Orange Creamsicle Bars are creamy, no-bake dessert bars layered with a cheesecake and orange creamsicle layer on top of a graham cracker crust. It is a light and refreshing treat! Be sure to check out more of my no-bake desserts!
Orange Creamsicle Bars
Summertime is the perfect time to make refreshing and delightful desserts, and orange creamsicle desserts are at the top of my list! In fact, I have been on an orange creamsicle kick from my Mousse to Cookies to Orange Creamsicle No-Bake Pie, just to name a few. So, ‘orange’ you glad I made these bars to add to the list?
Ingredients
There are two parts to these orange creamsicle bars–the crust and the layered toppings.
Crust: I made a graham cracker crust for the bars. Make sure the graham cracker crumbs are fully coated in the melted butter so they don’t come apart. If you are crushing sheets of graham crackers, you will need about 15-16 sheets of crackers to get 2 cups of crumbs.
Orange: You will need a teaspoon of orange zest and a juiced orange (about 1/4 cup of orange juice).
Jello Mix: Don’t forget the box of orange jello mix to add even more orange flavor. You will only use about half of the mix (1/4 cup). So, go ahead and make another batch with the other half of the mix!
Whipped Cream: Make your own whipped topping, or use an 8-ounce tub of cool whip. Some will be mixed into the cream cheese with the rest used as the top layer.
What is an Orange Creamsicle?
A creamsicle is a frozen treat invention that is vanilla ice cream topped with a layer of frozen fruit juice, in this case, frozen orange juice. In this dessert, I wanted to replicate the flavors as much as possible in a creamy way. I used orange zest and real orange juice, as well as orange jello mix to blend with the cream cheese base.
How Long will Orange Creamsicle Bars Last?
Once you taste the orange-flavored creaminess of these bars, they will not last long! However, if you have to make them ahead of time, they will last in the refrigerator, covered, for up to 5 days.
Can I Use a Different Sized Pan?
Yes! I used an 8×8-inch baking dish, but if you want some extra thick bars, go for a 7×7-inch dish. You could also go the other way and use a 9×9-inch baking dish, but the bars will be thinner. I would not recommend using a 9×13-inch pan; the ingredients would not be sufficient to fill the pan.
More Creamsicle Desserts
Orange Creamsicle Bars
Ingredients
Crust
- 2 cups (14-16 sheets, 168 g) honey graham crackers, finely crushed
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- ½ cup (1 stick / 113 g) unsalted butter, melted
Toppings
- 2 blocks (8 ounces each) cream cheese, room temperature
- 1⅓ cups (125 g) confectioners' sugar
- 1 teaspoon orange zest
- 1 medium orange, juiced (about ¼ cup juice)
- 1 box (3 ounces) orange jello mix, you will only use about ¼ cup
- 3 cups whipped topping, divided
- orange slice, optional, for garnish
Instructions
Crust
- Line an 8×8-inch baking dish with parchment paper, including up the sides of the dish.
- In a medium bowl, add graham crackers and sugar. Mix together.
- Add melted butter to the graham crackers and sugar. Mix until all ingredients are fully incorporated with no dry spots.
- Press the crumbs firmly into the bottom of the lined baking dish.
- Place in the refrigerator to chill while you prepare the toppings.
Toppings
- In a large bowl add cream cheese. Use a hand mixer on medium speed to beat the cream cheese until creamy. Add sugar, orange zest, and orange juice and beat again until creamy and no lumps remain (about 3 minutes).
- With a rubber spatula, gently fold in 2 cups of whipped topping.
- Remove the crust from the refrigerator. Add half of the cream cheese mixture (about 2 cups) on top of the crust.
- To the remaining cream cheese mixture, fold in ¼ cup of the orange jello mix.
- Add the orange jello mixture to the top of the cream cheese mixture.
- Top with remaining whipped topping.
- Place in the refrigerator to chill for 1 hour, up to overnight.
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.
How about time & half for a 9 X 13 🙂
For the no baked orange, creme cycle bars, can’t I just use a ready made gram cracker pie crust?
Sure
Your instructions were very helpful. They were easy to make
I made my family try them before giving them to friends. They were a huge hit ! Since then, I have made them six times. I doubled the recipe & took them to a pot luck at church. I’ll tell you my hand got tired of writing out the recipe !
Thank you for such a popular desert !
These bars are soooo good. New favorite in our home!!
thank you so much for the recipe!! looks good.
So, do you just use a 1/4 cup of the orange jello POWDER? And Not follow the directions on the jello package…right?
So, do you just use a 1/4 cup of the orange jello POWDER? And Not follow the directions on the jello package…right?
Also wondering if you make the jello
Or use the powder?
I would like up know if you use the powder or make the jello as well. Does anyone know??
Delish!! Looks like the picture. Will do it again.
Use the powder. Easy peasy. 🙂