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5-Ingredient No-Bake Strawberry Lemonade Icebox Cake

5-ingredient strawberry lemonade icebox cake with graham crackers softened into a tender, cake-like layer—no baking needed. Layers of lemon pudding filling, fluffy whipped topping, and fresh strawberries chill into an easy make-ahead dessert.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
chilling 6 hours
Total Time 6 hours 20 minutes
Servings: 12 servings
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Calories: 330
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Lemon filling
  • 2 (3.4 oz) instant lemon pudding mix Instant pudding mix
  • 2.5 cup cold milk Cold for proper thickening
  • 8 oz whipped topping (Cool Whip) Thawed
Cake layers
  • 12 graham crackers Use to build layers
  • 2.5 cup fresh strawberries, sliced Slice evenly for consistent layering

Equipment

  • 1 sheet pan

Method
 

Make the lemon pudding filling
  1. Whisk the instant lemon pudding mix and cold milk in a large bowl for 2 minutes until slightly thickened, making sure no dry powder remains.
  2. Fold the whipped topping into the pudding until smooth, light, and fluffy.
Assemble the icebox cake
  1. Spread a thin layer of the filling into the bottom of a 9×13-inch baking dish.
  2. Arrange a single layer of graham crackers over the filling, breaking pieces as needed to fit tightly.
  3. Spread one-third of the lemon filling over the crackers in an even layer.
  4. Evenly scatter one-third of the sliced strawberries over the filling.
  5. Repeat the layers of graham crackers, lemon filling, and strawberries two more times, keeping the top layer level.
  6. Finish with a final layer of whipped filling and decorate with extra strawberries, lemon zest, and crushed graham crackers if desired.
Chill and serve
  1. Cover and refrigerate for at least 6 hours, preferably overnight, until the graham crackers soften into a tender, cake-like texture.
  2. Slice and serve chilled.

Notes

For clean slices, chill overnight and let the dish sit at room temperature for 5 minutes before cutting. Refrigerate leftovers up to 3 days; freeze is not recommended because the graham crackers and strawberries can lose texture. For a lighter option, use sugar-free instant lemon pudding mix and a light whipped topping.