Pink Lemonade Freezer Bars
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Let’s pretend that you’ve just been invited to a baby shower, bridal shower, your daughter is having an impromtu slumber party for 7 of her closest little friends, you need to bring a dessert at the last minute to the Little League baseball team potluck dinner, and you have no idea what to make and definitely have zero time to slave away.
This is your saving grace.
It’s an easy, no-bake little diddy, combining sweet with tart, smooth with crumbly, salty with sweet.
And you can knock it out in 15 minutes flat.
The best part of these freezer bars, in addition to being pink, is the use of one of my favorite ingredients, COOL WHIP Whipped Topping.
Copious amount of COOL WHIP in the freezer for a rainy day was totally normal in my household growing up.
This recipe is a play on something my mom used to make called Lemon Lush and when I saw this recipe on the Kraft site for No-Bake Raspberry-Lemon Bars, it got my wheels turning.
In addition to my love for the fluffy stuff, I love a good crumble topping. Actually, I am one of those people who picks off the crumble topping pieces from blueberry muffins or peach cobbler.
They are concentrated little balls of butter and sugar so of course that’s what I go for.
Except this crumb topping is not made from butter and sugar and flour.
It’s made from butter and sugar and Ritz crackers.
I have spring fever, badly. Maybe if I keep making frozen desserts spring and summer will arrive faster.
This is the type of refreshing dessert you want after a hard day at the beach.
In between that beloved crumble topping and the buttery, slightly salty Ritz cracker crust is the tangy-yet-sweet COOL WHIP middle that’s fluffy without being airy.
Prepare to be that mom, that wife, that person whom everyone at the potluck runs up to trying to find out Who made THAT dessert. And is she sharing the recipe.
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Pink Lemonade Freezer Bars (No-Bake)
3 sleeves Ritz crackers (about 120 crackers, 40 per sleeve)
1/2 heaping cup powdered sugar
3/4 cup butter, melted (1 1/2 sticks)
1 12-ounce can pink lemonade concentrate, thawed to liquid (I used Ralph’s storebrand)
1 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk
1 8-ounce container COOL WHIP Whipped Topping, thawed to room temperature
red or pink food coloring, optional (I used about one dozen drops of red food coloring)
Line a 9-by-9-inch pan with foil and spray with cooking spray. Place the crackers and powdered sugar in a food processor or blender and pulverize. (Note if you are using a Vita-Mix, you may have to stop and tamp down a couple times and “fluff” up the mixture with a spoon, then turn the machine back on. Cracker-crushing can be done by hand by placing crackers into a large ziptop food storage bag, zipping it shut, and rolling over the bag with a large glass, coffee can, or rolling pin). Place the cracker crumbs into a bowl, add the melted butter, and stir to combine. Press a little less than 3/4 of the mixture into the bottom of the prepared pan, set the pan aside, and reserve the remaining 1/4 of the cracker crumbs.
In a large mixing bowl, combine pink lemonade concentrate, sweetened condensed milk, and stir until homogenous. Add the COOL WHIP and stir until homogenous. If desired, add food coloring drops to desired shade and stir until color is uniform. Pour the mixture over the crust, noting that you may have an extra half cup or so of the mixture depending on the height of your pan; do not overfill the pan. Use the extra mixture for a mini-tartlette, as a dip for fruit, or just eat it. Top the mixture with the remaining cracker crumbs by sprinkling them over the top. Place pan into the freezer to set up for at least 4 hours before slicing and serving. Store extra dessert in the freezer.
Recipe tweaks and notes:
I used Original Ritz Crackers but there are Low-Salt, Honey Butter, and Reduced Fat varieties that could work; or use another type of cracker, a handful of pretzels, or potato chips. Prepare and use approximately 3 cups of crumbs.
Graham cracker crumbs could be substituted. If using graham cracker crumbs, omit the powdered sugar. Prepare and use approximately 3 cups of crumbs.
Alternatively, you could use a prepared pie crust such as a graham cracker crust and pour the filling into it. I surmise you will be able to fill two 8-inch or 9-inch pie tins with the quantity of pink filling mixture the recipe yields.
Before sprinkling the final layer of cracker crumbs over the top, sprinkle 1/2 cup white chocolate chips.
You can make this in a 9-by-13-inch pan however the bars will be much thinner and the crust will be much thinner. I prefer the smaller pan and thicker bars and a thicker crust.
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Gather the goods.
Place the crackers and powdered sugar into the cracker pulverizing container.
If you don’t have one of these or don’t have a food processor, place the crackers and sugar into a large ziptop bag and roll a glass or a rolling pin over it until you have crumbs.
Or hit the power-on switch for about 5 seconds.
Oh, the power.
How do you make Ritz crackers better? You crush them and add butter and sugar.
Stir until this hot mess combines and a dough forms.
