Blackberry Icebox Cake

Name: Blackberry Icebox Cake
Total time: 24 h 59 min
Yield: 8 servings
Ingredients: 2 pints blackberries; ½ cup blackberry jam; 1 whole lemon; 2 cups chilled heavy cream; ¼ cup powdered sugar; 1 pinch kosher salt; 8 oz vanilla wafers; divided

A luxurious no-bake dessert featuring layers of vanilla wafers, fresh blackberries, and whipped cream. This make-ahead cake is perfectly balanced with sweet berries, tangy lemon, and creamy filling.

8 servings

24 hr 59 min

Published October 4, 2025

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Ingredients

•2 pints blackberries
•½ cup blackberry jam
•1 whole lemon
•2 cups chilled heavy cream
•¼ cup powdered sugar
•1 pinch kosher salt
•8 oz vanilla wafers
•divided

Cooking Instructions

1.
Measure out 2 cups blackberries from 2 pints. Slice berries in half lengthwise and transfer to a medium bowl. (Save remaining berries for decorating later.)
5 min
2.
Add 1/2 cup blackberry jam to bowl with sliced berries. Using a citrus juicer, juice 1 lemon over berry mixture. Let sit 10 minutes.
10 min
3.
Using an electric mixer, beat 2 cups heavy cream in a large bowl, starting on low speed and increasing to high, until soft peaks form.
5 min
4.
Beat in 1/4 cup powdered sugar and a pinch of salt just to combine.
2 min
5.
Line a medium bowl (6-cup capacity) with plastic wrap, pressing into bottom and up sides and leaving plenty of overhang. Line the bottom of bowl with a layer of vanilla wafers.
5 min
6.
Spoon about 1/4 cup berry mixture over wafers. Scoop 1 1/2 cups whipped cream into a small bowl; cover and save in fridge for later. Spread 1/2 cup of the remaining whipped cream evenly over wafer and berry layers. Repeat layers with wafers (breaking to fit as needed-no one will know), blackberry mixture, and whipped cream, using more for each layer as the bowl gets wider, until you run out of all the components.
15 min
7.
Bring up plastic overhang to cover and chill at least 24 hours.
1440 min
8.
Unwrap plastic from top of cake and place a large cake stand or platter firmly over it. Flip over and lift bowl away; peel away plastic wrap. (Ta-da!)
5 min
9.
Using a whisk, beat reserved whipped cream back to soft peaks, then use a spoon to dollop cream all over cake and spread around evenly.
5 min
10.
Cut reserved berries in half lengthwise and arrange them on top.
5 min
11.
Slice cake into 8 pieces to serve.
2 min
12.
Cake can be assembled 2 days ahead and can also be unmolded and covered in cream 1 hour ahead; either way, keep in the fridge until the last minute.

Cooking Instructions

Measure out 2 cups blackberries from 2 pints. Slice berries in half lengthwise and transfer to a medium bowl. (Save remaining berries for decorating later.)

5 min

Add 1/2 cup blackberry jam to bowl with sliced berries. Using a citrus juicer, juice 1 lemon over berry mixture. Let sit 10 minutes.

10 min

Using an electric mixer, beat 2 cups heavy cream in a large bowl, starting on low speed and increasing to high, until soft peaks form.

5 min

Beat in 1/4 cup powdered sugar and a pinch of salt just to combine.

2 min

Line a medium bowl (6-cup capacity) with plastic wrap, pressing into bottom and up sides and leaving plenty of overhang. Line the bottom of bowl with a layer of vanilla wafers.

5 min

Spoon about 1/4 cup berry mixture over wafers. Scoop 1 1/2 cups whipped cream into a small bowl; cover and save in fridge for later. Spread 1/2 cup of the remaining whipped cream evenly over wafer and berry layers. Repeat layers with wafers (breaking to fit as needed-no one will know), blackberry mixture, and whipped cream, using more for each layer as the bowl gets wider, until you run out of all the components.

15 min

Bring up plastic overhang to cover and chill at least 24 hours.

1440 min

Unwrap plastic from top of cake and place a large cake stand or platter firmly over it. Flip over and lift bowl away; peel away plastic wrap. (Ta-da!)

5 min

Using a whisk, beat reserved whipped cream back to soft peaks, then use a spoon to dollop cream all over cake and spread around evenly.

5 min

10.

Cut reserved berries in half lengthwise and arrange them on top.

5 min

11.

Slice cake into 8 pieces to serve.

2 min

12.

Cake can be assembled 2 days ahead and can also be unmolded and covered in cream 1 hour ahead; either way, keep in the fridge until the last minute.