Sand Cake (No-Bake Serbian Cake)

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Ready for a brand new dessert recipe that whips up fast? This Serbian no-bake sand cake, AKA pesak torta, is the perfect solution for busy days when you need a fast show-stopping dessert.

Four slices of sand cake on small plates.

Estimated reading time: 7 minutes

This is a fun, no-fuss dessert recipe that will surely be a crowd-pleaser. You don't need to turn on the oven - perfect for those hot summer days when you want something sweet and chilled.

Table of Contents

1) ⌛What is Sand Cake?

2) Why this Sand Cake Works

3) 🍰 Why we love sand cake

4) 🛒 Ingredients and Notes

5) 🔪 Instructions

6) 👉 Variations

7) 👩‍🍳 Expert Tips

8) 🗄️ Storage Instructions

9) ❓ Frequently Asked Questions

10) More Easy No-Bake Cake Recipes to Try!

11) Sand Cake (No-Bake Serbian Cake)

⌛What is Sand Cake?

Don't worry! Luckily, the sand cake is not made of sand! Instead, it has three layers of vanilla pudding with shredded (desiccated) coconut, graham cracker crumbs, and ground walnuts.

That's the secret of its texture: creamy and gritty, which is how this dessert got its name, Sand Cake. It's a Serbian cake recipe known as Pesak Torta.

Not only is this sand pie delicious, but it also requires just six easy ingredients, and it's a no-bake treat, so it's super quick to make.

You could make this Serbian dessert in a sand bucket and serve it with a small shovel for a kids' birthday party or summer picnic for a fun and adorable twist.

Why this Sand Cake Works

Sand cake can be classified as relatively quick and easy to prepare.

Precisely because of that, this cake is a favorite of both young and not overly experienced homemakers and experienced bakers who, on a given occasion, do not have too much time to set aside to prepare the cake.

🍰 Why we love sand cake

No baking is required, and it is perfect for summer (and year-round), so the oven can stay off.
You only need six simple ingredients.
It's a favorite of kids and adults alike (what kid doesn't like to eat sand, lol).
It feeds a large crowd.
Family-friendly
It's quick and easy to make!
It tastes like a tropical vacation. Great for a beach-themed party.

🛒 Ingredients and Notes

Six ingredients for easy no-bake Serbian sand cake.

Initially, this cake uses "cook and serve" pudding. You can use it if you wish, but we like to simplify recipes and find shortcuts that don't compromise the traditional flavor.

Instant pudding & pie filling - Vanilla pudding is used traditionally, but you could also use white chocolate pudding.
Milk - Use full-fat milk for the best flavor and texture. You can substitute it with plant-based milk if you must.
Butter - We used unsalted butter (not mandatory). Substitute with margarine or vegan butter that doesn't stay soft when refrigerated.
Ground Biscuits - Graham cracker crumbs, Plazma, Maria cookies, digestive cookies, or Nilla wafers are all suitable for this recipe.
Shredded unsweetened coconut - Desiccated coconut is the best, which is finely shredded coconut that is dry to the touch. Do not use coconut flour or flakes. Sorry, no substitutions here. It is necessary to use desiccated coconut for the best texture.
Ground walnuts - You can use ground almonds, hazelnuts, or nuts of your choice. If you can't find ground nuts, use a food processor to grind whole walnuts.

🔪 Instructions

Step 1

In a bowl, beat the softened butter until creamy.
In a small bowl, whisk one pudding package with 1 cup of milk.
Repeat two more times (or mix all the butter with all the milk and pudding, then divide into three equal parts).

Step 2

Mixing pudding with the butter in a bowl with a mixer.

Adding cookie crumbs, walnuts, or coconut to the pudding mixture.

Combine the pudding mixture with the butter.
Mix in graham cracker crumbs into one pudding mixture, walnuts into another, and coconut into a third.

Step 3

Layering pudding walnut mixture over pudding graham cracker crumbs mixture in a springform pan.

Spreading pudding coconut layer over other two sand cake layers.

Spread the pudding mixture of the darkest hue onto the bottom of a springform pan and then spread the lighter mixture over it (if you want to create an ombre look).
Top with the lightest hue - the coconut layer and decorate the cake if desired, then refrigerate until you're ready to serve.

An overhead view of decorated sand cake with cool whip, walnuts, and mint leaves as garnish. — We decorated sand cake with whipped cream, walnut halves, and mint leaves as garnish.

📝 NOTE: Looking for the FULL recipe to print? Find the complete list of ingredients and detailed instructions in the recipe card below.

