• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

SmartyPantsKitchen logo

  • About
  • Foodie Tips
  • Kitchen 101
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • About
  • Foodie Tips
  • Kitchen 101
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
×
Home » Desserts

Orange Creamsicle Icebox Pie

Published: Jul 10, 2020 · Last Modified: Jun 19, 2023 by Anecia

  • share
  • share
Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

This creamy no bake Orange Creamsicle icebox pie is inspired by the famous ice cream treat we loved when we were kids and is perfect on a hot summer day!

Just combine a few simple ingredients and refrigerate!

Orange Creamsicle Icebox pie on glass plate with a slice cut out.

I remember every Sunday during the summer months, around 6:30 pm, hearing the music from the ice cream truck...I'd run through the house screaming, "I NEED A DIME" like the house was on fire!

It was a critical issue to find a dime FAST...because the ice cream man was out front RIGHT NOW...and two nickels wouldn't suffice...I needed a DIME for an Orange Creamsicle. 

That dreamy sugary concoction on a stick...orange and vanilla, swirled together...oh, what a treat it was then, and still is today!

Why this easy pie recipe works

This no bake dessert is an easy dessert recipe that requires minimal prep time and helps beat the summer heat

  • No bake...when it's too hot to heat the oven to bake a pie this classic icebox pie works perfectly. jJst combine the ingredients and pour it into a prepared graham cracker pie shell
  • Simple ingredients - no eggs, no egg whites, melted butter, vanilla wafers or fresh oranges- just cream cheese, orange jello powder, vanilla and sweet condensed milk; garnish with homemade whipped cream or a whipped topping from the grocery store and mandarin oranges; the orange gelatin helps the creamsicle icebox pie set-up beautifully without using any marshmallow creme or whipped topping
  • Perfect for summer - this chilled, light icebox pie is heavenly on a hot day

Ingredients for Orange Creamsicle Icebox Pie

If you've lived long enough, you'll discover there are a million different ways to make an icebox pie. Some use eggs, while others use Cool Whip.

This one relies on orange gelatin and a hint of vanilla to get that super flavor combination we all love.

Ingredients labeled on kitchen counter

How to make it

  • Chill a prepared graham cracker pie crust in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes (If you want to make your own crust, use graham cracker crumbs and melted butter; press into a pie plate and refrigerate) See recipe notes in the recipe card below for details
  • Pour orange gelatin granules (orange Jello™ powder) into ¼ cup cold water; do not stir; let sit for 15-minutes
  • In a large mixing bowl or electric mixer, use the paddle attachment and combine cream cheese, sweet condensed milk and vanilla extract in food processor, stand mixer or use a hand-mixer and cream till smooth
  • Add gelatin mixture to the cream cheese mixture and mix on low for a second or two - not too long
  • Pour pie filling mixture into chilled pie shell
  • Cover with plastic wrap and freeze for 4 hours; move pie from freezer to fridge about 30-minutes before you want to serve it (this lets the crust thaw, which makes slicing the pie easier.
  • Mandarin orange slices - for garnish (optional)
  • Heavy whipping cream for homemade whipped cream

If you want to make a pretty Orange Creamsicle icebox pie, make some homemade whipped cream and pipe it around the perimeter of the pie form

Four process shots of how to make creamsicle icebox pie

Recipe tips

This orange creamsicle pie recipe will turn out just right if you follow these easy recipe tips

  • Chill the pie crust - I put it in the freezer for about 30-minutes
  • Soften the cream cheese - at room temperature
  • Mix the orange gelatin granules with cold water - let it sit for 15-minutes; don't stir it
  • Freeze the pie - when ready to serve, move it from the freezer to the fridge; let it sit in the fridge for about 15 minutes; if you don't let the crust thaw in the fridge, it sticks to the pie plate
  • The best way to slice the icebox pie is to use a slightly warm knife to slice the cold pie - for a super clean slice, use a sharp butcher knife; run it under hot water for a few minutes; dry the knife, then stick the tip of the knife in the center of the pie and move the knife back...don't lower the handle to "slice" it-- just use the tip of the knife and drag it towards you 
  • After you've made one slice; run the knife under warm water again; dry; slice; repeat
  • If your icebox pie gets runny, put it back in the refrigerator

