Real Recipes From Real Home Cooks ®

vanilla ice box cake

Recipe by
Lisa Myrick
Wilmington, NC

I got this recipe from my late mother-in-law. It was the dessert we all requested anytime we had a family function. I'm not sure why it is called "cake". Initially when people scoop out a spoonful, they think it is banana pudding; but there is no pudding in it, but it is full of yumminess! I tried an actual graham crust instead of the loose wafer crumbs, but it really did take away from the dessert and I was fussed at LOL! This is a great make ahead dessert for your family gatherings, as it needs to refrigerate for 24 hours. I use pasteurized eggs because this is not a cooked dessert.

yield 20 serving(s)
prep time 35 Min
method Refrigerate/Freeze

Ingredients For vanilla ice box cake

  • 16 oz
    vanilla wafers, crushed, divided in half
  • 2 stick
    butter, softened (the real stuff) (plus a little more for buttering pan)
  • 1-1/2 c
    white sugar
  • 2 tsp
    vanilla extract
  • 3 lg
    eggs, preferably pasteurized
  • 16 oz
    pineapple, crushed, drained well
  • 4 lg
    bananas, sliced in rounds
  • 8 oz
    cool whip, thawed

How To Make vanilla ice box cake

  • 1
    Butter a 9x13 pan. Crush vanilla wafers in a food processor (or put the cookies in a plastic baggie and crush them with a rolling pin). Evenly distribute 1/2 of the crumbs into the prepared pan.
  • 2
    Beat sugar and butter until light and fluffy. Add the vanilla.
  • 3
    Beat in eggs, one at a time, 3 FULL MINUTES PER EGG (this part is important, as it is what gives the filling the "silky" texture, like French Silk pie.) Spread mixture onto crumbs in pan.
  • 4
    Top with drained pineapple.
  • 5
    Slice bananas over pineapple.
  • 6
    Spread entire container of cool whip on top. Top with the remaining 1/2 of wafer crumbs. Wrap in Saran Wrap and refrigerate for 24 hours.
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