Make An Ice Cream Cake

Banana Split Ice Cream Cake

Some of the best ice cream cake recipes lean on nostalgic flavors, like this extraordinary banana-split-inspired frozen dessert, which is layered with caramel banana jam, maraschino cherries suspended in vanilla ice cream, and crunchy crushed peanuts. We’re not sure we can imagine a better summer birthday cake idea.

Easy Homemade Ice Cream Cake

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Using just three ingredients, you can customize a homemade Ice Cream Cake for any birthday or holiday in the flavors you want. Its super affordable, very straightforward, and so fun to make!

Make It Mine Ice Cream Cake

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How To Make An Ice Cream Cake

1. Line an 8-inch cake pan with plastic wrap. Transfer all the ice cream to your lined cake pan and then cover with another layer of plastic. Press down into a flat layer and freeze.

2. Prepare and cool an 8-inch chocolate cake and cover the top with the chocolate fudge sauce using an offset spatula.

3. Sprinkle chopped cookies on top of the hot fudge.

4. Remove the ice cream layer from the freezer, unwrap it, and place it on top of the fudge. Cover the whole thing in plastic and place in the freezer while you make the whipped cream.

5. Combine cold whipping cream, sugar, and vanilla and mix starting on low. Gradually increase speed to high and mix until very soft peaks form. Finish off by whisking the whipped cream by hand until the peaks firm up. See my Whipped Cream Recipe for more instructions.

6. Cover the cake with the whipped cream and transfer the rest to a piping bag fitted with a large closed star tip.

7. Pipe a drip of chocolate onto the edge of the entire cake.

8. Pipe a scalloped pattern onto the top edge of the cake with the reserved whipped cream. Press crumbled cookies onto the bottom edge, and the cake is ready to serve.

How To Store Ice Cream Cake

This ice cream cake should be stored in the freezer. It will melt quickly if not kept in the freezer. It will stay good wrapped carefully with plastic wrap, or in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 7 days. Ice crystals will form on the cake and lower its quality after that amount of time. I recommend serving the cake within 24 to 48 hours after making the ice cream cake.

If you have any leftover ice cream cake, you can store the leftovers for up to 6 or 7 days in the freezer after serving. Store the leftovers by placing the remaining cake in an airtight container. Or by slicing up individual pieces and wrapping them first in plastic wrap, then in a freezer safe bag.

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Types Of Ice Cream To Use

My favorite flavors of ice cream to use here are cookies and cream or strawberry. But other great choices would be mint chocolate chip, cookie dough, chocolate, caramel, peanut butter, cherry, coffee, cheesecake, pistachio or vanilla bean.

Then another variation here is to spread the whipped cream over the top and sides of the cake, or for a thicker layer only spread it over the top.

Easy Copycat Dairy Queen Ice Cream Cake

As a kid, I rarely had the same birthday cake twice. I like all kinds of cake too much to stick with one. Regular cake, cheesecake, ice cream cakes you name it. The only one I didnt need to have for my birthday was a cookie cake, because I knew I could depend on my dad for that one at his birthday. So naturally, Ive tried quite a few cakes including ice cream cakes.

So, these days I feel like Im a bit of an ice cream cake connoisseur. Theres definitely something to love about all the different kinds available, but when it comes to a Dairy Queen ice cream cake, that middle layer of chocolate fudge along with the chocolate crunchies is pure heaven. Often, Id just dig that right out from between the ice cream and eat it alone. So darn good!

When I started playing around with ice cream cakes several years ago, I did a fair amount of experimenting with that middle fudge layer and finally perfected it. Ive shared it before, but never for this copycat cake so Im excited to share it with you today.

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More Homemade Ice Cream Treats

Make fresh chocolate cookies and make your own Homemade Ice Cream Sandwiches with Vanilla ice cream or your favorite flavor.

You can enjoy your favorite Mexican restaurant treat, Fried Ice Cream, any time when you make it at home!

Bubblegum Ice Cream is a fun ice cream flavor that is a treat all on its own.

