Some of my most cherished summer memories were made at the community pool. As soon as we heard the jingle of the ice cream truck, my friends and I would abandon the pool for the parking lot. Some went for the Mario ice cream with the gumball nose and others for the patriotic popsicles. My go-to ice cream truck order was always an orange creamsicle ice cream bar. Even though it wasn’t shaped like a cartoon or studded with chocolate and candies, I stand by my choice even today.
There’s a reason why that orange creamsicle flavor is so good in anything from a pudding cake to an orange mousse: You can’t beat the sweet vanilla-orange combination. I was inspired by my childhood favorite to make pretty layered bars. These orange creamsicle dream bars have four fun layers and require exactly zero time in the oven. Here’s how to make them.
Why You’ll Love It
- They give ice cream truck vibes. If creamsicles were your go-to ice cream truck treat, these bars are for you. The orange-vanilla flavor is creamy, fresh, and fruity—basically everything we want in a summertime dessert.
- It’s a make-ahead dessert everyone will love. These layered, no-bake bars are best when made in advance to give the layers time to chill and set.
Key Ingredients in Orange Creamsicle Dream Bars
- Graham crackers: Crush these sweet crackers into crumbs and form into a tasty no-bake crust with butter and granulated sugar.
- Orange: Add fresh orange zest and juice to the cream cheese mixture, but remember to save some for garnishing the bars.
- Powdered orange gelatin: You’ll need just 2 tablespoons of powdered orange gelatin mix to get the fruit flavor. Add it directly to the cream cheese without dissolving it, but make sure to measure because adding too much will give that layer an unappealing bouncy consistency.
- Vanilla extract: Orange creamsicle is a balance between bright orange and warm vanilla extract flavors. Use a full tablespoon of vanilla because chilling the bars will dull its flavor.
- Cream cheese: Use a block of full-fat cream cheese for the best flavor and texture.
- Whipped topping: Use this shortcut stand-in for freshly whipped cream to save some prep steps and extra bowls. Homemade whipped cream works, too, if you choose to make your own.
Orange Creamsicle Dream Bars
Serves 9- 8 ounces cream cheese
- 8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter
- 12 full-size graham crackers (about 6 1/2 ounces), or 1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, divided
- 1 medium orange
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 (8-ounce) container thawed frozen whipped topping, such as Cool Whip, divided
- 2 tablespoons powdered orange gelatin dessert mix (about 1 ounce)
