This TraditionalFunfetti icebox cake is an easy and straightforward no-bake cake recipe made with three layers of butter cookies, whipped cream and topped with festive sprinkles. It is a perfect summer dessert and also wonderful for birthday parties.
Easy Funfetti Icebox Cake Recipe
This icebox cake is a staple for house parties and gatherings; everyone loves it, especially children, because of its colourful appearance. It is one of the fastest summer desserts you can ever make. One of the things that I like about this cake is that it is a no-bake, so I don't have to worry about baking time or results.
What is an icebox cake?
An icebox cake is a delicious dessert usually made with cream, pudding, biscuits or cookies and sometimes combined with some fruits, chocolate or nuts, and set in the fridge.
Ingredients Used In Making This Traditional Icebox Cake
- Shortbread cookies: This recipe uses shortbread cookies to layer. It perfectly absorbs the whipping cream giving the cake an irresistible taste.
- Vanilla extract: Adds extra flavour to the cake and enhances all the other flavours.
- Whipping cream: This is what makes the icebox birthday cake. Using whipping cream transforms your icebox cake, making it look delightful and taste amazing.
- Powdered sugar: It dissolves quickly without using heat and is the perfect choice to sweeten any no-bake icebox cake.
Topping
Rainbow sprinkles: Use as much as you prefer to make it colourful and delicious.
How to Make An Easy Funfetti Icebox Cake?
- In a mixing bowl, add the whipping cream, powdered sugar and vanilla extract, beat using the electric mixer until a stiff peak forms.
- Now, spread a layer of the whipped cream (about ½ cup) in the bottom of a 20 cm springform and layer the cookies in one layer (don't leave big spaces between the cookies).
- Pour another ½ cup of the whipped cream on top of the cookies, then spread another layer of the cookies.
- Repeat; the final layer must be whipped cream. Use a piping bag with any nozzle you like to make some decorations on the top of the cake. Scatter the sprinkles.
- Refrigerate the cake overnight, cut and serve.
Top Tips
- You will need to cover it with plastic wrap and refrigerate this cake for at least 5 hours. Leave it in the fridge for longer as it allows the cookies to absorb all the flavour.
- You can top the cake with extra whipping cream if you prefer and add extra sprinkles if you desire.
- Layer the cookies side by side and break the cookies to fill in the holes if required. Remember to cover each cream layer with cookies completely.
- Use a knife to gently go through the edges of the pan before sliding the cake out. You can use a warm knife, so it doesn’t get clumsy to cut around the edges and slice the cake.
- You can also use cream cheese, instant vanilla pudding powder, vanilla extract and milk instead of whipping cream to layer.
- Like it chocolaty, add two tablespoons of cocoa powder to the whipped cream and stir well until combined. You can also use Nutella.
- Add some chopped nuts, raisins or chocolate chips to the whipped cream.
- Make it fruity; add slices of pineapple, peach or strawberries.
Some Variations
- You can add rainbow sprinkles to the whipping cream and layer it on top of the cookies.
- Use Oreos instead of shortbread cookies to make Oreo funfetti icebox cake.
- You may also make this icebox cake with lemon, tiramisu, s’mores, strawberry, banana and blueberry for added twist and flavour.
- Use chocolate ganache, chocolate mousse and chocolate crackers to make chocolate icebox cake and sprinkle with rainbow sprinkles.
- Substitute shortbread cookies with graham crackers or digestive cookies if you prefer.
- Replace the whipped cream with vanilla ice cream for extra fun. Or add half cream cheese and half whipped cream for a richer flavour.
Storage
Make ahead of time: You can make this icebox cake a day prior and refrigerate it until you serve it. It lets the shortbread cookies absorb the mixture and will make it taste divine.
Freeze: You can freeze this icebox cake for up to a month. Cover it with aluminium foil before freezing.
Recipe FAQs
Yes, you can substitute shortbread cookies with gluten-free shortbread cookies and follow the same recipe.
