Description
This No-Bake Gingerbread Icebox Cake is a festive, simple dessert combining layers of spiced cream and crunchy gingerbread cookies. With warm holiday flavors of ginger, cinnamon, and cloves, it’s a creamy, textural delight that requires no oven, making it perfect for busy days or make-ahead celebrations.
Ingredients
Scale
Cookies
- Crunchy gingerbread cookies, enough to form multiple layers
Cream Mixture
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
Instructions
- Prepare the Cream Mixture: In a large bowl, whisk together the softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, brown sugar, and vanilla extract until smooth and creamy. In a separate bowl, whip the heavy cream with the ground cinnamon, ginger, and cloves until soft peaks form. Gently fold the whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture until fully combined.
- Layer the Gingerbread Cookies: Choose a rectangular or square dish and arrange a single layer of gingerbread cookies at the bottom. Make sure the cookies fit snugly to form a solid base as they will soften during chilling.
- Add the Cream Layer: Spread a generous layer of the spiced cream mixture evenly over the cookie layer. Use a spatula to smooth the top for an even and attractive finish.
- Repeat the Layers: Continue layering cookies and cream alternately until all ingredients are used, finishing with a cream layer on top to create the classic icebox cake texture where cookies soften but remain slightly firm.
- Chill Overnight: Cover the assembled cake with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 8 hours or overnight. This allows the cookies to absorb moisture and the flavors to meld into a creamy, spiced dessert.
Notes
- Use firm gingerbread cookies to ensure they hold up well and soften nicely.
- Whip the cream to soft peaks to maintain a light texture without curdling.
- Spread cream evenly for balanced bites of cream and cookie.
- Refrigerate overnight for best texture and flavor infusion.
- Use a shallow, wider dish for better layering and easier serving.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: No-Bake
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (1/8 of cake)
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 24g
- Sodium: 150mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 70mg
Keywords: No-Bake, Gingerbread, Icebox Cake, Holiday Dessert, Spiced Cream, Festive Cake