I used to have a large collection of cookbooks that I have streamlined over the years. However, this is a cookbook that I want to have in my kitchen. The recipes all sound enticing and the pictures are inviting. While the definition of "ice box" desserts has evolved for this book's purpose, I hope this is a book I reach for again and again.

This is a great helpful cookbook! The photos are beautiful and the recipes are easy to follow. There are lots of tips and tricks throughout which is really helpful. The recipes I'm most excited to try are the Peanut Butter Whipped Cream chocolate Cookie Icebox Cake, Chocolate Pretzel Banana Cream Pie,Roasted Strawberry Cheesecake, Strawberry Shortcake Icebox Bars,Strawberry Shortcake Banana Pudding and Cookies and Cream Pudding. Special Thank you to Bobbie Lloyd,William Morrow and NetGalley for allowing me to read a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Magnolia Bakery Handbook of Icebox Desserts by Bobbie Lloyd is 100 recipes of simple, elegant and beautifully photographed desserts from the premier artisan behind New York's Magnolia Bakery's success.

The cookbook is broken down into chapters: Icebox Cakes, Icebox Pies, Cheesecakes, Icebox Bars, Banana Pudding, Puddings, and Base recipes. Each chapter is filled with well written, easy to navigate recipes that can be navigated by both seasons and beginner cooks. In fact, this book was easy to use with a nine-year-old who is just learning how to bake. Every recipe is based off of a base recipe (listed at the back of the book, a drawback that I can't imagine how it could be altered to make it better), that is so, so easily adapted to whatever masterpieces you might come up with of your own. We made a bit of everything just to see how well the recipes worked as written. They were all easily executed and tasty.

We made Lemon Curd Icebox Cake, Triple Chocolate Pudding Pie, Coconut Cream Pie, Butter Pecan Cheesecake, Vanilla Bean Cheesecake, Peanut Butter Pretzel Icebox Bars and Lemon Cream Icebox Bars. I despise anything with bananas so none of those happened, But if you are a fan of Magnolia Bakery's Banana Pudding, the original recipe is there along with an entire chapter of adaptations.

Although several recipes, like the cheesecakes, contain cooked components, for the the most part, the recipes require no cooking. In fact, almost any cooked item (perhaps not those roasted strawberries) can be substituted for a store bought version in order to keep the recipe fuss free.

While the recipes and picture are wonderful, I think it would be doing the book and the author a disservice not to mention the Introduction where the author spends time discussing tips, tool, and ingredients. This clear, concise, and engaging section not only sets the reader up for success in making these recipes, but in future baking endeavors. This section was created with intention. The reader would do well to not skip it.

"The Magnolia Bakery Handbook of Icebox Desserts" by Bobbie Lloyd is a delightful culinary journey into the world of no-bake and low-bake desserts. This cookbook, from the iconic Magnolia Bakery, offers a collection of 100 recipes, each accompanied by a beautiful photograph. The book explores a variety of icebox treats, including cakes, pies, cheesecakes, bars, and puddings, with a special focus on Magnolia Bakery's famous banana pudding.

One of the book's strengths is its focus on accessibility. As the title suggests, the recipes are designed to be simple and easy to make, relying on the refrigerator for setting rather than an oven. Lloyd also provides helpful advice on kitchen essentials, ingredients, and techniques, making this book suitable for bakers of all skill levels.

The variety of recipes is impressive, ranging from classic favorites to creative new concoctions. Readers can indulge in treats like Triple Chocolate Pudding Pie, Cold Brew Chocolate Chip Cheesecake, Strawberry Shortcake Bars, and Cannoli Icebox Bars. There are also recipes that require some baking, such as those for crusts, crumbs, fillings, and cookies, adding another layer of depth to the collection.

The mouthwatering photos accompanying each recipe are not only helpful but also add to the overall reading experience, making it a feast for the eyes as well as the stomach. The clear, step-by-step instructions ensure that even novice bakers can create delicious and impressive desserts.

In summary, "The Magnolia Bakery Handbook of Icebox Desserts" is a must-have for anyone who loves no-bake desserts. It's a beautiful and practical cookbook that offers a wide range of recipes, clear instructions, and stunning photography. Whether you're a seasoned baker or a beginner, this book will inspire you to create delicious and memorable treats.