👉 Variations

Add one tablespoon cocoa powder or ½ cup melted chocolate to the walnut or graham cracker layer to create a more distinctive, darker hue.
Use white chocolate pudding instead of vanilla - it won't turn the layers yellow.
Top the cake with whipped cream, cool whip, chocolate ganache, or whatever you desire. It is also great left as a "naked" cake sprinkled with ground coconut or walnuts.

👩‍🍳 Expert Tips

Use a food processor to grind walnuts. Don't process nuts for too long, or they will become oily.
Warm the knife in hot water before slicing the cake.
Substitute walnuts with nuts of choice.
Use plant-based milk and butter as a vegan option.

🗄️ Storage Instructions

Keep the leftover cake refrigerated for up to 5 days.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Why is it called sand cake?

It is called sand cake because when it is complete, the combination of pudding and the crunchy elements of crushed cookies, coconut, and nuts gives the cake the texture of wet sand.

Is this recipe gluten-free?

No, it is not gluten-free because the cookies have gluten. However, if you need to make this gluten-free recipe, substitute the crushed cookies for a gluten-free cookie of your choice, like Pamela's Gluten-Free Graham Crackers.

Can this recipe be made in advance?

Yes, you can prepare this no-bake cake a day before serving. Keep it refrigerated until you're ready to serve.

Can this recipe be made vegan?

Yes, you can make this recipe vegan but need some substitutions. Jell-O instant vanilla pudding and banana cream, pistachio, and lemon pudding are all completely vegan. Use plant-based such as nuts, soy, or coconut milk, and vegan butter as a substitute. You'll also need to purchase vegan-friendly graham crackers (we love Nabisco Original), as most graham crackers are made with honey.

More Easy No-Bake Cake Recipes to Try!

A close up of a sand cake slice on a plate showing of its ombre layers.

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A big slice of sand cake on a plate with a dessert spoon.

By Jas

Delicious, creamy three-layer Serbian ombre no-bake sand cake made with only six ingredients is a fun dessert to make when you’re short on time!

5 from 4 votes

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Prep Time 30

Total Time 30

Course Dessert

Cuisine Serbian

Yields people

Calories 436 kcal

EQUIPMENT

Ingredients

US Customary - Metric

▢ 3 (3.4 oz) packages vanilla instant pudding & pie filling
▢ 3 cups cold milk
▢ 3 sticks unsalted butter, at room temperature
▢ 2 ¼ cups graham cracker crumbs
▢ 2 ¼ cups shredded unsweetened coconut
▢ 2 ½ cups ground walnuts

Makes: 8inch round

Instructions

Grease an 8-inch springform and set aside.

Graham Cracker Layer

Pour 1 cup of milk into a small mixing bowl. Add one package pudding mix and beat with a wire whisk until well blended.
In a medium bowl, using an electric mixer, beat one stick butter until smooth and creamy. Add the pudding and mix until well combined. Fold in the graham cracker crumbs.
Spread the mixture into a prepared springform.

Coconut Layer

Pour 1 cup of milk into a small bowl. Add one package of pudding mix and beat with a wire whisk until well blended.
In a medium bowl, using an electric mixer, beat one stick of butter until smooth and creamy. Add the pudding and mix until well combined. Fold in the shredded coconut.
Gently spread the mixture over the first layer.

Walnut Layer

Pour 1 cup of milk into a small bowl. Add one package of pudding mix and beat with a wire whisk until well blended.
In a medium bowl, using an electric mixer, beat one stick of butter until smooth and creamy. Add the pudding and mix until well combined. Fold in the ground walnuts.
Gently spread the mixture on top of the coconut layer.
Decorate the cake as desired.

Notes

Use a food processor to grind walnuts. Don't process nuts for too long, or they will become oily.
Substitute walnuts with nuts of choice.
You can mix all the butter, milk, and pudding powder in one large bowl and then divide into three equal portions before adding the walnuts, coconut, and graham cracker crumbs. If you do so, ensure each part weighs precisely the same.
Use plant-based milk and butter as a vegan option.
Add one tablespoon cocoa powder or ½ cup melted chocolate to the walnut or graham cracker layer to create a more distinctive, darker hue.
Use white chocolate pudding instead of vanilla - it won't turn the layers yellow.
Top the cake with whipped cream, cool whip, chocolate ganache, or whatever you desire. It is also great left as a "naked" cake sprinkled with ground coconut or walnuts.
Warm the knife in hot water before slicing the cake.
Slice the cake into 8 or 16 potions.
Nutrition information is approximate and meant as a guideline only.

Storage: