Salted Caramel Oreo Icebox Cake has no bake caramel cheesecake and Oreo cookies in every bite. This easy icebox cake recipe is the perfect dessert to make any time of year.
One of my favorite types of dessert is an icebox cake. They are seriously so easy to make and can be customized with so many different flavors.
The other day I was drinking a homemade Salted Caramel Mocha Latte, and I started thinking about what else I could make with the extra salted caramel in the fridge.
Over the years, I have made quite a few different sweet and salty desserts. This Salted Caramel Frosting is amazing on any cake or cupcake. And these Salted Caramel Brownies always get smiles when I bring them to events!
But I wasn't in a baking mood at the moment, so I decided to make a no bake icebox cake.
Icebox cakes:
Years ago a traditional icebox cake was just layers of chocolate wafer cookies and whipped cream on a plate. The cookies would get soft and cake-like the longer it sat in the fridge (or icebox).
Other names for these types of cakes are dessert lasagna, lush dessert, or dream dessert.
Of course, now icebox cakes have become a little more trendy. You can use pudding, pie filling, no bake cheesecake, and any cookie or sweet cracker you like for the layers in these no bake cakes.
One of our favorites is this Cherry Oreo Icebox Cake made with layers of dark chocolate Oreos and cherry mousse.
Icebox cakes are seriously the easiest cakes ever to make. All you need are cookies, a light and creamy filling, and Cool Whip. Or Homemade Whipped Cream, if that’s the way you roll.
Ingredients for a Caramel Ice Box Cake:
- Cream Cheese – make sure to set it out ahead of time
- Salted Caramel Ice Cream Topping – sweetens the cream cheese. You can use regular caramel too and adjust the amount of salt.
- Sea Salt - make sure to use a coarse ground sea salt to avoid the cake being too salty
- Cool Whip – this creates a light and fluffy filling. Feel free to use homemade whipped cream, if you prefer that instead.
- Oreos – you can use a regular or double stuffed Oreo for this layer
- Coffee – used to soften the cookie slightly before putting them in the pan. You can also use milk if you do not like coffee desserts.
Using Sea Salt in Recipes:
- Make sure you use a coarse ground sea salt because if your sea salt is fine, your dessert is going to taste extra salty.
- Be sure to add the sea salt in small increments. Some people love salted treats. Others like a very mild sea salt flavor.
- In order to get what you like, add it slowly and taste test often because you do not want to ruin your dessert.
FYI: If you are using a salt grinder, remember they all grind differently! Make sure it is set to come out coarse!
This icebox cake is seriously so easy to put together. Like 15 minutes easy!!!
Of course, you do have to refrigerate it for a few hours before eating it. This is where you have to have patience. Yes, I know, this is not fair.
You could eat it early, but letting it set deepens the flavor and allows the cookies time to soften.
How to make a Salted Caramel Oreo Icebox Cake:
- Beat cream cheese, caramel topping, and coarse sea salt until light and creamy.
- Fold in the Cool Whip or homemade whipped cream.
- Dip Oreo cookies one at a time in cooled coffee and place on the bottom of an 8x8 pan.
- Spread half the no bake cheesecake on top, and repeat the layers.
- End with a layer of whipped topping. Place the pan in the refrigerator for a few hours to chill until it gets firm.
Serve this salted caramel icebox cake with another swirl of whipped cream and a drizzle of caramel and chocolate syrup. If you are a true salted caramel lover, sprinkle it with a little more sea salt.
If you love icebox cakes try this Cinnamon Apple Icebox Cake, this Coconut Oreo Icebox Cake, or this S'mores Oreo Icebox Cake.
More salted caramel desserts:
- Salted Caramel Mocha Bundt Cake
- Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Salted Caramel Snickers Fudge
- Salted Caramel Mocha Brownie Cups
- Salted Caramel Mocha Truffles
Recipe
Salted Caramel Oreo Icebox Cake
Salted Caramel Oreo Icebox Cake has no bake caramel cheesecake and Oreo cookies in every bite. This easy icebox cake recipe is the perfect dessert to make any time of year.
Ingredients
- 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup salted caramel ice cream topping (see note below)
- ¼ teaspoon coarse ground sea salt
- 32 Oreo cookies
- 6 ounces strong brewed coffee, cooled
- 1 (16 ounce) container Cool Whip, thawed and divided
- caramel and chocolate syrups
- additional coarse ground sea salt, for garnish
Instructions
- Beat the cream cheese, caramel, and sea salt until creamy.
- Fold in 2 cups of Cool Whip until light and fluffy.
- Dip 16 Oreo cookies, one at a time, in the cooled coffee and place in the bottom of an 8x8 pan.
- Spread half the caramel cheesecake mixture over the Oreo cookies.
- Repeat the layers with the remaining cookies and caramel cheesecake.
- Spread 1 cup of Cool Whip over the top. Refrigerate until set.
- Top with extra Cool Whip, caramel and chocolate syrups, and extra sea salt if desired. Store in a tightly sealed container in the refrigerator.