It is not recommended to use granulated sugar instead of powdered sugar. Powdered sugar has a finer texture and can easily be made using granulated sugar.
You can use a mix of ¾ cup of milk and ⅓ cup of softened butter to substitute for whipping cream. Use a mixer to achieve the whipping cream consistency.
You can substitute vanilla extract with honey, maple syrup or almond extract based on your preference.
I used a 20 cm springform pan, but you can actually use any pan that works for you. The springform pan works best for an icebox cake as it easily lets you remove the cake from the pan and also makes it easy to slice the cake.
Cake recipes you may like
- 3-Ingredient Chocolate Cake
- Coffee Loaf Cake
- Coffee Cake With Coffee Cream Frosting
- Blueberry And Peach Dump Cake
- Lemon Poppyseed Cake
- Pumpkin Bundt Cake Recipe
More cake recipes
Recipe Card
Traditional Funfetti Icebox Cake
Ingredients
- 300 g shortbread cookies
- 400 g whipping cream
- ⅓ cup powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Topping
- ⅓ cup rainbow sprinkles
Instructions
- In a mixing bowl, add the whipping cream, powdered sugar and vanilla extract, beat using the electric mixer until a stiff peak forms.
- Now, spread a layer of the whipped cream (about ½ cup) in the bottom of a 20 cm springform and layer the cookies in one layer (don't leave big spaces between the cookies).
- Pour another ½ cup of the whipped cream on top of the cookies, then spread another layer of the cookies.
- Repeat; the final layer must be whipped cream. Use a piping bag with a star tip to make some decorations on the top of the cake. Scatter the sprinkles.
- Refrigerate the cake overnight, cut and serve.
Notes
- You will need to cover it with plastic wrap and refrigerate this cake for at least 5 hours. Leave it in the fridge for longer as it allows the cookies to absorb all the flavour.
- You can top the cake with extra whipping cream if you prefer and add extra sprinkles if you desire.
- Layer the cookies side by side and break the cookies to fill in the holes if required. Remember to cover each cream layer with cookies completely.
- Use a knife to gently go through the edges of the pan before sliding the cake out. You can use a warm knife, so it doesn’t get clumsy to cut around the edges and slice the cake.
- You can also use cream cheese, instant vanilla pudding powder, vanilla extract and milk instead of whipping cream to layer.
- Like it chocolaty, add two tablespoons of cocoa powder to the whipped cream and stir well until combined. You can also use Nutella.
- Add some chopped nuts, raisins or chocolate chips to the whipped cream.
- Make it fruity; add slices of pineapple, peach or strawberries.
Some Variations
- You can add rainbow sprinkles to the whipping cream and layer it on top of the cookies.
- Use Oreos instead of shortbread cookies to make Oreo funfetti icebox cake.
- You may also make this icebox cake with lemon, tiramisu, s’mores, strawberry, banana and blueberry for added twist and flavour.
- Use chocolate ganache, chocolate mousse and chocolate crackers to make chocolate icebox cake and sprinkle with rainbow sprinkles.
- Substitute shortbread cookies with graham crackers or digestive cookies if you prefer.
- Replace the whipped cream with vanilla ice cream for extra fun. Or add half cream cheese and half whipped cream for a richer flavour.
Nutrition
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If you make this traditional icebox cake recipe, make sure to tell me how it turns out in the comment section below. Also, don't forget to leave a star rating. Your feedback is so helpful and important to me!
Elena
Beautiful and delicious! I have never made funfetti cake before, but this one is so good. I love it!
Clair
I made this icebox cake for my son birthday, it was so festive, and he loved it so much. Thanks for sharing the recipe.
Heidi
I used to make icebox cake using digestive crackers, but after trying this recipe, I have to admit, using butter cookies is way better than using crackers. The icebox cake is so delicious and rich.
Darcy
Wow, this looks so festive and easy to make. I will make this cake recipe this weekend.