Cookies and Cream Icebox Cake

By Yossy Arefi

Updated Aug. 12, 2025

Cookies and Cream Icebox Cake
Christopher Testani for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Spencer Richards.
Total Time
15 minutes, plus at least 8 hours’ chilling
Prep Time
5 minutes
Cook Time
10 minutes, plus at least 8 hours’ chilling
Rating
4(108)
Comments
Read comments

This simple, no-bake dessert is perfect for any chocolate lover. Chocolate sandwich cookies are enrobed in fluffy whipped cream enriched with a bit of vanilla and sugar. The whipped cream has a generous amount of cream cheese, which helps balance the sweetness of the cookies with a little tang. The cake requires very little prep and a long chill time, which makes it perfect for a party. You can assemble the entire thing the day you plan to serve it, or even two days before the celebration. You can make this in just about any 2-quart dish with a flat bottom; an 8-inch square pan or 9-inch round pan works perfectly.

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Ingredients

Yield:8 servings
  • 1(8-ounce/226-gram) block cream cheese, at room temperature
  • 1 to 3tablespoons granulated sugar, to taste
  • 3cups/720 milliliters heavy cream
  • 1tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 40chocolate sandwich cookies (such as Oreos), from 1 (18-ounce) package
Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving (8 servings)

703 calories; 54 grams fat; 30 grams saturated fat; 2 grams trans fat; 16 grams monounsaturated fat; 4 grams polyunsaturated fat; 50 grams carbohydrates; 2 grams dietary fiber; 31 grams sugars; 7 grams protein; 346 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Preparation

  1. Step 1

    In a large bowl with an electric mixer, or in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, mix the cream cheese and sugar on medium speed until smooth, about 3 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and the paddle, then mix again until smooth, 30 seconds more.

  2. Step 2

    If using a stand mixer, switch to the whisk attachment. While mixing on medium-low, slowly stream about ½ cup of the cream. Stop the mixer and scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl and mix until smooth and slightly aerated.

  3. Step 3

    Turn the mixer up to medium-high and stream in the rest of the cream, followed by the vanilla extract. Mix until fluffy soft peaks form, about 4 minutes.

  4. Step 4

    Spread 1 ¼ cups cream mixture in a 2-quart baking dish (such as an 8-by-8-inch square or 9-inch round cake pan). Arrange a single layer of cookies over the cream. Spoon about 2½ cups of the cream mixture over the top and smooth it out. Top the cream with another layer of cookies, then the rest of the cream.

  5. Step 5

    Cover the pan and chill for at least 8 hours, or overnight. Before serving, crush the remaining cookies and sprinkle them over the top. Spoon the icebox cake into bowls and serve chilled.

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Ratings

4 out of 5
108 user ratings
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Comments

Patricia

If only Nabisco or another company would bring back their traditional chocolate wafers! Or even Oreos with no filling. I never liked Oreos as a child, let alone in my senior years.

LeslieFSU

use Oreo Thins Tiramisu flavor.

Ed Robb

I made this today with my 9 year old granddaughter. Fun and an easy recipe for us. Unfortunately, it was not popular at tonight’s dinner table. Seems like it needs a bit more sweetness.

Student budget

Sure do wish NYT Cooking would include instructions for those among us who either don’t have certain electronic equipment (here, a handheld or stand electric mixer) or who just prefer to do things old school and expend our own calories (and maybe work out some frustrations?) rather than the earth’s petrocarbons.

Jonathan

Everyone enjoyed it, but I agree with a lot of the comments here. I added up to 4 tablespoons of sugar. The recipe calls for 1 to 3. I imagine it's quite bland with just 1. Test it as you go along to be sure.

LauraLaLoDeElChu

I made this for an office potluck and the first bite gave one of my co-workers an out of body experience. She was sent back in time to herself as a 9 year old, eating cookies and cream ice cream, and watching MTV for the first time. My one hint is to put in the 3 tablespoons of sugar, not 1. The cream cheese will taste a too bland if you put less sugar. This cake is the easiest cake you will ever make and people will remember their childhoods if they grew up on Oreos and MTV.

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