No Bake Italian Cake
Slice and serve this easy, no-bake Italian Cake. It’s a layered dessert full of pineapple filling, vanilla Wafer cookies, whipped cream, shredded coconut, and maraschino cherries. Tropical flavors in every bite of this sliceable dessert.
This no-bake pineapple dessert is great for summer celebrations, potluck events, birthday celebrations, etc. There is never a wrong time to serve it.
Table of contents
You will also want to check out my pineapple lush, pineapple pretzel salad, or whip up this pineapple upside-down cake! All are loaded with pineapple flavor.
❤️ Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Easy prep work is all it takes to throw this dessert together: simple steps and ingredients.
- This dessert requires no special equipment. All you need is a mixing bowl and baking dish.
- This is a dessert that you can slice and serve a crowd or use for serving up your family.
- This Italian cake is great for warmer weather when you want a cold dessert.
🛒Ingredients
Here is a quick look at what is in this Italian cake. For the full list scroll to the bottom to get the full measurements.
- vanilla wafers
- crushed pineapple
- lemon juice
- sweetened condensed milk
- sweetened coconut
- cool whip
- cherries
- pecans
🔪 How to Make This No Bake Italian Cake
Step One: Prep Crust
Layer the bottom of the 9×13 dish with Vanilla Wafers.
Step Two: Mix Up Filling
Mix the lemon juice and condensed milk in a bowl, then add the pineapples and mix all together.
Pour this over the vanilla wafers in the dish.
Step Three: Layer Your Dessert
Add another layer of the Vanilla Wafers on top of the pineapple mix.
Step Four: Top with Toppings
Top with Cool Whip, coconut, and cherries.
Refrigerate overnight.
🥄 Equipment
You will need just a few kitchen tools to make this no-bake dessert. Gather these tools, and you will be eating one of these delicious cookies in no time.
- 9×13 Pan
- Mixing Bowl
- Spatula or Hand Mixer
- Measuring Cups
🥫 Storage
Refrigerate this dessert in a sealed container in an airtight container in the fridge. This Italian no-bake cake can last up to 4-5 days in the refrigerator. Due to the ingredients, I don’t recommend freezing it.
💭 Tips
- The key to this dessert is to layer your ingredients so each bite is flavorful.
- I do recommend crushed pineapple over chunks or other cuts, as it will give the best texture.
- Add the cherries right before serving, as they will leak juice and can spread as the dessert sits in the fridge.
- Ensure the cake is set up in the fridge so the flavors blend overnight.
⁉️FAQs
Yes, you want to make this the night before you serve this up. Allowing the flavors to set up overnight is critical to the best flavors.
You can easily swap it out with graham crackers, Vanilla Oreos, lady fingers, or another style of mild cookies.
OTHER DESSERTS YOU WILL LOVE:
No Bake Italian Cake
Ingredients
- 1 box Vanilla Wafers
- 1 20 oz can crushed pineapple with juice
- ¼ cup lemon juice
- 1 can sweetened condensed milk
- 1 package sweetened coconut
- 1 8 oz container cool whip
- 1 small jar cherries
- 1 cup pecans, optional
Instructions
- Layer the bottom of 9×13 dish with Vanilla Wafers
- Mix in a bowl the lemon juice and condensed milk, then add the pineapples and mix all together
- Pour this over the vanilla wafers in the dish
- Add another layer of the Vanilla Wafers on top of the pineapple mix
- Then top with cool whip, and coconut and cherries
- Refrigerate overnight
- Serve and Enjoy!
Looks delicious
Thank you! I hope you make it and love it 🙂
I used to make a similar dessert when I was able to cook years ago. You made the mixture with the pineapple the same way, but half as much. On top of the second layer of wafers I used slices of bananas and strawberries. Top with the whipped cream and garnish with more strawberries and some chocolate syrup or chocolate shavings. No coconut. We called it, “Banana Split Cake”. I was begged to bring it to every church pot luck, every family reunion, and at the holiday meals and parties. Please try it and let me know what you think!