Ice Cream Cake Recipe

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!

Need more birthday cake ideas? Our yellow cake is a classic treat that’s loved by everyone. Top it with some homemade chocolate frosting the perfect cake combo!

Ice cream cake with layers showing and topped with lit candles.


Why this Recipe Works

Everyone loves this easy recipe.

  • Easy prep
  • Can change up the flavors no problem
  • Festive
  • Make ahead of time!

Do you know what makes this easy Ice Cream Cake recipe? Ice Cream Sandwiches on top and bottom. 

And the best part, you can also find various flavored ice cream sandwiches in most grocery stores too. 

Ice cream cake topped with hot fudge and m&m candies.

How to Make an Ice Cream Cake

Step 1: In a bread loaf pan, line it with plastic wrap or lay parchment paper inside. Place about 4 of your ice cream sandwiches on the bottom of the loaf pan (cut to fit).

Step 2: 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.

Step 3: Pour jar of hot fudge sauce over the ice cream, spreading evenly.

Step by step photos for assembling an ice cream cake

Step 4: 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).

Step 5: When ready to serve, invert loaf pan onto a serving dish. Remove parchment paper or plastic wrap. Using a spatula, spread thawed Cool Whip (or homemade whipped cream) over the cake. 

Step 6: 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.

Apply whipped cream or cool whip to out surface of ice cream cake

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.
Ice cream cake topped with mini m&m's and chocolate syrup.

More Easy Dessert Recipes

Ice Cream Cake Recipe

5 from 20 votes
By: Aimee
Ice Cream Cake: easy cake made from ice cream sandwiches, hot fudge and whipped cream!
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 3 hours
Total Time: 3 hours 15 minutes
Servings: 16 servings

Ingredients 

  • 9 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
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Instructions 

  • In a standard sized loaf pan, line it with plastic wrap. Lay about 4 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

Calories: 194kcal, Carbohydrates: 25g, Protein: 3g, Fat: 10g, Saturated Fat: 6g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g, Cholesterol: 17mg, Sodium: 79mg, Sugar: 16g
Course: Cake
Cuisine: American
Did you make this recipe?Mention @shugarysweets or tag #shugarysweets!

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!



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About Aimee

Aimee is a dessert lover (specifically rice krispie treats), workout enthusiast, self-taught foodie, and recipe creator.

Learn more about Aimee.

Affiliate Disclosure:**There may be affiliate links in this post! By clicking on them, or purchasing recommended items I may receive a small compensation. However, I only recommend products I love! Thank you for supporting Shugary Sweets! See my disclosure policy for more info**

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Posted on August 27, 2019

Comments & Reviews

  1. 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

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  2. 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!

  3. 5 stars
    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!

  4. 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.

  5. 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

  6. 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!

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