This old fashioned cherry icebox cake is creamy and delicious. The best part is that it only takes a few minutes to put together, the refrigerator does the rest!

Spatula lifting out serving of creamy cherry icebox cake with vanilla wafer crumbs.

This nostalgic cherry icebox cake only requires 4 ingredients. They are all simple and easy to keep in your pantry or refrigerator.

That way you can whip up this dessert any time you want something sweet. It is a great treat for when it is hot out and you don’t feel like turning on the oven.

Yellowed newspaper clipping with two cherry recipes on it including a cherry cake and a cherry refrigerator cake.

Ingredients including dark cherries, lemon juice, sweetened condensed milk, and vanilla wafer cookies.

When I saw the recipe for this cherry refrigerator cake on an old yellowed newspaper clipping in my grandma’s recipe box, I knew I had to make it.

I am glad I did. It was the perfect mix of creamy and fruity and it is beyond easy to make.

The vanilla wafer crumbs are a wonderful crust, but you can use graham crackers if that is what you have. You could even use Oreo crumbs if you want a chocolate and cherry treat more reminiscent of a black forest cake.

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Thickened sweetened condensed milk filling in square pan with dark cherries throughout, ready for vanilla wafer crumb topping.

The filling is beyond easy to make. The acid in the lemon juice reacts with the sweetened condensed milk to thicken it up.

Plus it helps to cut the sweetness a bit. It is a one-two punch of benefits that makes the combination such a staple in sweetened condensed milk recipes.

Then just add a can of drained cherries. I used dark sweet cherries, but you can use your favorite.

You can also use fresh or frozen if you would like. If you are using frozen cherries, defrost and drain them before using them.

Serving of cherry refrigerator cake on plate showing creamy cherry filling and sandy cookie crumb crust.

Fork getting bite of cherry refrigerator cake with creamy condensed milk filling and cookie crumb crust.

I think it would be fun to experiment with other fruits as well. Pretty much any well drained canned fruit should be tasty.

The resulting dessert is simple but tasty. It is not too different than a no bake cheesecake, but it doesn’t have as much cream cheese tang.

You’ll have to make one for yourself to see!

5 from 1 rating

Old Fashioned Cherry Icebox Cake

Author: Carlee

Servings: Servings

This old fashioned cherry icebox cake is creamy and delicious. The best part is that it only takes a few minutes to put together, the refrigerator does the rest!

Prep: 10

Chill Time 6

Total: 6 10

Ingredients

▢ 1½ cups vanilla wafer crumbs about ½ of an 11 oz box
▢ 14 ounces sweetened condensed milk
▢ ¼ cup lemon juice
▢ 15 ounces canned cherries drained

Makes: 8 x 8inch rectangle

Instructions

Spread half of the cookie crumbs on the bottom of an 8-inch square baking dish.
In a medium mixing bowl, stir together the condensed milk and lemon juice until combined and slightly thickened.
14 ounces sweetened condensed milk, ¼ cup lemon juice
Fold in the drained cherries.
15 ounces canned cherries
Dollop the cherry mixture over the cookie crumb crust. Then carefully spread to make an even layer of filling.
Top with the remaining cookie crumbs.
Chill in the refrigerator for at least 6 hours before serving. Enjoy as is or garnish with additional cherries and/or whipped cream.

Notes

I used a can of dark sweet cherries. You could also use a couple of cups of fresh cherries or defrosted and drained cherries. Or experiment with other fruits.