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Summer Dessert Ideas — The Dessert Everyone Takes Seconds Of - Creamy Berry Icebox Cake

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Prep Time 20 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings: 12 servings
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cups cold heavy whipping cream
  • 8 oz cream cheese, softened
  • 1/2 cup powdered sugar (plus more to taste)
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1/8 teaspoon fine salt
  • 14–16 oz crisp cookies (graham crackers, vanilla wafers, or thin tea biscuits)
  • 4 cups mixed berries (strawberries hulled and sliced, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries)
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice (optional, brightens the berries)
  • 1–2 teaspoons lemon zest (optional, for the cream)
  • Honey or jam (optional, for drizzling or brushing the cookies)

Method
 

  1. Prep the berries. Rinse and pat them dry. Slice strawberries. Toss berries with lemon juice if using. Set aside.
  2. Make the cream layer. In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese, powdered sugar, vanilla, salt, and lemon zest until smooth. In a separate bowl, whip the heavy cream to stiff peaks. Fold the whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture until fluffy and uniform.
  3. Set up your dish. Use a 9x13-inch baking dish or a similar-size pan. Spread a thin layer of cream on the bottom to help the first cookie layer stick.
  4. First cookie layer. Arrange cookies in a single layer, breaking pieces to fit. If your cookies are very dry, lightly brush them with a little milk or melted jam for extra moisture, but don’t soak them.
  5. Add cream and berries. Spread about one-third of the cream over the cookies. Scatter a generous layer of mixed berries on top.
  6. Repeat the layers. Add another layer of cookies, then cream, then berries. Finish with a final cookie layer and the remaining cream. Save a handful of berries for the top after chilling.
  7. Chill. Cover and refrigerate for at least 6 hours, preferably overnight. The cookies will soften into a cake-like texture.
  8. Top and serve. Right before serving, add the remaining berries. Drizzle with a little honey if you like. Slice with a sharp knife and serve cold.