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!

PHENOMENAL cookbook! Simple but lovely layouts, gorgeous photography, useful tips (I especially appreciated the tips on miscellaneous ingredients used in the recipes), and the recipes...OMG. Some of them evoke memories of the farm while growing up, and the others with the elevated and delightful "twists" to what would otherwise be basic recipes--first ones I want to try, though:

Blueberry Icebox Cake, Salted Caramel Cream Pie, Chocolate Pretzel Banana Cream Pie, Strawberry Icebox Pie, Lemon Cream Icebox Pie, and ALLLLLL the cheesecakes.

My thanks to NetGalley & William Morrow|Harvest for the opportunity to preview this title in exchange for my honest opinion.

Incredible cookbook with super yummy no-bake dessert recipes! I am a huge baker, but haven't really delved into the no-bake dessert realm and this was the perfect start. I especially loved the introduction that gave tips on technique and ingredient purposes and the base recipes section. I have only tried one so far, but the S'mores icebox cake was delicious. I also can't wait to try some of the cheesecakes recipes out this winter for the holidays!
Sincere thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for the chance to read this book in exchange for my honest review!

Finally getting my hands on the legit recipe to this banana pudding is like a match made in heaven. It makes it so versatile to use and make other creations with . I like the other recipes that were attached as well and it included some base recipes as well to make it that much easier to make the recipe your own without gatekeeping.

Quick read. Beautiful illustrations and made me want to make and eat all things!!!

I was given an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my review.

Wow!! I'm a huge fan of Magnolia Bakery and so happy to have this cookbook in my collection! I loved this cookbook so much! The recipes are simple, nostalgic, and perfect for warm weather gatherings. I’m officially in my hosting era, and these no bake desserts make it so easy to impress. The layout of the cookbook is beautiful, and the instructions are super approachable. I can’t wait to make these all summer long!

Thank you, NetGalley and William Morrow, for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Magnolia Bakery Handbook of Icebox Desserts by Bobbie Lloyd is a beautiful book with lots of delicious recipes and gorgeous photos. Unfortunately, the book is misnamed. Aside from the icebox cakes at the beginning of the book, all of the recipes require cooking or baking. Some of them, like the baked cheesecakes, I wouldn't even consider "icebox" recipes.

I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving this review.

A wonderful book to add to your recipe books in the kitchen. Beautiful photos of the desserts. Great tips for cooking. It would make a wonderful gift.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC and to the publisher HarperCollins.

I enjoyed reading The Magnolia Bakery Handbook of Icebox Desserts by Bobbie Lloyd. You will fall in love with all the recipes. I received an ARC of this book courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and given freely. Happy Reading!

I have really enjoyed this cookbook from Magnolia Bakery! I was expecting to be intimidated by the recipes, but they are written in a way that is so approachable and easy to follow. Just this last weekend I made the strawberries and cream icebox cake and was met with so many rave reviews. I love how the recipes give you the option of using store bought items (even recommends specific brands) or making items yourself. I appreciate a shortcut every now and then, so the choice is really key for me. I also found the pictures to be beautiful. I can't wait to make more from this book for family gatherings and parties.

So...am I only only one who didn't know icebox desserts is just a fancy way of saying "no bake"? (You learn something every day!)

The photography in the cookbook is gorgeous, and the cakes and pies are beautifully assembled like expensive bakery items--then a look in the recipes and you discover how accessible they are. As I flipped through the book I found myself flagging multiple recipes I wanted to try, exactly what you want from a cookbook. There are multiple variations on Magnolia's famous banana pudding, as well as various cakes, bars, and puddings, and a few baked cheesecakes (the only actual cooking involved among the recipes).

Highly recommend for anyone who enjoys chilled, no-bake desserts and has a sweet tooth!

Thanks to William Morrow for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

What a delightful collection of desserts! There are beautiful photos for nearly every mouthwatering recipes. The recipes are wonderfully detailed and seem very easy to make. I think that I gained ten pounds just reading these recipes! I can't wait to make these fantastic treats!

I think this will be a popular cookbook with patrons. The photographs are wonderful and make you want to test out all the recipes. I would recommend this to patrons interested in dessert recipes or easier-to-prep recipes.

The Magnolia Bakery Handbook of Icebox Desserts Volume 2 is an absolutely gorgeous collection of no-bake desserts collected and curated by Bobbie Lloyd. Due out 22nd April 2025 from HarperCollins on their Wm. Morrow Harvest imprint, it's 256 pages and will be available in hardcover and ebook formats.

The entire collection is stylish, elegant, and impressive. The recipes themselves contain abundant clear photos in color. Many (not all, but most) are surprisingly "do-able" and really just *look* super impressive. The majority don't require a ton of specialist equipment or esoteric ingredients and will be well within the scope of the average home cook with an adequately equipped kitchen space.

Recipes are grouped thematically: cakes, pies, cheesecakes, bars, banana pudding, other puddings, and base recipes. Recipe ingredients are provided in a bullet list sidebar, followed by step-by-step instructions. Ingredient measures are written in imperial (American) units with metric in parentheses (yay!). Nutritional information is not provided. Most ingredients will be readily available at any well stocked grocery store in North America.

Everything about this collection is generous... the photography is abundant, clear, and in color... the recipes themselves are graciously proportioned, a bit old fashioned, and beautiful. They're not overly fancy or fussy...

Five stars. It does a perfect job at what it sets out to do. This would be an excellent choice for public or home library acquisition, as well as for gift giving.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.