Press slightly less than three-quarters of the dough into the prepared pan, reserving the remainder for the crumble topping.
Crack the seal on the thawed container of COOL WHIP.
How do you make a can of pink lemonade juice concentrate become amazing?
Add a can of sweetened condensed milk and a container of COOL WHIP. That’ll do the trick.
Pour the pink mixture over the crust, add the crumb topping, and freeze.
Allow this to set up for at least four hours. While waiting, remember that patience is a virtue.
The middle pink layer never quite freezes solid so you don’t have to struggle to slice it, yet it has a surprisingly long room temperature “shelf life” before it begins to melt.
Must be one of those magical properties of COOL WHIP.
I always go for that bite of softserve that is just slightly melty. This dessert tastes even creamier when it just begins to melt and is going to be my summertime go-to dessert.
Or my put-a-smile-on-my-family’s-face-in-a-hurry-dessert.
Another Ritz Cracker recipe:
Ritz-Stuffed Peanut Butter Cups (Vegan, use a GF cracker to make GF)
Related Sweet ‘n Salty Recipes:
Pretzel Peanut Caramel Peanut Butter Cookie Dough Truffles (with Vegan & GF options)
Peanut Butter Cookie Dough, laced with pretzels, encased in chocolate, and topped with more pretzels.
Compost Cookies – Chips of all kinds are included: Potato chips, chocolate chips, butterscotch chips.
Sweet, a hint of salty, and full of texture.
Do you have any favorite recipes using COOL WHIP?
Links welcome and I’d love to hear about your favorite ways to use COOL WHIP and what you make with it.
As part of the Foodbuzz Tastemaker Program, I received coupons for free COOL WHIP Whipped Topping and a stipend. Sponsored posts are purely editorial content that we are pleased to have presented by a participating sponsor. Advertisers do not produce the content.
What you add makes it. #coolwhipmoms
This is awesome. Love the pink! It reminds me of the summer days poolside as a kid and my sister and I would like away at our “frozen pink lemonades”
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Averie @ Averie Cooks replied: — April 24th, 2012 at 4:11 pm
Reminds me of time with my sister and growing up, too. And my grandma…she loved recipes like this.
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Very cool – that would be super cute for a girlie girl’s birthday party too.
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Yum those look so good, so trying them.
Tab
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Averie @ Averie Cooks replied: — April 24th, 2012 at 4:09 pm
Please LMK how you like them!
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Really cool Cool Whip dessert! Love the photos on the beach, which reminds me that I need vacations, away from everything, just my family and the beach, and blue water…:) and this dessert, strait from the freezer.
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Averie @ Averie Cooks replied: — April 24th, 2012 at 4:09 pm
In going thru my photo stash, I was feeling major beach withdrawals..ha!
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I love recipes like this. I bet the Ritz crackers make it too. PS – Skylar is adorable!
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Averie @ Averie Cooks replied: — April 24th, 2012 at 4:09 pm
Between this and the compost cookies, I’ve been on the salty/sweet desserts lately!
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I love Cool Whip! My husband thinks I am crazy, glad I am not alone :) These bars sound amazing, perfect for a summer afternoon!
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Averie @ Averie Cooks replied: — April 24th, 2012 at 4:08 pm
Tell him HE’S the crazy one :)
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How fun and girly!! I could eat an entire tub of cool whip ;)
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Averie @ Averie Cooks replied: — April 24th, 2012 at 4:08 pm
Me too :)
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Ahh love all these summery recipes! :) My mom would LOVE this one! Sending her the link!
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Averie @ Averie Cooks replied: — April 24th, 2012 at 4:08 pm
LMK if she makes them. It’s SUCH a MN/WI type recipe :)
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im saving this recipe! thank you!
also, i’m sure i missed this post somewhere but i thought you were vegan? when did that change?
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Averie @ Averie Cooks replied: — April 24th, 2012 at 4:07 pm
About 2 years ago :)
I have this post you may want to read since you asked. Thanks for following along over the years!
http://www.loveveggiesandyoga.com/popular
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yes ma’am! a hard day at the beach welcomes this kind of treat!
i am printing this one and saving it for the 90 degree days ahead
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Averie @ Averie Cooks replied: — April 24th, 2012 at 4:06 pm
I think you will love them! Please LMK if you make them! I saw Erica make your choc cookies today. Now I want to make them even more!
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I made something kind of similar to this for my graduation party last summer, but it was strawberry flavored. I am sure you could easily make this one strawberry or that one pink lemonade. Either way, you can’t go wrong with a buttery cookie crust and a creamy middle. I have to say though, that these pink lemonade bars with condensed milk sound better than the ones I made with cream cheese. Sweetened condense milk >>>> cream cheese!
https://makingfoodandotherstuff.wordpress.com/2011/06/23/about-those-cheesecake-bars/
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Averie @ Averie Cooks replied: — April 24th, 2012 at 4:05 pm
Omg I remember that post now! I have to say, the lightness of the COOL WHIP with the sweetened cond milk, are just…perfect together. Yes to: Sweetened condense milk >>>> cream cheese!