The Anatomy Of An Ice Cream Cake

• The ice cream: The ice cream is the star of the cake, so I recommend using a high-quality ice cream for the best flavor possible. I used Tillamook ice cream for both of the layers, which is my favorite brand, but you could also use brands like Breyers or Haagen Daaz. Make sure the ice cream you choose is a dairy forward ice cream and not just a frozen dessert as this will not be as soft and creamy.
• The Oreo crunchies: This layer is quick and easy to make, and you only need two ingredients! The Oreo cookies are crushed and then mixed with melted butter before baking which makes them extra crunchy and gives the cake a layer of texture.
• The homemade fudge: Homemade fudge is surprisingly simple to make and brings a layer of richness to the ice cream cake.
• The whipped cream frosting: Regular buttercream frosting would be too heavy for this ice cream cake which is why its frosted in homemade whipped cream instead!

Simply Recipes / Cambrea Gordon

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How To Store An Ice Cream Cake

This ice cream cake is actually a great recipe to make ahead. You can layer everything together, cover it and leave it in the pan you built it in. It should be fine sitting in the pan for about a week ahead of time. Then you can frost it the of or the day before you need it so that the decorations looks nice and fresh.

After decorating, its ideal to store it in a container in the freezer. If you dont have a container that size or space in your freezer, itll be fine for a few days in your freezer.

Ingredients In Homemade Ice Cream Cake

Vanilla Ice Cream – One typical 1.5 quart container of your favorite vanilla ice cream is needed for the first layer of the ice cream cake. Sprinkles Ice Cream works really well in this recipe too.

Chocolate Ice Cream – For the other flavor, a container of chocolate ice cream is perfect.

Hot Fudge Sauce – This chocolatey ice cream topping makes a sweet and gooey center layer for our ice cream cake

Oreos – The chocolate crunchies in a Dairy Queen ice cream cake are easily replicated by using crushed Oreo cookies. Make this recipe gluten free using gluten-free Oreos or another gluten-free chocolate cookie.

Heavy Whipping Cream – The frosting for ice cream cake is a simple sweetened fresh whipped cream.

Vanilla Extract – This adds flavor to your whipped cream topping.

Powdered Sugar – Just a small amount helps to stabilize and sweeten the whipped cream.

Rainbow Sprinkles – These are technically optional, but I think sprinkles make everything more fun, especially a cake!

If you have any questions about the ingredients for homemade ice cream cake, please leave a comment below and I will get back to you.

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How To Frost A Cake With Whipped Cream

You may think that frosting a cake with whipped cream is going to be more difficult than a buttercream, but its actually fairly easy to work with. These are my best tips for frosting the cake with whipped cream successfully:

• Use a large offset spatula: A large offset spatula is designed to frost cakes with little effort and is my go-to tool of choice when frosting. If you dont have a large spatula you can also use a large butter knife, although the final texture wont be as smooth.
• Use a piping bag: This is my favorite way to frost any kind of cake, but especially whipped cream as it has a much lighter texture and makes it easier to work with. You can fit the piping bag with a round tip, then pipe the whipped cream in a spiral over the top and on the sides of the cake, then use your spatula to smooth the lines out. If you prefer to not use a piping bag thats okay! You can transfer the whipped cream onto the cake using a large spoon and then use your knife or spatula to spread it around the cake.
• Piping rosettes: If you dont have a piping bag you can also use a ziplock bag with the corner cut and then fit it with the star tip. You dont have to use a lot of pressure to create the rosettes as the whipped cream is very airy. To create perfect rosettes, hold the bag directly above the top of the cake and move it in a clockwise motion while squeezing with even continuous pressure.

Simply Recipes / Cambrea Gordon

Ice Cream Cake Recipes You Can Absolutely Make At Home

Store-bought ice cream cakes have made many birthdays happier, but these homemade ice cream cake recipes have the power to transform any gathering into a joyful celebration. These frozen, creamy delights are packed with flavor and textureplus, they offer the option for full customization based on your own preferences. Swap out the flavor of the ice cream, riff with your favorite mix-ins, or follow the recipe line by line for our test kitchen-approved flavor combos. Below, you’ll find a few of our favorite ice cream cake recipes, including seasonal options loaded with fruit, easy freezer riffs on the icebox cake, and sophisticated desserts for your next summer dinner party.