Graham cracker pie crust hack

If you don't want to make your own graham cracker crust, but you want your pie to be served in your glass pie plate and not in the aluminum pie form, then use this hack:

  • Buy two prepared graham cracker pie crusts; take them out of the aluminum pan and pulse them in the food processor, pour them into a big bowl; add a stick of butter (melted) over the crumbs; combine well
  • Pour buttered crumbs into your own 9"inch pie shell; using your fingers, pat the crumb mixture-packing it into a glass pie plate
  • If you're worried about serving "pretty slices," you might want to use small, individual 4-ounce graham cracker tart shells; this pie makes 2 cups of filling (16 ounces) so you'd need 4-6 individual shells

Storage and serving

If you're lucky enough to have any of this orange creamsicle icebox pie leftover, then cover it with plastic wrap and store it in the refrigerator. You might want to whip up some additional whipped cream if you have leftovers of this creamy dessert!

Orange Creamsicle icebox pie on glass pedastal with white doily underneath.

The hardest part of this recipe is waiting for the dreamy orange creamsicle icebox pie to set up in the fridge! 

Related recipes

  • Lemon Icebox Pie
  • Key Lime Icebox Pie
  • Southern Pecan Pie
  • Coconut Cream Pie
  • Fresh Strawberry Sheet Cake
  • Orange Olive Oil Cake with Orange Creme Fraiche

📋 Recipe

Orange Creamsicle Icebox pie on glass plate with a slice cut out.

Orange Creamsicle Icebox Pie

Dreamy, creamy orange and vanilla Creamsicle Icebox Pie will remind you of your youth!
5 from 8 votes
Print Rate
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American, Southern
Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes minutes
Chill time: 4 hours hours
Total Time: 4 hours hours 10 minutes minutes
Yield: 8 slices
Author: Anecia Hero
Prevent your screen from going dark

Ingredients 

  • 16 ounces cream cheese , room temperature
  • 14 ounces sweetened condensed milk
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 tablespoon orange flavored gelatin
  • ¼ cup water

Instructions 

  • Place prepared graham cracker crust in freezer for 30-minutes
  • Bring cream cheese to room temperature
  • Add gelatin (Orange flavored Jello powder) to cold tap water; do not stir; let sit 15-minutes
  • Use a food processor or a stand/hand mixer- add softened cream cheese, sweetened condensed milk and vanilla extract; cream mix till smooth
  • Add gelatin/water mixture to cream cheese mixture; pulse once or twice or combine well with paddle attachment or spatula
  • Pour mixture into chilled pie shell
  • Place in freezer for 4 hours
  • Remove pie from freezer (about 30-minutes before serving) and place in refrigerator
  • Garnish with whipped cream and mandarin oranges
  • Slice and serve

Notes

Tips:
  • Chill the crust - I put it in the freezer for about 30-minutes
  • Soften the cream cheese - room temperature
  • Mix the orange gelatin granules with water - let it sit for 15-minutes; don't stir it
  • Freeze the pie - when ready to serve, move it from the freezer to the fridge; let it sit in the fridge for about 15 minutes; if you don't let the crust thaw in the fridge, it sticks to the pie plate
  • Use a slightly warm knife to slice the cold pie - for a super clean slice, use a sharp butcher knife; run it under hot water for a few minutes; dry the knife, then stick the tip of the knife in the center of the pie and move the knife back...don't lower the handle to "slice" it-- just use the tip of the knife and drag it towards you 
  • After you've made one slice; run the knife under warm water again; dry; slice; repeat
  • If your icebox pie gets runny, put it back in the refrigerator or freezer and wait awhile
  • Graham cracker pie crust: I find the ones in the store work just fine, but they're too skimpy so, I buy two crusts; take them out of the aluminum pan and crumble them up in a big bowl; melt a stick of butter; drizzle the butter over the crumbs; combine well
  • Pour buttered crumbs into your own 9"inch pie shell; using your fingers, pat the crumb mixture-packing it into a glass pie plate
  • If you're worried about serving "pretty slices," you might want to use small, individual 4-ounce graham cracker tart shells; this pie makes 2 cups of filling (16 ounces) so you'd need 4-6 individual shells