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These look beautiful Averie!!! I am going to make these for my sister for her birthday! She loves anything with Cool Whip!
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Averie @ Averie Cooks replied: — April 24th, 2012 at 4:05 pm
Aww, well aren’t you sweet. LMK how she likes them!
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These look so refreshing! Awesome idea :)
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ok Averie… maybe you should change the name of these bars to “the wham bam, thank you ma’am magical bars” – 15 minutes? no bake? salty/sweet? fruity, creamy? my head is spinning! amazing recipe.
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Averie @ Averie Cooks replied: — April 24th, 2012 at 9:53 pm
Aww, thanks. It’s totally one of those really easy AND good desserts and it’s unexpected; the sweet/salty/tangy all working together.
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Very interesting and creative! by the way, I made your peppermint/creme de menthe bars tonight (or a variation thereof). They were the first things from your blog I made, and I think they are my favorite recipe of yours. Perfection. Minty, creamy, vanilla-y perfection – and so quick, too!
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Averie @ Averie Cooks replied: — April 24th, 2012 at 7:07 pm
Thanks for LMK they are a fave of yours. Funny, a very good friend of mine who I got to know in the blog world made them as one of the very first things from my blog and she wrote to me about it and the rest is history…she’s one of my besties and we’ve “known” each other for 3 years and it all started with those bars!
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Patricia @ thecastironvegan replied: — April 25th, 2012 at 12:32 pm
I am telling you, those mint bars of yours are genius, pure genius. I have never made them 100% according to the recipe (I seem to be incapable of following a recipe exactly…), but they are delicious how I make them and I am sure they are even more delicious in their original form. (The changes I made are very minor: I use all ground oats for the crust, instead of half oats and half nuts, and I use peppermint extract because I’m not sure if creme de menthe is vegan.) GENIUS.
I love anything with cool whip. These look delish!
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hillbilly icebox pie. one of my all time, my momma’s from west virginia, zomg I love this stuff.
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Averie @ Averie Cooks replied: — April 24th, 2012 at 9:53 pm
I love that name! Never heard of that one but off to google it and see how close it comes to this!
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I love the looks of these! Amazingly enough, my youngest was telling me yesterday how his favorite juice flavor is pink lemonade! That seems to happen a lot between my kiddos and your posts! Will keep you posted when I make these. Maybe for Fridays sleepover with the three other teenage boys that will be here! Missed u, Averie! :-)
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Averie @ Averie Cooks replied: — April 24th, 2012 at 9:52 pm
I was hoping you’d see this post and want to make it b/c I actually thought about you when I was making it, thinking I bet Michele’s kids would like this and yes…that is TOO ironic about your kids and my desserts a day or two later. It happens LOTS!
Keep me posted on the results & reactions if you make it!
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Hi Averie. I love the lead-in to this recipe. I have totally had those moments when I needed to whip up a quick snack for those after school impromptu play dates.
I also love the step-by -step instructions and photos as you can see how easy this recipe is to make. You continue to amaze me with your creativity in the kitchen.
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Averie @ Averie Cooks replied: — April 24th, 2012 at 10:00 pm
Oh I am SO GLAD you saw this and wrote in. You, and the mama/friend above you, Michele, are two mamas I respect so much and I am glad you can relate to my opening line. YES!
And the step-by-step is not something I do every single post in THIS much detail b/c it’s very time consuming, so a 15 min dessert isn’t really a 15min dessert :) But for this post, it was worth it!
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jackie @ marin mama cooks replied: — April 25th, 2012 at 6:29 am
Aww, you’re so sweet Averie. The feeling is totally mutual. I admire you because you actually create your recipes and they are stunning as well as delicious. Someday, I will have the confidence to be able to veer away from a recipe and create something of my own.
I know how time consuming step-by-step photos can be. I only do it because my friends need and enjoy them. It’s something they have gotten use to seeing on the blog so I continue doing it for them. Sometimes though, I just want to snap a photo of a finished product and call it a day. That is why I only post 2x a week because it takes so long for me to edit and write up a post.
Thanks for all the great tips on lightroom and the push to buy it. It has done wonders for my photos. :)
Averie @ Averie Cooks replied: — April 25th, 2012 at 10:10 am
I just upgraded to LR4 about 1 week ago. Loving it! The finished images are just a little nicer than with LR3. For the 79 bucks, well worth it.
