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Israeli easy icebox cake Jewish summer dessert
Photo credit Sonya Sanford

The Best No-Bake Israeli Ice Box Cake

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Israeli ice box cake, or “ugat bisquivitim,” is a beloved no-bake dessert, featuring tea biscuits soaked in a creamy, tangy filling made with instant vanilla pudding, quark, and milk — a decadent celebration of dairy flavors from the land of milk and honey.

  • Total Time: 6 hours 15 minutes
  • Yield: Serves 12-16

Ingredients

Units
  • 3 sleeves (238 g/9 oz) Kedem vanilla tea biscuits or 2 sleeves Osem petit beurre biscuits
  • 2 cups heavy whipping cream
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1 (80 g/2.8 oz) packet instant vanilla pudding mix (or 5 Tbsp)
  • ¼ cup sugar
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • 1 cup (250 g/8 oz) quark or 5% Greek yogurt
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 cup cold coffee or milk
  • chocolate, for garnish (optional)

Instructions

  1. In a large bowl using a handheld mixer or whisk, beat together the heavy cream, milk, instant vanilla pudding mix, sugar, and salt until the mixture starts to thicken and the mixer or whisk leaves ribbons in the batter, about 2-3 minutes. Be careful not to overbeat the mixture.
  2. Add the quark and vanilla extract, and beat until just combined.
  3. To assemble, dip one tea biscuit at a time into the coffee or milk for 2-3 seconds (if using Osem tea biscuits, dip for a few seconds longer). Line the bottom of a 9”x13” baking pan with the dipped tea biscuits. Cut any biscuits to fit the pan as needed. Top the layer of biscuits with a third of the filling.
  4. Repeat the process twice until you have three layers of tea biscuits and three of filling.
  5. To garnish, top with milk or dark chocolate shavings; you can do this with a vegetable peeler and a bar of chocolate. Alternatively, you could also top with cocoa powder or sprinkles.
  6. Cover the baking dish tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight or for at least 6 hours. Cut into slices and serve cold.

Notes

  • Kedem brand biscuits are ideal for this recipe as they are thinner and more delicate, Osem brand biscuits may create a drier cake.
  • Dipping the biscuits in coffee adds subtle flavor, but you can use milk instead if desired.
  • If you can’t find quark, full fat 5% Greek yogurt will work as a substitute.
  • Lastly, brands of vanilla pudding mix vary, any packet that is around 2.8-3.1 oz will work, or you can measure out 5 Tbsp from a larger packet of pudding mix. 
  • Author: Sonya Sanford
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes + 6 hours refrigeration
  • Category: Desert
  • Method: Quick
  • Cuisine: Israeli