Strawberry Icebox Cake

Prep Time:30 minutes Cook Time: 45 minutes Servings: 4 minutes

This strawberry icebox cake—creamy layers of lightened cream cheese, softened graham crackers, and fresh strawberry slices—is easy to put together, and sets as it chills in the fridge.

Ingredients:
  • 2 (16 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 1 tablespoon grated lemon zest
  • 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 3 (8 ounce) containers frozen whipped topping (such as cool whip®), thawed
  • 1 (14.4 ounce) box graham crackers (such as honey maid®)
  • 2 pounds fresh strawberries, sliced 1/4-inch thick
Directions:
  1. Gather all ingredients.
  2. Beat cream cheese with a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment on medium speed until smooth, about 2 minutes, stopping to scrape down sides of bowl as needed. Add powdered sugar, lemon zest, lemon juice, and vanilla; beat until combined, about 1 minute. Remove bowl from mixer, and gently fold in whipped topping until fully incorporated.
  3. Spread 1/2 cup cream cheese mixture in bottom of a 13x9-inch baking dish or pan, spreading into an even layer to fully cover bottom. Top with about 8 graham cracker sheets in an even layer, covering cream cheese mixture layer and breaking into smaller pieces to fit, if needed.
  4. Top graham crackers with 3 cups cream cheese mixture, spreading into a smooth even layer. Top with 2 1/2 cups of the strawberry slices, covering as much of cream cheese mixture as possible. Repeat layers once; top with remaining graham crackers, cream cheese mixture, and strawberries. Cover with plastic wrap, and chill in refrigerator until fully set, at least 4 hours or up to 12 hours.