Raspberry Refrigerator Cake is a refreshing chilled dessert that combines sweet raspberry filling, fluffy marshmallow whipped cream, and a crisp graham cracker crust for the perfect balance of flavors and textures.
The light layers paired with the golden crust offer an indulgent yet refreshing treat, ideal for warm days or any special occasion. Easy to prepare without the need for an oven, this dessert is both effortless and impressive, making it a crowd-pleaser that’s sure to have everyone reaching for seconds.
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As summer comes to an end, and fall slowly approaches, it is the perfect time to make use of fresh, in-season fruits. Raspberries are among the best fruits to incorporate into desserts, bringing a delightful balance of tartness and sweetness that takes any treat to the next level.
This is no exception when it comes to this amazing Raspberry Refrigerator Cake, where the delicious flavor and bright ruby red color of raspberries shine through and taste absolutely luxurious!
Among delicious layers of whipped marshmallow cream and crushed graham crackers, raspberries bring life to this dessert and make it irresistibly delicious. It’s a refreshing and fruity dessert that’s a wonderful way to celebrate any occasion.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
- There is very little baking needed in this recipe, and after the graham cracker is done baking, you’ll no longer need the oven!
- This recipe is refreshing and not too rich or filling, while still being sweet and delicious.
- This dessert is convenient to make ahead and can be made in advance and left to chill in the refrigerator until you are ready to serve!
Ingredients
Gather the ingredients below to make this refrigerator cake!
- Graham crackers offer the perfect sweet flavor combined with a satisfying crunchy crust that absorbs the delicious flavors of the other ingredients.
- Raspberry jello mix is a great base for the fresh raspberries, and when mixed together creates a delicious mousse-like filling for the dessert.
- Raspberries are juicy, tart, and wonderfully sweet. They bring a bright, fresh flavor to this refrigerator cake and are the heart of this recipe!
- Marshmallows bring a fluffy lightness and gentle sweet taste to the whipped cream layer that complements the raspberries and graham cracker crust perfectly.
- Heavy whipping cream, when mixed with marshmallows, creates a super creamy and fluffy layer that helps the dessert stay together.
See recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Substitutions & Variations
- For more variation, you can add a layer of raspberry jam between the crust and the marshmallow cream. This brings even more tart, fruit flavor to the cake.
- This dessert can be made with a variety of fruits! Try using strawberries, blueberries, peaches, or oranges and using the respective jello flavor along with it!
- Graham crackers can be substituted by golden Oreos, Nilla Wafers, and shortbread cookies.
- Add extra fresh raspberries on top of your dessert as well as any leftover graham cracker crumbs.
How to Make the Best Raspberry Refrigerator Cake
Once you’ve gathered all your ingredients, preheat the oven to 350ºF, blend the graham crackers until they become fine crumbs. and follow the steps below for an amazing chilled raspberry dessert!
- Step 1: Place graham cracker crumbs, brown sugar, and melted butter in a medium mixing bowl. Stir until well-blended. Reserve ¼ cup of mixture for topping.
- Step 2: Press the remaining mixture into a greased 9x13-inch pan, bake for 10 minutes, and set aside to cool.
- Step 3: Bring water to a boil in a saucepan, whisk in the raspberry jello mix until dissolved.
- Step 4: Stir in the raspberries and chill until the mixture partially sets.
- Step 5: In a large microwave-safe bowl, heat the milk and marshmallows in 30-second intervals, stirring each time until melted, then allow the mixture to cool slightly.
- Step 6: While the marshmallow mixture cools, beat the heavy whipping cream in a medium bowl until peaks form, then fold it into the marshmallow mixture until combined.
- Step 7: Spread mixture over top of raspberry layer.
- Step 8: Garnish with remaining crushed graham crackers and chill for 3-4 hours before serving.
Helpful Tips
- Use fresh raspberries for the best texture and flavor, but frozen raspberries will work just fine too! Just thaw and drain them before adding them to the dessert.
- The graham cracker layer absorbs the moisture from the whipped cream filling and becomes cake-like as it sets in the fridge.
- Take your time when adding the whipped cream layers to help maintain the light, fluffy texture.
- Making this recipe up to a day in advance allows the flavors to meld together even more as it sets in the fridge. It also saves you more time the day of your event or occasion.
Recipe FAQs
Yes, you can use frozen raspberries in this recipe. Thaw them first and drain any excess liquid to avoid making the cake too watery.
You can substitute graham crackers with vanilla wafers, digestive biscuits, or even shortbread cookies for a different twist.
Yes, you can substitute raspberries with strawberries, blueberries, or even a mixed berry blend for a variation on the cake.
Yes! Cool Whip can definitely be used for this recipe, although it may not result in the same texture or flavor as the marshmallow whipped cream mixture. Just make sure that you have enough Cool Whip for all of the layers of this dessert.
To make this recipe a no-bake dessert, you can use layers of full graham crackers instead of making a graham cracker crust in the oven. The texture and taste of the crust will be a little different, but will still leave you with a delicious dessert.
Storage & Freezing Instructions
Storage Instructions
To store raspberry refrigerator cake, place it in an airtight container wrapped tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil and place it in the refrigerator for around 2-3 days. It is best to eat this dessert sooner rather than later so it doesn't get too soggy.
Freezing Instructions
This cake can be frozen for up to a month. When you’re ready to serve it, let it thaw for 15 minutes at room temperature.
More Fruity Recipes You'll Love
Looking for other recipes like this raspberry cake? Try these:
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Raspberry Refrigerator Cake
Ingredients
- 14.4 ounce box graham crackers
- ⅓ cup brown sugar
- ½ cup butter (melted)
- 6 ounce raspberry jello mix
- 1 ¼ cup water
- 18 ounces fresh raspberries
- ⅓ cup milk
- 10 ounce bag large marshmallows
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350ºF.
- Place graham crackers in a food processor or blender. Process until they become fine crumbs.
- Place graham cracker crumbs, brown sugar, and melted butter in a medium mixing bowl. Stir until well-blended.
- Reserve ¼ cup of mixture for topping.
- Transfer the remainder of the mixture to a greased 9x13-inch baking dish. Evenly press into bottom of pan.
- Bake crust for 10 minutes. Set aside to cool.
- In a sauce pan, bring water to a boil.
- Add raspberry jello mix and whisk until dissolved.
- Add raspberries and stir well. Chill mixture until it partially sets.
- Spread partially set raspberry mixture over graham cracker crust.
- Add milk and marshmallows to a large microwave-safe bowl.
- Heat in 30-second intervals, stirring each time, until marshmallows are melted. Allow this mixture to cool slightly.
- While marshmallow mixture is cooling, place heavy whipping cream in a medium mixing bowl and beat until peaks form.
- Add whipped cream to marshmallow mixture and fold until combined.
- Spread mixture over top of raspberry layer.
- Garnish with remaining graham cracker crumbs.
- Chill for 3-4 hours before serving.
Notes
- Use fresh raspberries for the best texture and flavor, but frozen raspberries will work just fine too! Just thaw and drain them before adding them to the dessert.
- The graham cracker layer absorbs the moisture from the whipped cream filling and becomes cake-like as it sets in the fridge.
- Take your time when adding the whipped cream layers to help maintain the light, fluffy texture.
- Making this recipe up to a day in advance allows the flavors to meld together even more as it sets in the fridge. It also saves you more time the day of your event or occasion.
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