Nutrition Estimate

Serving: 1sliceCalories: 359kcalCarbohydrates: 30gProtein: 7gFat: 24gSaturated Fat: 14gCholesterol: 79mgSodium: 250mgPotassium: 262mgSugar: 30gVitamin A: 894IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 196mgIron: 1mg
Craving More? Pin it and Share!Mention @SmartyPantsKitchen or tag #smartypantskitchen!
Join the Facebook group!Mention @SmartyPantsKitchen or tag #smartypantskitchen!

More Easy Southern Desserts

  • Close up of cake on white plate.
    Original Texas Sheet Cake
  • Pineapple casserole in turquoise baking dish.
    Baked Pineapple Bread Casserole
  • Watermelon salad garnished with arugula and goat cheese in white bowl.
    Watermelon Arugula Goat Cheese Salad
  • Strawberry cake in blue baking pan.
    Fresh Strawberry Cake without Gelatin

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Debi says

    July 23, 2020 at 2:24 pm

    5 stars
    I made this today and it was simply amazing! Reminded me of the ice cream truck...just like you said. Thank you for this great recipe! 🙂

    Reply
    • Anecia says

      July 23, 2020 at 4:19 pm

      Oh I'm so glad you liked it!!! Thank you!

      Reply
  2. Debi says

    July 14, 2020 at 2:08 pm

    5 stars
    I want a piece of this pie right now! What a great summer treat! 🙂

    Reply

I'd love to hear from you! Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Anecia Hero, Food Blogger

About SmartyPantsKitchen

I'm Anecia, a native Texan, author, cook and photographer for SmartyPantsKitchen where I'm sharing Traditional and Contemporary Southern recipes for cooks of all levels. There's nothing fancy or gourmet about my recipes-just easy, simple, delicious and memorable! Take a tour and check out delicious recipes! 

Learn more about me →

Texas Recipes

  • Authentic Texas Chili in white bowl with tortilla chip and shredded cheese.
    Texas Chili
  • Close up of cake on white plate.
    Original Texas Sheet Cake
  • Sausage cream gravy in red bowl with bowl of biscuits in red checkered basket in background
    Sausage Cream Gravy
  • Whole pecan pie on colorful tablecloth
    Classic Southern Pecan Pie
  • Chicken fried steak with cream gravy and a side of green beans
    Texas Chicken Fried Steak with Cream Gravy
  • Apple cake on gold plate.
    Fresh Apple Cake

Brunch

  • Two slices of quiche on white plate.
    Basic Quiche Recipe
  • Holiday Sausage Ball on fork resting over honey mustard dip
    Easy Sausage Balls
  • Smoked tomato bisque on brown serving tray with crouton and cream
    Smoked Tomato Bisque (Low-Sodium)
  • Slice of low carb egg casserole on plate.
    Low Carb Crustless Quiche Recipe
  • Slice of spinach feta pie on white plate with a side of kalamata olives.
    Spinach Feta Pie
  • Shrimp Saganaki in white baking dish.
    Shrimp Saganaki (Baked Greek Shrimp with Tomatoes and Feta)

Reader Favorites

  • Fried catfish filets with tartar sauce.
    Restaurant-Quality Fried Catfish
  • Purple hull peas in white bowl.
    How to Cook and Season Southern Purple Hull Peas
  • Sliced classic meatloaf with tomato sauce on white serving platter.
    Classic Southern Meatloaf with Old-Fashioned Tomato Sauce
  • No beer batter fried fish in paper
    Fish and Chips: No Beer Batter
  • Cream gravy being spooned over chicken fried steak
    Southern Cream Gravy
  • Fried oysters on platter with lemon wedges.
    Crispy Southern Fried Oysters

Footer

↑ back to top

About

  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclaimer
  • Accessibility Policy

Newsletter

  • Sign Up! for emails and recipes

Contact

  • Contact

Copyright © 2018-2022 SmartyPantsKitchen.com