouthwatering!! In Australia, we have a similar dish called Chocolate Ripple Cake. It’s essentially just chocolate biscuits (or cookies, depending where you’re from) in a log with vanilla whipped cream sandwiching the biscuits together, then covering the log with the rest of the cream. A dusting of cocoa or chocolate shavings and a couple of hours in the fridge creates an Aussie party staple!
It’s madness that it’s only 8:17 AM here and I want to eat this now! I have a love affair with Oreos too. Anywhere I see them, I about go crazy. This dessert looks so creamy, crunchy, and amazing! It’s a major feast for my eyes!
Looks yummy! Our family’s go to ice box cake is made with Famous chocolate wafer cookies & homemade whip cream. It’s so easy to make & always a hit (just layer the whip cream between the cookies & make a log, cover the outside with whip cream). You should definitely try it, so good and easy!
This sounds awesome. I have used real whip cream in many desserts instead of Cool Whip. I just don’t like the taste of it. You cold put in a stabilizer. I too will have to wait until I get to the US or know someone that is going to get the cheesecake flavoured pudding mix.
Icebox cake has been on my to-make and to-eat list for YEARS, but I can never find chocolate wafers. You totally just solved all of my life problems. I think I love you.
This looks amazing! I like how you used double stuff oreos instead of the regular… why use regular when you can use double stuff? I imagine that using cheesecake flavoured jello would give it more lightness than normal cream cheese too. I’ll have to wait till my next trip to the US to buy some so I can make this!
I’ve literally never had an icebox cake and I actually didn’t know what they were until I started following baking blogs. I’m committed to try one after this recipe!
Literally drooling here.. this looks delicious. I now have an urge to make oreo cupcakes or brownies… any baked good with an oreo involved… get in my tummy NOW. Thanks for sharing the recipe! Leah x
Thanks for a simple and wow factor recipe. I’m assuming the 2 1/2 box of Oreos is completely crushed or grinded with a food processor? Btw, I think your instruction is missing a top layer of Oreos. The pudding will thicken without it being boiled, per package instructions? Sorry! I’m a baking novice!
Hi Anna, No, you do not grind or crush the Oreos for this recipe, you use them whole. There are only 2 layers of Oreos, not 3, the layering should go: Oreos, pudding, Oreos, pudding, Cool Whip. I’m not sure what you mean regarding the pudding, but it’s instant pudding, so it will thicken without needing to be boiled.
Oh, how I sometimes wish I lived in the US! In Canada, we don’t have cheesecake flavoured pudding (I didn’t even know it existed!). We do have JELL-O brand Oreo flavoured pudding, do you think that would work, or would it be overkill (if there’s such a thing)? Perhaps vanilla would be best? This looks amazing! I’ll definitely have to make this for a summer barbecue!
Who doesn’t have dessert for dinner once a week, I mean month?! That ice box cake looks awesome…and may make an appearance in my household this weekend :)
I have no issue with Cool Whip as it tastes completely different from fresh whipped cream, and I’m totally willing to take the abuse from my animal conservation friends for occasionally eating Oreos. I basically want to put this whole thing in my face. Like now.
Love the simplicity of this one. I made an icebox cake last summer using similar ingredients but instead of Oreos I did sugar wafer cookies. Those long, thin, flaky-layered cookies that are usually chocolate, vanilla, or strawberry. They held up great to the sog-factor and I bet your Oreos would too!
I’m pretty sure you could easily replace the Cool Whip with your own whipped cream if you want. Fresh cream isn’t as stable, though, so make sure you keep it very cold or you’ll end up with a puddle of grossness.
Just add a few Tbls of powdered sugar to the cream before you whip it. That will help stabilize it. I agree regarding cool whip, but if you’re going to use packaged cookies and packaged instant pudding mix, why would you use real whipped cream?
Because she wanted to and thats the way her recipe is written. Every baker goes by her own set of rules. I love the Cool Whip in this recipe. Sounds delis! :)
welcome to brown eyed baker!
Hello and welcome! I'm Michelle and I believe anyone can learn to confidently make recipes worthy of celebration.
Made this today. I hope the family enjoys it
Would this hold up if I made it 3 days in advance? If so, should I freeze it and then thaw it in the fridge the night before?
Hi Sherry, I would probably make it no more than 2 days in advance, as the cookies could get pretty mushy. I don’t know how well it would freeze, I’ve never tried it.
Thank you!! :)
I just made this recipe…followed recipe except I dunked the oreo ‘s in milk so they wouldn’t be to hard…I took this into work for our carry in Friday night and it was a BIG hit. Every one loved it! And it was gone before lunch time. :) :) I will definitely make this again. :) :)
Yummy! Made this the other night for another couple (and us!) and it was delicious. We all loved it and it is already gone today, thanks!
Also, can I use Jell-o NoBake Cheesecake Dessert?
Since I can’t find cheesecake flavored Pudding and I want that cheesecake flavor…
I did find the cheesecake flavored pudding.
