I’ve been attempting to have extra enjoyable within the kitchen recently. Truly, I’m simply attempting to have extra enjoyable typically. Over a lakeside picnic on considered one of Chicago’s first heat days of the season, I discussed to considered one of my pals that that is my summer time of YES, and I’m excited to lean into the enjoyable of all of it. Which means saying sure to outings, new eating places, attempting new hobbies, and saying sure to taking part in with extra flavors and components within the kitchen.
Whereas I’m undoubtedly attempting to modify up my weekly meal planning from my recurring tendencies, I’m additionally extending the philosophy to my desserts. As somebody with an enormous candy tooth, I all the time want a dessert in the home. This summer time, I wish to have plenty of enjoyable with the sweets I’m baking—and this peach crumble icebox cake checks all of these packing containers and extra.

An icebox cake in its most simple kind is solely cookies and whipped cream layered collectively, then chilled so you’ll be able to slice it up and serve. Principally, it’s the OG no-bake dessert. It’s straightforward to prep, a make forward dream, and all the time hits the spot. I’ve made a couple of icebox muffins in my day, however in an effort to lean into extra enjoyable, I wished to actually play into the flavors of summer time and create plenty of layers. This cake takes the basic flavors of a peach crumble – considered one of summer time’s greatest desserts – and ups the ante with a couple of enjoyable flavors and textures.
Elements for This Peach Crumble Icebox Cake
- Flour
- Butter
- Oats
- Brown sugar
- Peaches
- Lemon
- Cardamom
- Whipped cream
- Cream cheese
- Cookies
- Peach preserves
- Vanilla ice cream

The best way to Assemble an Icebox Cake
Whereas an icebox cake with lots of layers can look fancy and spectacular when sliced, it’s really very straightforward to make—with a couple of essential notes.
First, no matter container you’re utilizing—a loaf pan, brownie pan, and so forth.—line the pan with plastic wrap and/or parchment paper. If utilizing simply plastic wrap, notice that the skin of the cake will typically decide up strains from the wrap that you simply’ll both wish to cowl or clean out in the event you care concerning the aesthetic. If utilizing parchment paper, I wish to layer each instructions to keep away from any of the components from sticking on edges the place there wouldn’t in any other case be paper.
For layering, I like so as to add heavier components, like ice cream, on the backside of the pan. When flipped out for serving, this would be the prime of the slice. I discover that ice lotions and jams seep a little bit bit extra when assembling, so in an effort to create clear layers, I like so as to add these first. We wish the cookies to melt, so it’s additionally essential to verify they’re fully coated by the cream to arrange as we wish. Be beneficiant with layers, textures, and flavors, and also you’ll have the right cake.
Additionally make certain to let the cake chill fully within the freezer in order that it units up for straightforward slicing!

The best way to Make the Elements for This Icebox Cake Forward of Time
For this icebox cake, we’ve got lots of layers—however all of it may be made forward of time.
The crumble is the one element that must be baked in an effort to get tremendous crunchy. Combine up the crumble components and add massive chunks of the dough to a sheet pan. Bake till golden brown and let cool fully. Then you’ll be able to retailer in an hermetic container till able to assemble. In the event you don’t wish to make a crumble, you may additionally substitute along with your favourite granola.
The peaches will also be cooked forward of time, since they should be chilled earlier than meeting. I wish to make these and the crumble the day forward once I’m making the cake, in order that it’s straightforward to have all of the layer elements able to go.
For the cookies, you’ll wish to use a skinny cookie in order that they soften within the cake whereas setting. I just like the Tate’s Bakeshop skinny cookies for an icebox cake like this one. I used the Snickerdoodle selection on this model, however have used the lemon cookies in one other model that I really like as effectively!
There are lots of methods you may customise this cake. I believe including some cherries to the peaches could possibly be a enjoyable fruit mixture, or you may use a small layer of strawberry preserves so as to add some further taste. Like I discussed, you may swap the crumble for a granola in the event you like, and you may all the time use a skinny layer of cake as a substitute of the cookies, in the event you desire. The choices are limitless!
Description
A straightforward summer season dessert full of the basic flavors of peach crumble.
For the crumble:
- 4 tbsp butter
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 flour
- 1/4 cup rolled oats
For the peaches:
- 1 tbsp butter
- 1/2 tsp floor cardamom
- 1– 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 8oz bag of frozen sliced peaches or 3 massive peaches, sliced
- squeeze of lemon juice
For the cake:
- 8 oz heavy whipping cream
- 4 oz cream cheese
- 1/4 cup powdered sugar
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp vanilla
- 1 pint vanilla ice cream, softened
- 1 jar peach preserves (non-obligatory)
- 1 bundle skinny cookies of alternative (like Tate’s)
- Put together the crumble. In a microwave secure bowl, soften the butter in 15 second increments. Let cool barely, then add the brown sugar, salt, and cinnamon. Stir to dissolve the brown sugar and the combination is thick. Add the flour and rolled oats, and stir to mix. The combo ought to maintain its form when pressed in your hand. Line a sheet tray with parchment paper and preheat oven to 375 levels F. Crumble combination onto sheet tray, creating chunks and spreading over the tray. Bake for about 12 – quarter-hour till golden brown. Take away from oven and let cool fully. Put aside.
- Put together the peaches. Deliver a range prime pan as much as a low – medium warmth. Add the butter and soften. Add the cardamom, brown sugar, and salt. Stir till the brown sugar begins to dissolve and bubble barely. Add the peaches and stir to coat all of the peaches. Cook dinner for about 10 minutes till peaches are tender and many of the liquid has evaporated. Take away from warmth, add a squeeze of lemon, and put aside to chill.
- Put together the cream. Add the heavy whipping cream, cream cheese, powdered sugar, salt, and vanilla to a bowl or bowl of a stand mixer. Combine on excessive till you get semi tender peaks. Put aside.
- Put together the cake. As soon as all of the elements are ready, you’ll be able to start layering the cake. Line a loaf pan with parchment or plastic wrap on either side. Begin with the crumble layer on the backside. Then add a layer of softened ice cream, then a layer of the whipped cream. Then add a layer of cookies. Then add a small layer of peach preserves, and the cooked and cooled peaches. End with a layer of whipped cream. Cowl with extra parchment or plastic wrap, and let set within the freezer in a single day.
- When able to serve, let the cake sit out for a couple of minutes and utilizing a scorching knife, slice into servings. Take pleasure in!
- Prep Time: in a single day
- Cook dinner Time: 20 minutes
- Class: cake
Key phrases: icebox cake, no bake