Oma's Pineapple Icebox Cake (Ananas-Kühlschrank Dessert)

by: Gerhild Fulson  / Oma Gerhild shares easy, authentic German recipes you can trust, rooted in family tradition and featured in her cookbooks.

Published: February 12, 2009, Updated: June 4, 2025

This no-bake ice box cake, ananas-kühlschrank dessert is creamy and ratze fatze easy ... a favorite summer treat made right in the serving dish.

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Soda Cracker Dessert is super easy to make. Give it a go! A beautiful Summer treat, cool and creamy!

It’s got that flaky, creamy vibe you’d expect from something fancy like German blätterteig or even French puff pastry ... but without all the fuss.

Just layers of plain soda crackers (yes, really!), pudding, and Cool Whip (or you can use real whipped cream). Sounds a bit strange, I know, but trust me ... this one always gets rave reviews. Always.

Top Tips for Best Results

1. Let It Rest: This dessert needs time ... overnight is best. It’s how those crackers turn into something flaky.
2. Add Fruit for a Twist: Pineapple’s the classic, but try drained mandarins, cherries, or strawberries for a fruity flair.
3. Make Ahead Friendly: Perfect for potlucks or Sunday brunch ... just assemble the day before.
4. Vegan Hack: Swap pudding mix for a plant-based version and use non-dairy whipped topping.
5. Gluten-Free Hack: Use gluten-free soda crackers ... just check they hold up well after chilling.

Pssst … quick note before you dive in: I almost didn’t share this one. It’s so simple, it feels like cheating. But oh, is it ever gut. Everyone who tries it ends up asking for the recipe ... every single time. No one’s quite sure where it came from, but we are sure it’s delicious.

It’s also a great one to make with the grandkids. Just layer, chill, and let time do its thing. That’s the real secret. After a few hours, those humble soda crackers turn into something wonderfully flaky ... just like Blätterteig.

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It's the 'soda cracker dessert', below, that my older sister, Helen, also likes to make and take to church functions. How can anything this simple taste so good? Here, she topped it with bananas and berries.

Instead of pineapple this has thawed mixed berries and banana slices. Perfection.

You can use frozen berries, like she does, or perhaps a can of pie filling. Almost anything! Check out my Black Forest inspired dessert below!

The only important thing is that you let this sit for at least 6 hours for the crackers to turn into puff pastry!

After the first bite, I'm usually asked for the recipe. I hesitate to tell people just before they take that first bite, thinking that they'll probably stop.

But, even when I admit it's just crackers, pudding, and Cool Whip, people go back for seconds - it's THAT GOOD!

Soda Cracker Dessert step by step, super easy. One of the simplest desserts that taste so delicious.

This is also one of those recipes for kids to cook (because there's no cooking involved!), but you need to plan ahead. It takes several hours - preferably overnight - in the fridge for the crackers to change.

On a diet? Try it as a diet version. Use low-fat Cool Whip and low-fat instant pudding. Then, top with a mixture of fresh berries. Delicious!

Is this German Food?

The origin of this recipe is unknown, but probably NOT German. It's been passed around the internet for a long time, slightly varying in amounts and ingredients. However, but adding some German flavors, such as in this Black Forest Dessert, you'd almost think it was. Wunderbar!

Go to Black Forest Dessert recipe >

Print Recipe

Oma's Pineapple Icebox Cake (Ananas-Kühlschrank Dessert)

My easy flaky dessert recipe is similar to the German Blätterteig or a French Puff Pastry. But, it's so much simpler to make. AND, it tastes so-o-o good! A few simple substitutions will turn this into a Black Forest Dessert.

This simple dessert is just layers of unsalted soda crackers (saltines), pudding, and Cool Whip. It sounds strange, but this quick, easy dessert recipe always brings rave reviews.

Prep Time:

15 minutes

Chill Time: 

6 hours

Total Time:

6 hours 15 minutes

Servings:

Makes about 12 servings

Ingredients:

• 1 package (14 oz / 200–250 g) unsalted soda crackers (about 4 sleeves)
• 1 box (4 oz / 113 g) instant vanilla pudding mix
• 2 cups (480 ml) milk (for pudding)
• 1 large tub (12 oz / 1 liter / 4 cups) Cool Whip or whipped topping
• 1 can (14 oz / 398 ml) crushed pineapple, well-drained (about 225–250 g drained weight)

Instructions:

1. Line a 9x13-inch (23x33 cm) dish with soda crackers.
2. Prepare pudding with milk according to package instructions.
3. Gently spread half the pudding over crackers, then gently add half the Cool Whip.
4. Add another layer of crackers, then gently spread remaining pudding and Cool Whip.
5. Top gently with drained crushed pineapple.
6. Cover and chill at least 6 hours or overnight.

Notes/Hints:

• Use low-fat Cool Whip and pudding if desired.
  
• Yes, you can use homemade whipped cream frosting instead of Cool Whip. Whip up 2 cups of heavy cream with 2 packages of Dr. Oetker's Whip It (to stabilize it), adding sugar to taste.
• Use any mixture of berries or even pie filling.
• Make some simple substitutions and create a delicious Black Forest dessert. So good!
• If using frozen berries, thaw and drain before placing on top.

*  *  *  *  *

Unless otherwise noted recipe, images and content © Just like Oma | www.quick-german-recipes.com

Recipe updated on July 2, 2025

Readers' Comments

The following comments were sent in by some of our readers:

Sharon from Brampton, ON Canada writes:

I took it to two parties and it went over very good. Everyone said how good it was after a meal. It just went down so smooth. :) Did not get any pictures. It went to fast. :)

Helen from Powassan, ON Canada writes:

My variation on this dessert is that I used Lemon Pudding instead of Vanilla Pudding. Instead of crushed pineapple, I sliced bananas over the top.

Here's another variation. Once,when I didn't have soda crackers, I substituted Vanilla Social Tea Biscuits. Tastes great as well.

All are great desserts to take to a buffet!

An anonymous reader writes:

Or similarly is chocolate pudding . . . . . and then layer top with grated chocolate bar . . . . yum!

Go to more Dessert Recipes ->

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Complete your set today - order now!

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Hi, I'm Oma Gerhild! As a food writer and cookbook author, I'm always looking to find ways to pass on my German heritage using local ingredients. Quick and easy. That's my goal. Wunderbar food. That's the result.