Oreo Icebox Cake

This Oreo Icebox Cake is one of the most satisfying recipes you will find.  Who can resist the dynamic duo of peanut butter and fudge? It’s a mostly pudding desert, with layers of whipped topping, peanut butter cheesecake and a crunchy Oreo crust. Did I mention this is a no-bake dessert recipe? Seriously. No oven required!

Keep reading to learn how to make this Oreo Icebox Cake plus tips for making no-bake desserts, how to make this icebox cake ahead of time and recipe variations!

what makes this recipe delicious

Think peanut butter cheesecake meets chocolate pudding, but instead of a boring pie crust this icebox cake is made with an Oreo cookie base! There is a lot going on here, but it all works sooo deliciously together. 

The creamy pudding filling is made with peanut butter, cream cheese, powdered sugar, whipped cream and miniature peanut butter cups. The texture is just like a silky pudding pie, but then you find little bites of peanut butter cups and WOAH! It’s divine. 

So about this crust. Oreo cookies are the shining star, especially when crumbled into tiny bits. The texture is like soft sand, but the butter and cream filling from the Oreos hold it together nicely!

Oreos, peanut butter, cream cheese… sounds like ready, set, go to me!

Ingredients for Oreo icebox cake

• Oreo cookies all good no-bake desserts start with a crushed cookie crust, don't they? You will be happy to know that this icebox cake doesn't require a full package of Oreos... plenty of extras to snack on while baking!
• Butter this is a must. The butter holds the cookie crumbs together to form a crumbly crust.
• Cream cheese adding cream cheese turns the peanut butter layer into a no-bake cheesecake. It's silky and smooth and deliciously rich.
• Peanut butter creamy versus crunchy? Either are just fine for this recipe!
• Powdered sugar did you know that you can make powdered sugar at home? I discovered this last year when I was baking a cake and realized I was out of powdered sugar. I put regular sugar in my high speed blender and pulsed it until it was powdered! Now you know!
• Whipped cream this can be freshly made with heavy cream and sugar, or store-bought whipped topping.
• Miniature peanut butter cups remember when I said there were plenty of extra oreos? Not the case with the peanut butter cups! Save every last candy for this dessert!
• Milk whole milk or 2% will be best for this recipe.
• Chocolate pudding instant is fast, but cook and serve style is just fine, too! Make it the day before and let it chill before using.

How to make oreo icebox cake

1. In a food processor, crush two thirds of the Oreo cookies with the butter.  Press the crumbly mixture into a 9 inch square baking dish and set aside.  
2. In a stand mixer, whisk together the cream cheese, peanut butter and one cup of powdered sugar until smooth.  Fold in half of the whipped topping.  Pour over the crust.
3. Use a chefs knife to coarsely chop the miniature peanut butter cups. Pour three fourths of the crushed candy on top of the peanut butter layer.
4. In a large mixing bowl, vigorously whisk the instant chocolate pudding, remaining powdered sugar and milk for two minutes.  Let the pudding mixture sit for an additional two minutes to firm up, then fold in the remaining whipped topping. Pour onto the icebox cake.
5. Sprinkle the remaining crushed Oreo cookies and peanut butter cups.  Chill overnight before serving.  

can this icebox cake be made ahead?

I recommend making this layered dish up to two days ahead of time for an effortless no-bake chocolate dessert.  Prepare the recipe as written and keep it frozen until one hour before serving!

Make this icebox cake ahead and store it in the freezer!  The soft, silky layers turn into a layered ice cream-like dish that is perfect for hot summer nights.  To freeze this chocolate and peanut butter icebox cake, prepare the recipe as written.  Wrap the dish with a layer of plastic wrap, followed by two layers of tinfoil.  The dessert can be frozen for up to two months.  

can this icebox cake be refrigerated instead of frozen?

This pudding dessert can be served refrigerated instead of frozen. After making this dessert, pop it in the refrigerator for three hours to chill thoroughly before serving.

Recipe Tips for No-Bake Desserts

1. To make the dessert setup faster, use very cold milk for the instant pudding. Put the milk in the freezer for thirty minutes before making the icebox cake. 

2.  Keep the layers light and fluffy by carefully folding in the whipped topping. Do not over mix!

3.  The cream cheese will incorporate better if it is room temperature.

4.  The cookie crust will be sticky, try spraying your hands with cooking spray before pressing! My grandma uses then wrapper from a stick of butter to press her crumble crusts. Give it a try and tell me what you think!

Recipe Variations

With a few simple substitutions, this recipe can be customized into several different flavors!  Try making Banana Vanilla Wafer No-Bake Dessert by swapping the chocolate pudding for vanilla.  Instead of using Oreo cookies for the crust, use vanilla wafers.  Omit the peanut butter and use sliced bananas instead of chocolate candies.  

Can’t get enough peanut butter? Try making Peanut Butter Lover No-Bake Dessert!  Instead of using chocolate pudding, substitute vanilla instant pudding.  For the crust, swap Nutter Butter cookies.  Reese’s Pieces can be substituted for the peanut butter cups and this dessert has been magically transformed into a peanut butter lover’s dream!

If you make this recipe, please leave a comment below! This provides helpful feedback to both me and other readers. For more delicious recipes from scratch and homesteading tips, follow me on instagram @NinnescahHomestead

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