*Would* this work with real whipped cream instead of Cool Whip?
Alice, You would have to serve it immediately and not plan on having leftovers. Real whipped cream, while delicious, isn’t stabilized like Cool Whip, so it will start to weep after awhile.
I made this over the weekend too (in addition to the Key Lime Bars) and this was a another huge hit. People went nuts over it. And it is incredibly easy…. which I love.
Fabulously refreshing & perfect for summer parties. EASY enough for the Kids to help, or to make for Father’s Day, etc. Love this Michelle… Grammy rocks!
This looks amazing. However, going to the grocery store I looked for cheesecake flavored pudding mix and apparently I went to the wrong store because I didn’t find any but I decided to use white chocolate pudding hopefully it will still taste amazing.
This looks beyooonnd divinne!! But im worried about the cool whip since we donthave that where i live! Could i replace with homemade whipped cream?and how many cups?
And can i replace vanilla pudding instead of cheesecake flavor?thank you!!
Or even oreo pudding mix?
Yep, whatever your preference.
Hi Christine, You can replace with whipped cream (I would whip 2 cups of cream for the topping). You can also replace the pudding with vanilla if you’d like.
Wow this looks so amazing, can’t wait to try this..
i made this using single oreo cookies. double is too sweet for me. everyone liked it and wanted the recipe.it lasted one week and the cookies got softer the longer it sat. it was better with the softer cookies
Made this for my hubby’s birthday this week because I was short on time. It was a huge hit! Thanks for sharing and take a look at how it turned out for me if you get a chance:
http://www.mykitchenescapades.com/2013/04/oreo-cheesecake-icebox-cake.html
This looks like pure creamy heaven!!
I seriously couldn’t stop eating this after dinner last night. This is probably one of my favorite desserts of yours now. Gram would be proud ;-) Love you!
Oh, but the pictures on this post made me drool. I gotta have this icebox cake. Thanks for sharing the recipe!
What a lovely idea? I love that graham crackers are so versatile and lend themselves to so many recipes . I have been seeing so many icebox recipes but some how one passsed down from grandmas are always more delicious!
Great clicks.
Shobha
I think this looks awesome and I honestly have no problem with prepackaged food, but I am staunchly anti-Cool Whip. I think it’s totally nasty. (My opinion–my hangup is the taste and no high-minded anti-processed food reasoning.) If I were to make this, could I use just heavy whipping cream? Or would you suggest something else? Thanks!!!
p.s. – My grandma always made the stuff you describe your grandma making, too, but she called it “ice cream dessert.”
Hi Steph, If you make your own whipped cream, I’d be sure to make stabilized whipped cream so that it doesn’t weep.
Thanks!!!
Wow, girl – this looks *amazing*!!!!
http://therealfoodrunner.blogspot.com
OMG….yes please!!
How many oreo cookies?? Do you really use 3 full packages? I don’t usually see them in boxes. Help I want to make this for teacher friends tomorrow!
Hi Diana, I didn’t count them, but after looking online, it says there are 36 cookies per package, so I probably used about 75-80 cookies (I chopped 6 cookies for the top garnish).
Mmm pure heaven!
Holy crap! I can’t make this, I’ll eat the entire thing! Looks amazing.
This recipe looks great!! And insanely easy to make a vegan version, which is hard to find on your site with all the cheese, cream, and bacon. Thank you!!!
How do you make the vegan version?
Oh, these look absolutely delicious! I’ve never tried making an icebox before. Now I will have to!
This looks yummy and want to try it soon. Just a little confused, you state there is only 2 layers of oreos but there appears to be 3 in the picture. Please clarify.
Hi Karen, It might be an optical illusion (?) but there are only 2 layers of Oreos in the recipe. I made it as written above.
Thanks for clarification!
I love icebox cakes! I made a nutter butter one not that long ago. They are so easy and so delicious! I love that you used Oreos.
Looks wonderful! Thanks, I will be making this for the weekend.
I’m speechless! This is one heck of a dessert to tease my chocolate cravings lately, hehe. Looks amazing!
This looks pretty mouthwatering!! In Australia, we have a similar dish called Chocolate Ripple Cake. It’s essentially just chocolate biscuits (or cookies, depending where you’re from) in a log with vanilla whipped cream sandwiching the biscuits together, then covering the log with the rest of the cream. A dusting of cocoa or chocolate shavings and a couple of hours in the fridge creates an Aussie party staple!
It’s madness that it’s only 8:17 AM here and I want to eat this now! I have a love affair with Oreos too. Anywhere I see them, I about go crazy. This dessert looks so creamy, crunchy, and amazing! It’s a major feast for my eyes!
This looks like pure heaven! I could literally lick the screen, though that might make it a little awkward for my co-workers….
Looks yummy! Our family’s go to ice box cake is made with Famous chocolate wafer cookies & homemade whip cream. It’s so easy to make & always a hit (just layer the whip cream between the cookies & make a log, cover the outside with whip cream). You should definitely try it, so good and easy!
