Easy Ice Cream Cake Recipe (No Bake Dessert!) – Unsophisticook (2024)

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If you need a dessert that will wow the crowd in a hurry, look no further than this easy ice cream cake recipe… Prepare it in just 5 minutes (plus freezing time)!

Easy Ice Cream Cake Recipe (No Bake Dessert!) – Unsophisticook (1)

Ice Cream Cake Recipe

Once upon a time, my husband decided he’d like to host a “small” 4th of July cookout… You’d think I would have learned by now that my husband never does anything small. So I really shouldn’t have been surprised when, what started as a guest list of about 25 friends and family, quickly spiraled to upwards of 50 people.

To say I was feeling a tad stressed out is an understatement. Luckily he asked everyone to bring a side or dessert, but we’d already made two additional trips to Walmart for more meat, utensils, napkins, trash bags, etc… Being a firm believer that you can just never have too many desserts, I also asked him to grab the ingredients for my favorite ice cream cake recipe on his last (and I hoped final) trip.

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Easy Ice Cream Cake Recipe (No Bake Dessert!) – Unsophisticook (2)

How To Make Ice Cream Cake

The good news is this is seriously the easiest ice cream cake recipe ever! It requires no baking, and you can totally customize it however you prefer. I chose to make an Oreo ice cream cake with chocolate ice cream, coupled with vanilla ice cream sandwiches, crushed Oreo cookies, and a thin layer of Smucker’s hot fudge. Dare I say it might even be better than a Dairy Queen ice cream cake?!

Normally I’d make my own homemade whipped cream, but since I was in a pinch for time, I asked him to grab a can of Reddi-wip. He brought home a can of their extra creamy variety to top it off. Can I just say this stuff is like heaven in a can?!?

Easy Ice Cream Cake Recipe (No Bake Dessert!) – Unsophisticook (3)

Ice Cream Sandwich Cake

This ice cream cake recipe starts with a 9″x5″ loaf pan that’s been lined with a piece of plastic wrap that’s long enough to hang over the edges. Don’t skip this step, because this is what will allow you to easily lift the entire cake out of the pan once it’s frozen solid.

Let your ice cream set out until it’s nice and soft. Then spread a layer that’s about 1/2-inch thick evenly across the bottom of the pan, making sure to push and smush it into all of the corners.

Easy Ice Cream Cake Recipe (No Bake Dessert!) – Unsophisticook (4)

Next, line up 5 ice cream sandwiches on top of the ice cream layer. They will be a bit of a tight fit, but just keep pressing down firmly and they’ll conform to the pan.

Easy Ice Cream Cake Recipe (No Bake Dessert!) – Unsophisticook (5)

On top of the ice cream sandwiches, I spread about half a jar of hot fudge topping, and topped that off with a layer of crushed Oreo cookies. Make sure to reserve about 1/4 cup of the crushed cookies to sprinkle on top later!

P.S. If you have the time and inclination, I can’t recommend this 5-minute, 5-ingredient hot fudge sauce recipe enough. One batch will provide more than enough for this ice cream sandwich cake, along with leftovers for later sundaes.

Easy Ice Cream Cake Recipe (No Bake Dessert!) – Unsophisticook (6)

Finally, I added another layer of the chocolate ice cream and folded the plastic wrap over the top. Into the freezer it went for about four hours to freeze solid throughout.

Easy Ice Cream Cake Recipe (No Bake Dessert!) – Unsophisticook (7)

How simple is that?!? After freezing, I lifted the ice cream cake from the pan using the plastic wrap and transferred it to a serving platter. Then I topped it off with the Reddi-wip and a sprinkling of the reserved crushed Oreo cookies. You could also warm up some more hot fudge sauce to drizzle over the top — yum!

Easy Ice Cream Cake Recipe (No Bake Dessert!) – Unsophisticook (8)

Easy Ice Cream Cake Recipe Doubled

Because you’re only using about half of each of the ingredients to make one cake, you could easily stretch your purchase to make TWO ice cream cakes. Just be sure to divide the ice cream evenly between two loaf pans. That makes this a fun and frugal dessert — perfect for last-minute summer cookouts!