And doing step by step for others, my friend, you have a life. They arent bloggers and dont know what’s involved in ALL that goes into a post so you make sure you’re taking care of YOU and doing what you need to do :)
jackie @ marin mama cooks replied: — April 25th, 2012 at 3:44 pm
Great advice! I need to remember that more :)
These look amazing!! Cool whip is a favorite of mine as well :) It definitely reminds me of growing up and dipping strawberry after strawberry into the tub… mmm….. The cracker crumb is genius! I must try asap.
Your daughter is so cute too! That blonde hair, how could she not be yours? :)
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I LOVE the sweet and salty taste combo- thanks for the recipes!
Cool whip definitely reminds me of being young (in Canada). My parents used to serve it on top of fresh summer strawberries. But they don’t sell it here in the UK!
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This looks like the perfect summer dessert! Love it!
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Love the pink lemonade bars, I am a sucker for pretty pink desserts, and I am a big fan of whipped cream!! Your daughter is very pretty :)
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The pink lemonade bars look wonderful, perfect treat for the summer for a day on the lake or beach. Awesome job and great pics, the colors are so vibrant and that’s saying a lot from my dinky laptop screen in a hotel! :-)
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Salty and sweet- can’t be beat! I’ll wait to try this on a day when we need some cooling off…but then I have it to look forward to.
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Ohh, I LOVE these!! Especially the no-bake aspect! Perfect after a day at the beach or a summer cookout!
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Averie @ Averie Cooks replied: — April 25th, 2012 at 10:09 am
they scream summer cookouts and potlucks, for sure!
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Ohhh-pink fluffy stuff between a crust and crumble topping. Looks great and easy to make. I have used some cool whip in frostings to “lighten” them up for my husband. He isn’t a fan of rich buttercream like me. I also like to mix cool whip in with my banana soft serve, or just eat it straight out of the container (slightly thawed).
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these look delicious and are such a cute color! love it!
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Hey – the recipe I posted today has CoolWhip!! These sound so delicious and refreshing – and your daughter is just way too adorable!!
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Averie @ Averie Cooks replied: — April 25th, 2012 at 8:41 pm
I know I was drooling over it…and there have been so many C.W. recipes floating around the past week or so all of a sudden!
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These look amazing Averie! What a clever idea! I definitely look forward to making these to serve poolside this summer!
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Averie @ Averie Cooks replied: — April 26th, 2012 at 9:02 pm
Thanks & thanks for the pin!
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I make a recipe in a sound spring form pan with cool whip, frozen juice concentrate, cream cheese, icing sugar and a graham cracker crust. It is then frozen and delicious.
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Averie @ Averie Cooks replied: — April 26th, 2012 at 9:21 pm
That sounds awesome. I have seen other COOL WHIP + cream cheese recipes but hadn’t ever combined it with sweetened cond milk. It never freezes *quite* solid; whereas I’d imagine it gets more solid/thick with cream cheese. I need to try your recipe!
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Just wanted to say I made these yesterday and I had a little extra to taste test. Love the tangy/sweet/salty combo!
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Averie @ Averie Cooks replied: — May 25th, 2012 at 8:23 am
YAY!! Thanks for the report & glad you love them!
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I MADE THIS LAST NIGHT! Easy peasy lemon squeezy, and DELISH. :) Delish, Averie. You’re the best when it comes to sweet :) Is it bad I had some for my breakfast?!
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Averie @ Averie Cooks replied: — July 19th, 2012 at 2:04 pm
Glad you love them and yes they are ” Easy peasy lemon squeezy” <— my 5 year old just used that expression on my yesterday. I busted out laughing so hard coming from her little mouth :)
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Jane replied: — July 19th, 2012 at 4:38 pm
She did?! How freaking adorable is that?? What a sweetheart!
Averie @ Averie Cooks replied: — July 19th, 2012 at 5:00 pm
I was making dinner asking her if she could spell cat for me. She’s like, mom. Easy peasy lemon squeezy C-A-T as she screams it to me :)
Jane replied: — July 20th, 2012 at 5:42 am
I LITERALLY just laughed out loud, oooh my GOODNESS!!! SO funny and cute!!!!!!!! You must have just been hysterical when she said that! Oh, from the mouths of babes :)
Those Pink Lemonade Freezer Bars are not only delicious but beautiful too. Almost too pretty to eat…almost! Thanks so much for contributing to RecipeLionBlog.com with the recipe. You can check out your post among many others at http://blog.recipelion.com/tmhb-cool-whip-recipes/ for more recipes that use Cool Whip. Thanks again Averie!
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I made this and wrote about it here. Next time I need to try it with limeade!
ps I ate the extra filling with the leftover Ritz crackers I didn’t use for the crust. So good!
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Averie @ Averie Cooks replied: — September 11th, 2012 at 11:21 am
Glad you made it and enjoyed it and thanks for blogging about it!
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