YES! Love desserts from grandma like this! Pretty sure my husband would faint if I made this for him. Pinned!
could you use the vanilla oreos instead? to much chocolate.
thanks
diane
Sure!
This looks so delicious and easy! Can’t wait to try it.
This sounds awesome. I have used real whip cream in many desserts instead of Cool Whip. I just don’t like the taste of it. You cold put in a stabilizer. I too will have to wait until I get to the US or know someone that is going to get the cheesecake flavoured pudding mix.
Icebox cake has been on my to-make and to-eat list for YEARS, but I can never find chocolate wafers. You totally just solved all of my life problems. I think I love you.
This looks amazing! I like how you used double stuff oreos instead of the regular… why use regular when you can use double stuff? I imagine that using cheesecake flavoured jello would give it more lightness than normal cream cheese too. I’ll have to wait till my next trip to the US to buy some so I can make this!
I’ve literally never had an icebox cake and I actually didn’t know what they were until I started following baking blogs. I’m committed to try one after this recipe!
Literally drooling here.. this looks delicious.
I now have an urge to make oreo cupcakes or brownies… any baked good with an oreo involved… get in my tummy NOW.
Thanks for sharing the recipe!
Leah x
Thanks for a simple and wow factor recipe. I’m assuming the 2 1/2 box of Oreos is completely crushed or grinded with a food processor? Btw, I think your instruction is missing a top layer of Oreos. The pudding will thicken without it being boiled, per package instructions? Sorry! I’m a baking novice!
Hi Anna, No, you do not grind or crush the Oreos for this recipe, you use them whole. There are only 2 layers of Oreos, not 3, the layering should go: Oreos, pudding, Oreos, pudding, Cool Whip. I’m not sure what you mean regarding the pudding, but it’s instant pudding, so it will thicken without needing to be boiled.
Oh, how I sometimes wish I lived in the US! In Canada, we don’t have cheesecake flavoured pudding (I didn’t even know it existed!). We do have JELL-O brand Oreo flavoured pudding, do you think that would work, or would it be overkill (if there’s such a thing)? Perhaps vanilla would be best? This looks amazing! I’ll definitely have to make this for a summer barbecue!
Hi Katie, I would probably just use vanilla instead. Enjoy!
I just made my first orea’s dessert and posted it yesterday! I am so in love with putting oreos in EVERYTHING now!! I can not wait to make this!
Question…. i am bummed. i see all these awesome recipes and ziplist doesn”t work for me on your site any more:( suggestions? Love your recipes !!:)
Hi Lori, I’m so sorry for the inconvenience. I’ve sent them an email to find out what’s going on; hopefully we’ll get it fixed in no time!
This is to die for Michelle! I want to reach through the screen and grab a bite :)
Your grandma sounds like a really awesome lady! This looks delicious!
I have yet to try an icebox cake, but I have also been seeing them all over! This looks like a great summer late night dessert!
xoxo
M
P.S. Your Grandma sounds awesome!
My family will love this! And my daughter will love helping me make it. Thanks!
This looks AWESOME! I can’t wait to make this!
Who doesn’t have dessert for dinner once a week, I mean month?! That ice box cake looks awesome…and may make an appearance in my household this weekend :)
Oreos are the best! It’s shocking how few ingredients you need. Shocking in an awesome way.
I like your grammies style ;)
I have no issue with Cool Whip as it tastes completely different from fresh whipped cream, and I’m totally willing to take the abuse from my animal conservation friends for occasionally eating Oreos. I basically want to put this whole thing in my face. Like now.
Love the simplicity of this one. I made an icebox cake last summer using similar ingredients but instead of Oreos I did sugar wafer cookies. Those long, thin, flaky-layered cookies that are usually chocolate, vanilla, or strawberry. They held up great to the sog-factor and I bet your Oreos would too!
Blech – Cool Whip? Can you explain why you chose to use a prepackaged product as opposed to making your own whipped cream? Just curious.
I’m pretty sure you could easily replace the Cool Whip with your own whipped cream if you want. Fresh cream isn’t as stable, though, so make sure you keep it very cold or you’ll end up with a puddle of grossness.
Just add a few Tbls of powdered sugar to the cream before you whip it. That will help stabilize it. I agree regarding cool whip, but if you’re going to use packaged cookies and packaged instant pudding mix, why would you use real whipped cream?
AMEN
What about the oreos? The pudding mix? The chocolate syrup? If you don’t want to use prepackaged products just don’t make the recipe.
It’s all prepacked! You’re worried about the Cool Whip?
I think this sounds fantastic! Needed a new dessert idea and this one fits the bill. Thanks.
Trader Joe’s makes a version of Cool Whip with organic sweeteners. Maybe you should give that a try.
Because she wanted to and thats the way her recipe is written. Every baker goes by her own set of rules. I love the Cool Whip in this recipe. Sounds delis! :)