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Easy Ice Cream Cake Recipe (No Bake Dessert!) – Unsophisticook (9)

Easiest Ever No Bake Ice Cream Cake Recipe

Yield: about 10 servings

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Additional Time: 4 hours

Total Time: 4 hours 5 minutes

If you need a dessert that will wow the crowd in a hurry, look no further than this easy ice cream cake recipe… Prepare it in just 5 minutes (plus freezing time)!

Ingredients

  • chocolate ice cream
  • 5 ice cream sandwiches
  • 12 Oreo cookies, crushed w/ 1/4 cup reserved
  • 1/2 jar hot fudge topping or homemade hot fudge sauce
  • 1 can Reddi-wip or homemade whipped cream (optional)

Instructions

  1. Line a 9x5 loaf pan with plastic wrap, leaving a good amount hanging over each long side.
  2. Let your ice cream set out until it's really soft. Spread a layer that's about 1/2-inch thick evenly across the bottom of the pan, making sure to push it into all of the corners.
  3. Line up 5 ice cream sandwiches on top of the ice cream layer. They will be a bit of a tight fit, but just press down firmly and they'll conform to the pan.
  4. Spread about half a jar of hot fudge topping (or homemade hot fudge sauce) on top of the ice cream bars, and then sprinkle on a layer of crushed Oreo cookies. Make sure to reserve about 1/4 cup of the crushed cookies.
  5. Add the final layer of chocolate ice cream and fold the plastic wrap over the top. Place in the freezer for about 4 hours to freeze through.
  6. After freezing, lift the entire ice cream cake out of the pan using the plastic wrap and transfer it to a serving platter. Top it off with Reddi-wip or homemade whipped cream and a sprinkling of crushed Oreo cookies.
  7. To serve, slice with a knife that's been dipped in warm water.

Have you tried this recipe?

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More Easy No Bake Dessert Recipes

If you like this easy ice cream cake recipe, you might also enjoy these other delicious no bake desserts:

  • Kool Aid Pie Recipe
  • No Bake S’mores Cereal Bars
  • Individual Trifle Cups With Fruit
  • Easy Indoor S’mores

Did you make this recipe?
Tag @unsophisticook on Instagram and hashtag it #unsophisticook.

Easy Ice Cream Cake Recipe (No Bake Dessert!) – Unsophisticook (2024)

FAQs

How to make homemade ice cream cake easy? ›

Directions
  1. Place 8 of the ice cream sandwiches side by side in a 9x13 inch baking dish. Spread evenly with half of the hot fudge topping, then half of the whipped topping. Repeat with the remaining sandwiches and toppings. ...
  2. Cover and freeze for at least 1 hour before serving. Keep unused portion covered and frozen.
Jul 14, 2022

How to make homemade ice cream? ›

How to Make Homemade Ice Cream
  1. Cook the milk, cream, and sugar until the sugar has dissolved.
  2. Transfer the mixture to a measuring cup, then add the vanilla extract. ...
  3. Pour the mix into an ice cream maker and churn according to the manufacturer's directions.
  4. Serve immediately or ripen in the freezer before serving.
Jun 22, 2023

What is the frosting on ice cream cake made of? ›

Frost with whipped cream: Whip the cream with the powdered sugar and vanilla until it forms soft peaks. Use an offset spatula to spread the whipped cream all over the cake. If desired, use a piping bag to create rosettes or other decorations.

How to soften ice cream for ice cream cake? ›

This is perhaps the most important rule when making ice cream cakes. Ice cream needs to be soft and have a spreadable consistency. To achieve this simply scoop desired amount of ice cream into a bowl and refrigerate for 20-30 minutes. Stir well before spreading.

