Frozen Christmas Dessert
This no-bake frozen Christmas dessert is a truly magical treat, blending a delightful graham cracker crust with a creamy, dreamy cheesecake-like filling studded with festive sprinkles. It's the perfect make-ahead dessert to simplify your holiday entertaining, offering a refreshing and visually stunning centerpiece for your festive table. A single bite delivers cool, creamy indulgence with a hint of crunchy sweetness, embodying the joy of the season.
Prep Time
25 minutes
Cook Time
None
Total Time
Approximately 4 hours and 25 minutes (plus overnight freezing)
Servings
12-16 servings
Keywords
Why This Recipe Delivers
- Effortlessly festive, making it a perfect holiday showstopper with minimal effort.
- A fantastic make-ahead option, freeing up your time on busy celebration days.
- Combines a satisfyingly crunchy base with a creamy, sweet, and refreshing filling.
- Visually stunning with vibrant Christmas sprinkles, delighting guests of all ages.
- No baking required, keeping your oven free for other holiday dishes.
Ingredients
- GRAHAM CRACKER BASE AND TOP
- 240 grams (2 cups) graham cracker crumbs
- 113 grams (1/2 cup) unsalted butter, melted
- 25 grams (2 tablespoons) granulated sugar
- FILLING
- 226 grams (8 oz) cream cheese, softened
- 397 grams (1 can, 14 oz) sweetened condensed milk
- 7.5 milliliters (1 1/2 teaspoons) vanilla extract
- 240 milliliters (1 cup) heavy whipping cream, cold
- 75 milliliters (5 tablespoons) red, green, and white sprinkles
Instructions
- Prepare your pan by lightly spraying a 23 x 33 cm (9 x 13 inch) baking pan with a non-stick cooking spray, ensuring all surfaces are covered for easy removal later. Set the prepared pan aside.
- To create the graham cracker base and top, combine the graham cracker crumbs, melted unsalted butter, and granulated sugar in a medium-sized bowl. Mix thoroughly with a fork until the mixture is evenly moistened and resembles damp sand. This ensures a consistent texture for your crust. Set this mixture aside for later use.
- Begin preparing the creamy filling by placing the softened cream cheese into a large mixing bowl. Using an electric mixer set to medium speed, beat the cream cheese until it becomes completely smooth and free of any lumps, achieving a light and airy consistency. This is crucial for a silky-smooth filling.
- Once the cream cheese is smooth, pour in the sweetened condensed milk and add the vanilla extract to the bowl. Continue beating with the electric mixer until all ingredients are thoroughly combined and the mixture is homogenous. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed to ensure everything is incorporated.
- Next, add the cold heavy whipping cream to the cream cheese mixture. Start beating at a low speed to prevent splattering, then gradually increase the speed to high. Continue beating until soft peaks form, meaning the cream will hold its shape but the tips will gently curl over. Gently fold in the festive red, green, and white sprinkles with a spatula until they are evenly distributed, being careful not to overmix and deflate the whipped cream.
- Take half of the prepared graham cracker crumb mixture and spread it evenly across the bottom of the sprayed pan. Use your hands or a flat-bottomed object, like the back of a measuring cup, to firmly press the crumbs into a compact, solid base. This creates a sturdy foundation for your dessert.
- Carefully spread the prepared cream cheese and sprinkle filling over the pressed graham cracker base, smoothing the top with a spatula. Then, evenly sprinkle the remaining half of the graham cracker crumbs over the top of the filling, followed by a final scattering of extra sprinkles for an added festive touch and visual appeal.
- Cover the dessert tightly with plastic wrap, ensuring it makes contact with the surface of the filling to prevent freezer burn. Place the pan in the freezer and allow it to chill for a minimum of 4 hours, or ideally, overnight. Freezing overnight ensures the dessert is perfectly firm and easy to slice, delivering the best texture and flavor.
Tools You’ll Need
- 23 x 33 cm (9 x 13 inch) baking pan
- Electric mixer (handheld or stand mixer)
- Large mixing bowl
- Medium mixing bowl
- Spatula
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Plastic wrap
Essential Success Tips
- Ensure your cream cheese is fully softened to room temperature for a lump-free, smooth filling. Cold cream cheese will result in a grainy texture.
- Make sure your heavy whipping cream is very cold before whipping; this helps it whip up faster and achieve soft peaks more easily. You can even chill your mixing bowl and whisk attachment for 15 minutes prior.
- When pressing the graham cracker base, compact it firmly and evenly to prevent it from crumbling when sliced.
- Avoid overmixing the heavy cream once soft peaks form, as it can quickly turn into butter or become grainy.
- For the cleanest slices, dip your knife in hot water and wipe it clean between each cut.
Professional Cooking Secrets
- To elevate the flavor profile of your graham cracker base, lightly toast the crumbs in a dry pan over medium heat for 3-5 minutes before adding butter. This deepens their nutty notes.
- Infuse an extra layer of holiday spirit by adding a 1/4 teaspoon of almond extract or a pinch of cinnamon to the cream cheese filling alongside the vanilla.
- For an even more vibrant display, layer a thin drizzle of melted white chocolate over the frozen dessert just before serving, then top with additional sprinkles for a gourmet touch.
Notes
- Storage: Store any leftover dessert tightly covered with plastic wrap in the freezer for up to 2 weeks.
- Variations: For a different flavor profile, consider adding a tablespoon of cocoa powder to the graham cracker base for a chocolate crust. You could also swirl in a bit of raspberry or peppermint extract to the filling.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make this dessert ahead of time?
Absolutely! This is an ideal make-ahead dessert. You can prepare it up to 2 weeks in advance and keep it stored in the freezer, tightly covered. Just pull it out about 15-20 minutes before serving to allow for easier slicing.
What if I don't have an electric mixer?
While an electric mixer is highly recommended for achieving a smooth cream cheese mixture and whipping the cream to soft peaks, you can use a whisk for both steps. Be prepared for a significant arm workout, especially when whipping the heavy cream – it will take considerably longer.
Can I use different types of cookies for the base?
Yes, you can! While graham crackers are traditional, you can substitute other crumbly cookies like digestive biscuits, shortbread, or even chocolate wafers for a unique twist. Adjust the amount of melted butter slightly if needed, as some cookies absorb more or less.
Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)
Calories: 380, Protein: 6g, Fat: 28g, Carbs: 28g (per serving, estimated for 16 servings)
Allergy Information
Contains dairy and gluten. For a gluten-free version, use gluten-free graham crackers or a similar gluten-free crumb base. Always check sprinkle ingredients for allergen information.
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