This Neapolitan dessert is a delicious layered no-bake treat that combines the classic flavors of chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry, like Neapolitan ice cream! It starts with a crunchy Oreo cookie crust, layered with creamy vanilla and strawberry fillings, and finished with a fluffy whipped topping. Can’t get enough of Neapolitan desserts? Okay, let’s keep going! Check out my Rose Neapolitan Spritz Cookies and Neapolitan Cheesecake, too!
Ingredients & Substitutions
- Crust: Get out your Oreo cookies for the chocolatey crust! I used about 30 cookies to crush and mix with melted butter. Make sure all of the crumbs are coated so the crust stays together! If you don’t have Oreos, try a graham cracker, vanilla wafer, or shortbread crust–any of which would be delicious, too! A couple of store-bought crusts could work as well.
- Cream Cheese: Make sure the cream cheese has come to room temperature before using. The cream cheese is mixed with confectioners’ sugar, vanilla, and lemon juice. This makes the cream cheese sweet and smooth, giving it a creamy, soft texture and a little extra flavor.
How To Soften Cream Cheese Quickly
Warm Water Method: Place the wrapped block of cream cheese in a bowl of warm water for about 10-15 minutes. Flip it over every few minutes or so.
Microwave Method: Remove the cream cheese from its packaging and place it on a microwave-safe plate. Microwave it on low power in 15-20-second intervals until it reaches the desired softness. Be careful not to overheat it, as cream cheese can quickly become too runny or even melt.
- Strawberry Jell-O Mix: You will only use 1/4 cup of the strawberry jello mix (not the entire package). That is about half of it, so save the rest for another dessert like my Strawberry Delight!
- Whipping Topping: Some of the whipped cream (like Cool Whip) is folded into the cream cheese mixture to make it light and creamy, and the rest is used as a topping to give the dessert a soft, fluffy finish. If you don’t want to use store-bought, make my 2-ingredient whipped cream!
Can You Use Different Jell-O Flavors In This Neapolitan Dessert?
Absolutely! While it won’t be a traditional Neapolitan dessert, feel free to swap out the strawberry Jell-O mix for another flavor of your choice—like raspberry, blueberry, or lime—for a fun and flavorful variation! I would not turn down any of those variations!
Can You Use A Different Pan?
Yes, you can use a different pan for this Neapolitan dessert! If you’re using a different size, just keep in mind that the thickness of the layers might change, so you may need to adjust the chilling time or the amount of the filling ingredients. If you’re using a pan with a different shape (like a round or rectangular pan), the dessert will still work—just make sure it’s lined well so you can easily remove the layers.
How To Store Neapolitan Dessert
This Neapolitan Dessert is best when served and enjoyed within a day or two. Store it in the refrigerator, covered, for up to 1-2 days. When this dessert is stored longer than that, the crust can get a little soggy.
Neapolitan Dessert
Ingredients
Crust
- 3 cups (375 g) crushed Oreo sandwich cookies, approximately 30 cookies
- 9 tablespoons (127.5 g) unsalted butter, melted
Filling
- 2 blocks (8 ounces each) cream cheese, room temperature
- 1 cup (125 g) confectioners' sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 teaspoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1 box (3 ounces) strawberry jello mix, you will only use ¼ cup
- 1 container (8 ounces) whipped topping, about 2 cups
Topping
- 1 container (8 ounces) whipped topping, about 2 cups
- chocolate shavings or curls, optional
- dehydrated strawberries, optional
Instructions
- Line a 9×9-inch baking dish with parchment paper, including up the sides of the dish.
- In a medium bowl, combine Oreo crumbs and melted butter. Stir until fully incorporated with no dry spots.
- Press the crumb mixture firmly into the bottom of the lined baking dish. Place in the refrigerator to chill while preparing the filling.
- In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese using a hand mixer on medium speed until creamy.
- Add confectioners' sugar, vanilla, and lemon juice. Beat for about 3 minutes until creamy and smooth, with no lumps remaining.
- Gently fold in 2 cups of whipped topping using a spatula.
- Remove the crust from the refrigerator and spread half of the cream cheese mixture over the crust.
- To the remaining cream cheese mixture, fold in ¼ cup of the strawberry Jell-o mix. Spread this mixture over the first layer of cream cheese mixture.
- Place in the refrigerator to chill for 1 hour, up to overnight.
- Before serving, top with whipped topping.
- Garnish with chocolate curls and dehydrated strawberries (optional).
Did you make this recipe?
Thank you for making my recipe! You took pictures, right? Well go ahead and post them on Instagram! Be sure to mention me @iambaker and use the hashtag #YouAreBaker.
You are the queen of Neopolitan desserts!
That crust is so smart! And it would keep me from eating all of the extra Oreos in the package! 🙂
These sound yummy and look gorgeous. I have always been a fan of your food photography! YUMMO!
Oh my god. I want to cannonball right into that whipped cream! These look awesome!
Hi, for us Brits, what is the weight of the cans of sweetened milk? Also is the oreo crust made just of the oreo biacuits and not the cream filling?
AAAHHHHHH!!!!! these are so pretty I can’t even stand it!!!! i love them.
So pretty! The chocolate drizzle is a must for me!
You had me at Oreo crust 😉 So beautiful as always!
OK, so i read (somewhere on your site) that you you resented the stealing of your photos on Insta-sumthin’ mostly because the photography part is a challenge for you. Though I don’t think you really should have to justify your feelings because what those folks did is WRONG, I just have to tell you that whatever photography hurdle you may have faced has been surpassed . . . a long time ago! Your photos are soooo beautiful. Only you can make a simple treat (no disrespect to the treat) look like a $20 per piece gourmet item from NYC!!!! Thank you for sharing your gift!
What did you do with 11 pans of bars? They look delicious!
There was a viewing and funeral at our church, so thats what the bars were for.