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Try Different Flavor Combinations

Using different flavors of ice cream, kinds of cookies or fillings can really allow you freedom in creating a unique and super delicious ice cream cake. Here are a few ideas! The sky really is the limit here.

• Mint Chocolate Chip: Mint Chocolate Chip ice cream + crushed thin mint cookies + hot fudge filling
• Butter Pecan: Butter Pecan ice cream + chopped pecans and shortbread cookies + butterscotch filling
• Chocolate Brownie: Chocolate Brownie ice cream + chopped brownie filling + chocolate sauce filling
• Reeses: Reeses Peanut Butter Ice Cream + chopped Reeses Peanut butter cups and chopped peanuts + hot fudge sauce filling
• Ultimate Oreo: Oreo ice cream + chopped Oreos + hot fudge filling

Assemble The Cake & Decorate

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Pro Tips For Making These Ice Cream Sandwiches

• Measure your flour correctly! Adding too much flour to the recipe is the most common mistake. The best, and easiest way to measure flour is by using a scale. If you dont have one then fluff your flour with a spoon, sprinkle it into your measuring cup, and use a knife to level it off.
• Chill the cookies before assembly so the sandwiches set up quicker.
• You can make these ahead of time, wrap in paper and store in the freezer.
• Try rolling the sandwiches in shaved dark chocolate or sprinkles for some extra embellishment.

Other Ice Cream Cake Fillings And Add Ins

For the center layer of your ice cream cake, feel free to experiment with your favorite ice cream toppings and add ins. Here are some ideas to spark your creativity:

• Caramel, Butterscotch, or Peanut Butter Ice Cream Topping
• Chocolate or White Chocolate Ganache
• Actual Cake – you can make a single layer of chocolate or vanilla cake to sandwich in between the ice cream layers.
• Fruit Spreads, Jams, or fresh fruit purees
• Other cookies, such as chocolate chip cookies or vanilla shortbread.
• Chopped candy bars, like Snickers, KitKat, or Reese’s Cups.

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Peach And Butter Pecan Ice Cream Icebox Cake

If you love a dessert that’s a little bit salty and a little bit sweet, this is the one for you. Ritz crackers add a buttery, salty note that’s perfectly balanced with peach jam and store-bought butter pecan ice cream. This fuss-free ice cream cake recipe is easy to prep in advance and serve at your next outdoor dinner party.

How Do I Fix Over

Once over-whipped, the whipped cream will deflate and look curdled. Not to worry, you might be able to save it! Put the mixer on low and slowly drizzle cold heavy cream into the bowl until the whipped cream is fluffy again. You may need anywhere from 2 to 3 tablespoons or half a cup of heavy whipping cream.

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Tips And Tricks For Making Ice Cream Cake

Making a homemade ice cream cake may seem challenging at first, but it is actually simple to make. Here are a few tips for a rockstar cake:

• Use softened ice cream: This step is important because its very difficult to spread the ice cream if its straight out of the freezer.
• Clear freezer space: Ice cream cakes make frequent trips to the freezer to chill in between layers and before serving. I recommend clearing the space before starting so the cake layers are not sitting at room temperature in between steps which could cause it to melt.
• Use a springform pan: This type of pan is best for an ice cream cake because it allows you to remove it from the pan easily. If you dont have a springform pan you can also use a standard round cake pan.
• Make it ahead: Because this cake has multiple steps and lots of chill time, I recommend making it the day before you plan on serving it. I dont recommend making it too far ahead of time though unless you have some kind of cake carrier container to store it in. Leaving the cake uncovered in the freezer for longer than 1 week will start to take on a stale freezer taste.

Can This Be Made Gluten

Absolutely. To make this recipe gluten-free, swap all ingredients for gluten-free varieties. There are many gluten-free ice creams, chocolates and Oreo-like cookies on the market, so swapping for these can be done in a 1:1 ratio. One ingredient youll want to pay close attention to is the powdered sugar for the whipped cream icing. While most powdered sugars are gluten-free, some include a starch that may contain gluten.

For a vegan recipe, opt for dairy-free and vegan-friendly ingredient alternatives. Everything can be done in a 1:1 swap with great success. There are so many vegan ice cream brands to choose from that as a vegan its 100% possible to have your ice cream cake, and eat it too!

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