Notes
- If you are using a regular caramel topping, double the amount of sea salt in the recipe.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 9 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 265Total Fat: 10gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 3mgSodium: 434mgCarbohydrates: 46gFiber: 1gSugar: 32gProtein: 2g
Nutrition facts are an estimate and are not guaranteed to be accurate. If you need special diet advice, please see a registered dietician.
*The post for Salted Caramel Oreo Icebox Cake was first published on September 17, 2014. The pictures and post were updated and republished January 21, 2021.
Kathie Y Elia
Hi, this recipe looks yummy. I'm confused as to the picture, it shows the oreo layers and the cream cheese layers but what is the large center layer made of? I tried looking through the comments but can't find anything regarding it.
Jocelyn
Do you mean the layer between the Oreos? That's just the caramel cream cheese. That picture doesn't show the layers very accurately. It's just two layers of caramel cream cheese and Oreos and some Cool Whip on top. I hope that helps answer the question.
Kathie
Lol, I think I'm dense. The photo shows 8 layers. On the bottom layer is an Oreo layer separated by a thin layer of caramel cream and another Oreo layer. Then there is a light layer in the center which is as deep as the Oreo/cream layers. On top of that is a repeat of the Oreo and caramel cream layers. The whipped cream layer tops that. So I think that the center portion is just a thicker caramel cream layer?
Jocelyn
It's ok. The picture really doesn't show the layers very well in this. The thin layer of caramel cream that you are referring to is actually just the cream filling of the cookie. But yes, the thick layer in the center is caramel cheesecake. For this dessert you will spread a very tiny layer of the no bake caramel cheesecake on the bottom of the pan. (This keeps the cookies from sticking to the pan.) Then you dip the Oreo cookies quickly (with the filling still inside) into coffee and place on the cheesecake in the pan. Spread half the remaining caramel cream filling on top of these cookies. Then repeat the layers again. Hopefully that makes sense. When you cut into the dessert, the cookies give the illusion of more layers but it's just the cookies. Does that make sense?
Judy
Just had a piece at a friend's house. Will make this soon, so good. Wondering if this can be frozen?
Dawn Fieldbinder
This looks amazing!! Could real whipped cream be substituted for cool whip?
Jocelyn
Yes, you could use a stabilized whipped cream in place of the Cool Whip. I would recommend beating 2 cups heavy whipping cream with 1/2 cup powdered sugar until stiff and creamy. I hope that helps.
Judy
How far ahead can this be made?
Jocelyn
How far ahead are you needing to make it? I think a day or two would be fine.
Heather @ Boston Girl Bakes
Looks delicious! Question: did you line your pan with aluminum foil or parchment paper for easy removal? Is that necessary? Thanks 🙂
Jocelyn
It's not necessary, but it makes it a whole lot easier getting nice slices out 🙂
Bobbi
Can you use a springform pan instead of an 8x8 and cutting it into squares. It would be nice to see it layerd after you removed it from the springform pan.
Jocelyn
Hi, Bobbi. You could definitely use a different pan to layer everything in. You would just have to cut the cake in wedges instead of squares.
Claudia
Jocelyn, I printed this recipe, but there was a big empty space where the advertisement was which made the recipe need to print on two pieces of paper. How do I prevent this from happening again?
Jocelyn
Thank you so much for letting me know about this. We are working to find a way to fix it so the blank space does not show when the recipe is printed. I hope you enjoy this cake though 🙂
Jolyn
I'm making this cake for a friend's birthday this weekend, and I'm so excited. I am wondering, though... the picture looks like you made it on a platter instead of in a pan. Is that true? Can I just stack it on the platter as I make it?
Jocelyn
Hi, Jolyn. I made the cake in a 8x8 pan, then the next day cut it into squares and put it on the plates you see. I hope your friend enjoys this cake 🙂
Cookie Perez
Hi can I make this in a 9x13" pan if I double the ingredients?
Jocelyn
Yes, this would work in a 9x13 pan if you double the ingredients. I hope you enjoy the icebox cake.
Maranda
Joycelyn, I made this for Super Bowl 2015 and it was awesome! However, my cake never firmed up, so I put it in the freezer. Once I took it out, it melted; almost like ice-cream. I tried to make it low-fat, so I used Neufchâtel cheese, sugar free caramel, and reduced fat Oreos, and lite cool whip. Do you think those items made it melt? I want to make it again, but I want it firm......please help. I am a new baker:)
Maranda
Jocelyn Brubaker
Hi, Maranda. I only used regular cream cheese, caramel, and Cool Whip and mine held its shape great. I would say that the low-fat items totally affected the outcome. Definitely try it with the regular ingredients. At least it tasted great!!!
Shani
Hi, firstly this cake looks amazing! I am very eager to make it! I just was wondering, when you place the Oreos on the bottom does it leave gaps inbetween the circles? In the pictures it looks like a even layer with no gaps. Thanks, Shani 🙂
Jocelyn Brubaker
Hi, Shani. Yes, there will be gaps when you place them in the layers because Oreos are circles. The cookies do move a little when you spread the filling out, so some pieces will not have gaps. I hope you enjoy it 🙂