Enjoy a slice of this Easy Ice Cream Cake recipe made by stacking ice cream sandwiches, chocolate chip ice cream, hot fudge, and cool whip! Better, and more affordable, than Dairy Queen too!
Thank-you so much for sharing this! I absolutely LOVE icecream cake! I made it today and it turned out GREAT!
– Terry
It’s so easy to do, I was amazed.
This recipe was originally published in April 2012. I updated the recipe notes and the images in August 2025.
Aimee’s Recipe Notes
Taste: Creamy ice cream with soft cookie sandwiches.
Flavor: Use any flavor of ice cream in this cake you love.
Prep Ahead: Perfect for parties. You can make this cake days in advance!
Need more birthday cake ideas? My yellow cake is a classic treat that’s loved by everyone. Top it with some homemade chocolate frosting the perfect cake combo!
Ingredients for Ice Cream Cake
You only need four ingredients to make this easy ice cream cake. Scroll down to the recipe card below to find all the details.
- Ice Cream Sandwiches– You will need about 10 full size ice cream sandwiches. I use the vanilla ice cream filled ones, but you can change it up by using any flavor.
- Ice Cream– I love using chocolate chip or cookies and ice cream to make a classic Dairy Queen inspired ice cream cake. However, again, choose your own flavor.
- Hot Fudge– Adds a fudgy filling that when frozen tastes amazing.
- Cool Whip– Use this to spread over the top of the cake before serving. Homemade whipped cream or my stabilized whipped cream work great too.
Add your own toppings. I love a drizzle of chocolate syrup and sprinkles. Mini M&M’s are also colorful and delicious.
How to Make an Ice Cream Cake
In a bread loaf pan, line it with plastic wrap or lay parchment paper inside. Place about 5 of your ice cream sandwiches on the bottom of the loaf pan (cut to fit).
Spread softened ice cream over sandwiches. I used an ice cream scoop to dollop onto the ice cream sandwiches, then spread with an offset spatula.
Pour jar of hot fudge sauce over the ice cream, spreading evenly.
Top with about 5 ice cream sandwiches, cut to fit. Cover with plastic wrap and freeze for 3 hours or overnight (or until ready to serve).
When ready to serve, invert loaf pan onto a serving dish. Remove parchment paper or plastic wrap. Using a spatula, spread thawed Cool Whip over the cake.
Garnish with M&M’s, chocolate syrup, magic shell, or anything else you desire (chocolate chips, caramel sauce, etc.). Slice and enjoy.
How to Store Ice Cream Cake
Keep your homemade ice cream cake frozen at all times.
Store leftover cake in freezer too, wrapped in plastic wrap.
Tips and Tricks
- Take your tub of ice cream out of the freezer as you get ready to assemble the cake. This gives it time to soften a bit. Use my creamy vanilla ice cream if you’d like!
- Swap out your favorite flavor of ice cream depending on what you love. Strawberry, Mint Chocolate Chip, Cookies and Cream Ice Cream. It’s all delicious. Use our homemade chocolate ice cream next. Our berry ice cream would also be quite tasty!
- Love Dairy Queen’s Ice cream cakes? Add some “crunch” by crushing oreos and mixing with the hot fudge layer. This Oreo Ice cream cake is the perfect example.
- Make a ice cream cake bar allowing guests to garnish their slice of cake with all their favorite toppins. Candies, chocolate chips, cherries, chocolate syrup, caramel sauce, etc.
- Ice Cream cakes can be festive for holidays too. Use mint chocolate chip ice cream sandwiches and cherry ice cream filling for a festive Christmas treat.
- Double the recipe and make in a large square or 13×9 baking dish. Top with Cool whip and freeze. No need to invert out of the dish, just slice and serve.
More Easy Dessert Recipes
- Make this easy and creamy Banana Split Cheesecake that will be loved by the whole family!
- Try out this rich and decadent Chocolate Eclair Cake with creamy Chocolate Ganache Frosting on top!
- These ooey, gooey, Original Rice Krispie Treats are the perfect chewy treat!