As someone who's never made icebox/refrigeration required desserts, I very much enjoyed reading this and making the recipes from this book. The author took their time to explain in detail the different steps and techniques that could be confusing and added pictures to certain recipes that had complicated or confusing steps. I found this very helpful when making the strawberry cheesecake.

The recipes were also very, very good. I tried the strawberry cheesecake (as mentioned), their famous banana pudding, and their double fudge brownies. I am not generally a cheesecake fan, but those who tried it said it was delicious, and I loved the strawberry accompaniments the recipe had. I was able to use the syrup as a ice cream topping and I fear I'll be making that from now on. The banana pudding was also delightful and the double fudge brownies were very fudgy and a dream.

I didn't get to try as many desserts as I wanted from the ARC (I may attempt the blueberry icebox recipe), but I will be adding this book to my wishlist to have my own copy. I definitely recommend getting this book if you enjoy refrigerated desserts. Thank you NetGalley and Publisher for a chance to read the ARC!

Great cookbook. It was a quick read, with great photos and recipes that sound oh so delish. I look forward to making some of them soon.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.

I love any dessert that does not require a lot of fuss. This whole book is filled with those kinds of desserts.
I have never made an icebox cake before and I definitely want to try after reading through this. The pictures make the desserts look like you took way more time than you did to make.
Now cheesecakes take longer but I think this was my favorite section to look through as I have never had cheesecake flavors like were listed in this book: chocoloate chip cookie, red velvet, and peach crisp all sound amazing and different. Makes me want to bake and I generally do not get excited for baking.
Would definitely recommend and will probably be purchasing for my cookbook collection.

Amazing pictures and incredible sounding desserts. I would definitely make most of these for myself and friends. I love that there was so many baker tips and best tools to have in your kitchen in the beginning of the book as well.

This book is amazing for anyone that like pies and puddings. I am a fan of both and found so many things that I wanted to try. It is laid out so nicely and the recipes are easy to follow. The ingredients are easy to find too. There are so many things I wanted to try I had to buy the physical copy for myself!

A thorough and imaginative cookbook. This is a must for any lovers of Magnolia Bakery. Though not exactly positioned for beginners, the recipes are easy enough to read and the detailed images are enticing.

The Magnolia Bakery Recipe book is phenomenal! Love the no bake recipes! Several of the desserts I’ve tried? but the are many, many more I never had. Beautiful photos with easy to follow directions! Never had the chance to visit one of the bakeries but heard so much about them. Now I can bake my own Magnolia desserts with this handbook!

Just looking at this book made my mouth water! There are so many recipes in here that look amazing! The book is full of recipes that are nicely laid out and accompanied by beautiful photographs. I think they did a great job with the layout, images and the recipes that were put into this book. If you are a lover of pudding, icebox desserts or just simply have a sweet tooth then this will be a great book for you to try. I am excited to get in the kitchen and try some new recipes, the only problem is which one to try first because there are so many that look and sound delicious!

*The Magnolia Bakery Handbook of Icebox Desserts* offers 100 delicious no-bake or low-bake recipes from the beloved New York bakery. Featuring iconic treats like banana pudding, icebox cakes, pies, and cheesecakes, this collection brings easy-to-make, classic desserts to your kitchen, complete with gorgeous photos, helpful tips, and tricks from Magnolia’s Chief Baking Officer, Bobbie Lloyd.

This cookbook contains so many delicious icebox desserts. Baking in the summer in the south can be a challenge. It is often too hot to turn on the oven, and no one wants to eat a heavy dessert. I added this to my Amazon wish list!

The Magnolia Bakery Handbook: Icebox Cakes (ARC)
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Having had the chance to receive an ARC of The Magnolia Bakery Handbook: Icebox Cakes, I couldn't be more excited to share my love for this delightful collection. From the first page, it’s clear this book will be a go-to for anyone who loves simple, decadent, and nostalgic desserts.

Magnolia Bakery’s signature charm shines through with every icebox cake recipe, blending easy prep with irresistible flavors. Whether you're craving the classic Chocolate Icebox Cake or a fun twist like the Peanut Butter and Jelly Icebox Cake, there’s something for every taste. The Mocha Chocolate Chip Icebox Cake was a standout—rich, creamy, and just the right amount of coffee kick.

What makes this book so special is its accessibility. With clear instructions, helpful tips, and a pantry guide for all the essential ingredients, this book is perfect for bakers of any skill level. Plus, it’s impossible not to smile at the playful, nostalgic spirit behind each cake.

