This dessert is no-bake and so easy to make. Here’s how to make icebox cake in a jar. Make it ahead of time to serve your guests in minutes.
When I was younger my granny used to make this dessert called Icebox Cake.
It was my favorite.
As in stand in the kitchen and watch and sigh and giggle and try to stick my fingers in the whipped cream and wipe the bowl clean kind of favorite.
My granny was amazing.
Just like her cake.
Today on “12 Days of Getting Ready for Christmas” we are sharing desserts you can make ahead for a party or get-together and I decided to re-invent my granny’s recipe.
Here’s to all the recipes handed down through generations.
I know she would love my icebox cake in a jar.
(total aside: as I am writing this….these pictures are making me so hungry)
how to make icebox cake in a jar
Ingredients (makes 4 larger mason jars full or 8 smaller mason jars full ):
1 box of chocolate graham crackers
1 quart of heavy whipping cream
2 Tablespoons of confectioners’ sugar
1 teaspoon of vanilla
hot fudge
mini chocolate chips
1. In a large metal bowl, mix cream until soft peaks form.
Add confectioners’ sugar and vanilla and continue to mix until stiff peaks form.
Note: my friend recommended I put a metal bowl in the freezer and let it get cold before I used it to mix up the cream.
2. Crush the graham crackers.
Note: I put them in plastic bags and used a rolling pin. They were so easy to crush up.
3. Add a layer of graham crackers, then whipped cream.
Repeat until you fill the entire mason jar making sure the last layer is whipped cream.
Top off with a cherry and mini-chocolate chips.
4. Chill. This is the most important step.
This is the secret to making this recipe even better: Let the mason jar icebox cakes chill in the fridge for 4-6 hours before serving.
5. Serve with hot fudge and extra chocolate chips.

Icebox Cake In a Jar
Ingredients
- 1 box chocolate graham crackers
- 1 qt heavy whipping cream
- 2 tbsp confectioner's sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1 jar hot fudge
- 1 cup mini chocolate chips
Instructions
- In a large metal bowl, mix cream until soft peaks form.Add confectioners' sugar and vanilla and continue to mix until stiff peaks form.Note: my friend recommended I put a metal bowl in the freezer and let it get cold before I used it to mix up the cream.
- Crush the graham crackers.Note: I put them in plastic bags and used a rolling pin. They were so easy to crush up.
- Add a layer of graham crackers, then whipped cream.Repeat until you fill the entire mason jar making sure the last layer is whipped cream.Top off with a cherry and mini-chocolate chips.
- Chill. This is the most important step.This is the secret to making this recipe even better: Let the mason jar icebox cakes chill in the fridge for 4-6 hours before serving.
- Serve with hot fudge and extra chocolate chips.
PS The jars didn’t make it five minutes after I took them out of the fridge.
My granny would have been proud. 🙂
PPS Here are some other tried and true recipes from the amazing women in my life:
- my mother-in-law’s snickerdoodles
- my mother’s cranberry bread
- my mother’s Mississippi Mud Cake
- my sweet friend’s pecan pie
And now?
Let’s see the amazing recipes from Leslie’s kitchen she has ready for us.
12 Days of Getting Ready for Christmas
(what you might have missed)
- DAY 1: What You Should Be Shopping for Christmas Now
- DAY 2: How To Choose a Christmas Theme
- DAY 3: 17 Ways to Make Last Year’s Christmas Decor Look Like New
- DAY 4: 7 Simple and Easy Christmas Centerpiece Ideas
- DAY 5: Gift Guides For All the Hard To Buy For People On Your List
- DAY 6: 21 DIY Gift Wrapping Ideas
- DAY 7: 25 Gifts Under $25
- DAY 8: 17 Unique Handmade Gifts
Here’s what Leslie has been sharing
- DAY 1: How to Shop for Seasonal Decor
- DAY 2: A Cranberry Christmas Theme
- DAY 3: 11 Ways to Repurpose Last Year’s Christmas Decor
- DAY 4: Christmas Dishes and Table Decor Ideas
- DAY 5: Holiday Gift Guides for Everyone You Know
- DAY 6: Gift Wrapping Ideas
- DAY 7: Gifts Under $25
- DAY 8: Gifts Handmade With Love
This looks yummy! I'm always looking for great desserts that are ready to go on the fly, especially during the holidays when we do a lot of entertaining and often it's super impromptu! Thanks for the great idea! PS - I'm curious to know if using a cold metal bowl made a difference with the whipped cream?
This sounds great. What are Graham crackers?
Love this! Can't wait to try.
Yes, please!!! xoxo
I love icebox cakes. Thus one looks so good