Old-fashioned icebox cake can be made gluten-free (and dairy-free too!). My no-bake S'mores icebox cake is easy to make and a total crowd-pleaser. It is the best gluten-free summer dessert!

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Icebox cakes are perfect for cookouts and BBQs. After chowing down on our favorite BBQ baby back ribs, baked beans, and blue cheese potato salad. A refreshing cold dessert is just what you need.

If you have never had icebox cake, it is a simple to assemble no-bake dessert with layers of graham crackers and cream. Served chilled, not frozen like ice cream cake.

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📖Why My Recipe Works
🧾Ingredient Notes
Gluten-Free Dairy-Free Icebox Cake
⏲️How to Make Icebox Cake
👩🏻‍🍳GF Icebox Cake Tips
Gluten-Free Summer Dessert Recipes
🌡️Storing Leftovers
📖 Recipe Card
⭐Reviews

📖Why My Recipe Works

Loaf Pan Shape- If you know anything about gluten-free crackers, you know they tend to crumble. That is no problem with this cake. Bits, pieces, and parts are totally fine. And because I use a loaf pan it is even easier to keep the cake together.
Classic Flavor- Finally, you top the cake with toasted marshmallows. Using a kitchen torch gives us that campfire taste and melts the chocolate pieces.

🧾Ingredient Notes

This is what I call a semi-homemade dessert. You buy all the ingredients and just assemble the cake, except for the chocolate ganache. And while you could buy hot fudge to use it would be way too sweet for most people.

Chocolate Chips- Use semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips.
Heavy Whipping Cream
Whipped Topping- aka Cool Whip, but use any brand you like
Marshmallow Fluff
Mini Marshmallows- I actually had to cut regular marshmallows in half. The store was out of the mini.
Gluten-Free Graham Crackers- Most boxes are around 8 ounces, which is enough for this recipe.

Gluten-Free Dairy-Free Icebox Cake

Most brands of graham crackers are actually DF so no issue with this. For Dairy-free gluten-free chocolate chips, I prefer to use the Enjoy Life brand. And many generic versions of Cool Whip are naturally dairy-free. I just use my local store-bought brand.

So that just leaves the heavy cream. Use full-fat coconut milk in its place, just be sure to combine it well.

⏲️How to Make Icebox Cake

First up you need to line your pan in order to get the cake out whole and slice thinly.

I lined the pan with parchment paper but you can use wax paper or foil in a pinch. Be sure to line longways with flaps over the end so you have the leverage to pull it out.

Step 1- Make the Chocolate Ganache

Whisking chocolate chips and cream filling in a mixing bowl

Ganache is a chocolate sauce made of cream and chocolate. You heat the cream and then pour it over the chocolate. I prefer to heat the cream in a saucepan so I don't burn it. But you can also do this in a microwave.

Chocolate batter and whisk in a mixing bowl.

Let the mixture sit and then mix until smooth.

You need to let the mixture cool a bit before. You don't want to melt the marshmallow mixture.

Step 2- Marshmallow Cream

Our cream layer is made of half marshmallow cream and half whipped cream. The hardest part of this cake is getting these two ingredients combined without deflating the air that the whipped topping brings.

Use a large mixing bowl and gently fold the two ingredients together. Then add your marshmallows.

Step 3- Assemble the Icebox Cake

This icebox cake has 3 layers of graham crackers, 3 layers of marshmallow cream, and TWO layers of chocolate.

Start by putting down one layer of graham crackers. Break up the crackers as needed to cover the bottom of the loaf pan.

Layering crackers and cream fillings in a baking dish.

Add ⅓ of the marshmallow cream and spread evenly. The back of a soup spoon works great for this.

Then add half the chocolate ganache.

A layered crackers and fillings in a baking dish.

Repeat this with another marshmallow layer, a final chocolate layer, more graham crackers.

S'more icebox topped with cream fillings in a baking dish.

Ending with a final layer of marshmallow cream

Melted marshmallows in a baking sheet pan.

Cover and chill for 8 to 12 hours, at least. The longer it chills the better the S'more cake holds together.

Step 4- Serve

Remove the cake from the fridge and place it in the freezer for 15 minutes. This will make the icebox cake easier to remove from the pan and slice.

Parchment paper with cream fillings in a baking sheet pan.

Run a knife down the two short edges that are unlined. Use the parchment to lift up the cake and move it to a serving platter.

Top with more marshmallows. Use a kitchen torch to quickly toast the top. Sprinkle with extra chocolate.

No kitchen torch? No problem! Line a sheet pan with a bit of foil. Scatter on the marshmallows and place under the broiler until toasted. Use a spoon to move them to the top of the cake.

Alternatively, you could just sprinkle on cocoa or shaved chocolate.

👩🏻‍🍳GF Icebox Cake Tips

Freeze the cake before serving. Just 15 to 30 minutes for easy cutting. It will also help the cake last a bit longer before melting.
Always line your pans when making icebox cakes, it makes for much easier serving.
A serrated knife run under warm water will get a clean cut for serving.

Gluten-Free Summer Dessert Recipes

🌡️Storing Leftovers

Cover the icebox cake with plastic wrap, and keep it in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 days.

Gluten-free icebox cake will keep for up to 1 month in the freezer when covered with aluminum foil. Thaw for a few hours in the fridge before serving.

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