If you're looking for a collection of showstopping yet stress-free desserts, The Magnolia Bakery Handbook: Icebox Cakes will quickly become your favorite baking companion. Perfect for summer gatherings or cozy moments at home, it brings the comforting sweetness we all crave, with minimal effort required.

Thank you again to William Morrow Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this delicious book—I can’t wait to try more recipes!

This cookbook is adorable and I can't wait to buy it and add it to my cookbook library. Just in time for summer too! I love an icebox cake, and I love how many unique variations are in here, along with other pie, cheesecake, and pudding options. The recipes are laid out well, the finished products are beautifully photographed, and the book includes some helpful tips about various techniques and ingredients. Love this!

The Magnolia Bakery Handbook of Icebox Desserts is such an awesome no-bake & almost no-bake dessert collection. It's as if reading an encyclopedia of Icebox Dessert and I could not be happier to have stumbled upon this jewel. The collection has nostalgic and iconic flavors of Magnolia Bakery recipes and there are so many phenomenal looking dessert, I can't be the only baker who can't wait to run to kitchen to start baking.

The recipes are easy to follow and step-by-step instructions are perfect for any level of bakers. Every recipe comes with a beautifully photographed picture and the end result isn't too far from what home bakers can create from their own kitchen. The cookbook is well-organized and comes with cakes, pies, bars, and pudding that each section offers a wide variety of recipes that will keep you entertained not only while reading but also baking.

This cookbook is such a delightful book that shows how to bring big flavors with minimal efforts for all level of baking enthusiasts. With summer just around the corner, I recommend this jewel to anyone who would love to create something delectable without the heat of oven. You won't be disappointed!

For fans of Magnolia Bakery and the iconic banana pudding comes a book with multiple icebox style treats including some fun pudding recipes and different cheesecake combinations.

The Magnolia Bakery Handbook of Icebox Desserts by Bobbie Lloyd

Thanks to Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review

A Note: I am not a professional chef or baker. I am just the average Plain Jane everyday sort of gal in the kitchen.

Readability
Right out of the gate, I'm going to say that I love how they put into the recipes in both grams and ounces (and cups) for measurements. It makes conversions a non-issue, meaning that anyone anywhere can pick up this book and be able to easily use the recipes according to what they are used to.

Unfortunately, there is one thing about this book that I did not like at all. For these recipes (in most, if not all), you have a "base recipe" that is referred to as part of the recipe which is located at the back of the book. Meaning you have to flip to the back of the book to then return to the recipe you actually want. Now, this isn't something that's a disaster in the making. The base recipes are made as the first step of the process, so for the most part you are just reading one recipe from the back, and then the one recipe you're actually hoping to end up with. But if you're doing something like making a base cake, it could be annoying to have to flip the pages back and forth if you need to remember how long you need to leave that in the oven while you prep the rest of the dish.

That being said, I don't have a better solution as to how to make this readable, because if you had every base recipe on every page, it would (1) be an annoyingly busy page, and (2) get tiresome after awhile. But... I don't know... maybe at least place the base recipes at the beginning of each section so it's less likely the baker is scrambling through pages of other sections' base recipes?

Favorite Recipe
I'm a sucker for anything chocolatey and peanut-buttery, so I'm totally biased and am going to say that my favorite recipe is the Deep-Dish Peanut Butter Cup Icebox Pie.

However, if you're not a chocolate or peanut butter lover, there are also so many fruit-centered recipes, you have plenty to choose from!

Aesthetic
10/10 gorgeous. The colors are fresh, the type is easy to read, the recipe layouts are divided with cute light blue/teal lines. I really like the interior layout of the book. And oh my God, the images. Sometimes, I feel like cookbook images are a bit dark or dreary, but these are stunning!! And they're also all consistent in tone and vibe. I would buy this book just to eat the desserts with my eyes.

As for the outside of the book, I stopped by my local Barnes and Noble to check it out because I wanted to give some feedback on that, but only had an ARC. Love love love the book in physical form.

Thanks for reading, and happy eating!
Xo

This cookbook has several amazing recipes in it.. I wasn't able to download this to actually try any of them, but I would love to do just that!

This book does have a lot of great information and yummy recipes in it!

Anyway, I think this is worth getting! So, go get yourself a copy!