- I love this Chocolate Pudding Cake Recipe! Especially when it’s topped with some creamy and homemade Chocolate Frosting!
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Ice Cream Cake Recipe
Ingredients
- 10 regular sized ice cream sandwiches
- 1.5 quart chocolate chip ice cream or your favorite variety, softened
- 1 jar hot fudge sauce 12 ounce
- 8 ounce Cool Whip thawed
Instructions
- In a standard sized loaf pan, line it with plastic wrap. Lay about 5 of your ice cream sandwiches on the bottom of the loaf pan (cut to fit). Spread softened ice cream over sandwiches.
- Pour cooled hot fudge sauce over ice cream, spreading evenly. Top with remaining ice cream sandwiches, cut to fit. Cover with more plastic wrap and return to freezer for 3 hours, or overnight.
- When ready to serve, Invert loaf pan on rectangular plate. Remove plastic wrap. Using a large spoon, spread Cool Whip over cake. Serve immediately.
- To store leftovers, cover with plastic wrap and freeze. ENJOY!
Notes
- Take your tub of ice cream out of the freezer as you get ready to assemble the cake. This gives it time to soften a bit. Use my creamy vanilla ice cream if you’d like!
- Swap out your favorite flavor of ice cream depending on what you love. Strawberry, Mint Chocolate Chip, Cookies and Cream. It’s all delicious.
- Love Dairy Queen’s Ice cream cakes? Add some "crunch" by crushing oreos and mixing with the hot fudge layer. This Oreo Ice cream cake is the perfect example.
- Make a ice cream cake bar allowing guests to garnish their slice of cake with all their favorite toppins. Candies, chocolate chips, cherries, chocolate syrup, caramel sauce, etc.
- Ice Cream cakes can be festive for holidays too. Use mint chocolate chip ice cream sandwiches and cherry ice cream filling for a festive Christmas treat.
- Double the recipe and make in a large square or 13×9 baking dish. Top with Cool whip and freeze. No need to invert out of the dish, just slice and serve.
- Cool Whip- swap it out for my homemade whipped cream instead.
Nutrition
More Dessert Recipes
Easy Ice Cream Cake recipe made by stacking ice cream sandwiches, chocolate chip ice cream, hot fudge, and cool whip! Perfect birthday or party treat!
Thank-you so much for sharing this! I absolutely LOVE icecream cake! I made it today and it turned out GREAT!
It’s so easy to do, I was amazed.
Thank-you again!
Terry
Wow we love ice cream cake! Thanks for a great recipe.
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What a great looking cake! Looks like something that came straight from a bakery window! Delish!
That looks amazing! My son is going to love that for his birthday!
This couldn’t have come at a better time, next week is my oldest’s birthday and he would love this! I’ve always ordered him one but it’d be fun making one this year instead. Thanks!
What a different but fun dessert! Can’t wait to try this one out
What a different but fun dessert! Can’t wait to try this one out
This is so fun and yummy!
Homemade ice creams cakes are the best! I am so happy I found this, I am going to make it for my son’s birthday next week!
Such a fun and delicious treat! We loved it!
We love how simple and easy this recipe is to make!
We love how simple and easy this is to make!
What a great idea! My daughter will love this with Mocha ice cream.
wow,looks good and it’s easy(my kinda recipe)LOL
Goes perfect with this minus weather here the last 3 days.
Remember as a kid our family all went to ice cream shop and got banana splits and it was in the minus teens.LOL That was mid-late 1970’s.
Oooh, I love banana splits. Glad to hear others like ice cream in cold weather 🙂
Thanks for sharing this recipe, I used it for my daughter’s birthday party today and it was a huge success, I will definitely be making this again
This looks fantastic! I have made several using oreos as a “crust” the only tip I have is that it seems to work better with a less expensive ie. store brand ice cream, it seems to spread better. Can’t wait to try this recipe, Thank You!
Can’t wait to make this with my kids! They will love it!!
Who ever thought you could make your own ice cream cake?!? Looks delicious!