How to make homemade ice cream in 5 steps? ›

Here are the easy-peasy steps:
  1. Simply whip 2 cups of heavy cream, by hand or with an electric mixer, until stiff peaks form.
  2. Slowly drizzle in a chilled can of sweetened condensed milk.
  3. Add your desired flavorings or mix-ins.
  4. Remove to an airtight container and freeze. It's that simple!!
Jul 29, 2015

How to make ice cream at home in 10 minutes? ›

Step 1In a small resealable plastic bag, combine half-and-half, sugar, and vanilla. Push out excess air and seal. Step 2Into a large resealable plastic bag, combine ice and salt. Place small bag inside the bigger bag and shake vigorously, 7 to 10 minutes, until ice cream has hardened.

How kids can make ice cream at home? ›

Step-by-step
  1. Measure the cream, sugar, and vanilla extract into the quart-size bag. Zip it up tightly.
  2. Fill the gallon-size bag with ice. Add the salt. ...
  3. Shake and shake the bags to make ice cream! It will take about 5 minutes until the cream hardens.
  4. Take the smaller bag out of the larger one.

Do you put eggs in homemade ice cream? ›

While commercially manufactured ice cream is typically made with pasteurized eggs or egg products, recipes for homemade ice cream often use raw eggs in the base mixture.

How to make ice cream with ziploc bags? ›

Instructions
  1. Pour 1 cup of half and half into a small ziploc bag.
  2. Add 1.5 teaspoons of vanilla extract and 1 tablespoon of sugar.
  3. Seal the bag firmly and get any excess air out.
  4. In the larger ziploc bag, fill it about 1/2 way with ice. ...
  5. Then add your small bag and fill with extra ice on top.
Mar 27, 2024

What's the best frosting for an ice cream cake? ›

To decorate, prepare stabilized whipped cream frosting according to recipe(prepare just before removing cake) and decorate as desired. To serve, allow ice cream cake to sit at room temperature for 15-20 minutes before slicing and/or run a large, sharp knife under very hot water and then wipe dry before slicing.

What is birthday cake ice cream made of? ›

INGREDIENTS: BULK BAG (30 SERVINGS)

Ice Cream: Milk, sugar, natural and artificial flavors, less than 0.5% of (guar gum, carrageenan, locust bean gum, dextrose), blue #1, yellow #5, red #40, yellow #6, xanthan gum, citric acid.

How does Dairy Queen make their ice cream cakes? ›

Its cakes can be made standard with chocolate and vanilla soft serve ice creams, separated by a layer of fudgy, cookie crumbles. The chain also sells DQ Blizzard Cakes, and customers can choose from a variety of sweet ice cream blends to act as the cake's top layer.

Why is my homemade ice cream so hard? ›

Similarly, too little sugar in ice cream can make it rock hard. Because sugar lowers the freezing point of the water in ice cream, the right amount will keep your ice cream from freezing completely – which is to say, leaves it scoopable instead of turning it into a brick of ice.

What is the best stabilizer for ice cream? ›

The most common ones used in ice creams are guar gum, cellulose gum and carob bean gum. They are used to reduce ice crystal growth, deliver flavour cleanly, increase smoothness, body and creaminess and slow down melting. They also help hold the air bubble structure together and give the ice cream a better texture.

What is the secret to soft ice cream? ›

Sugar, corn syrup or honey, as well as gelatin and commercial stabilizers, can all keep your ice cream at a softer consistency.

How to make homemade ice cream soft and fluffy? ›

Sugar, corn syrup or honey, as well as gelatin and commercial stabilizers, can all keep your ice cream at a softer consistency. Ice cream also stays softer when you store it in a shallow container, rather than a deep tub, and cover the surface of the ice cream with plastic wrap to keep ice crystals from forming.

What are the ingredients of ice cream? ›

Ice cream is a frozen dessert typically made from milk or cream that has been flavoured with a sweetener, either sugar or an alternative, and a spice, such as cocoa or vanilla, or with fruit, such as strawberries or peaches. Food colouring is sometimes added in addition to stabilizers.

Is ice cream cake good for beginners? ›

The Ice Cream weed strain is one of the best options out there right now for growers of really any expertise level, beginners included. The high levels of mold and pest resistance makes her very forgiving, and the sheer yield potential makes her an absolute must-have.

What is the crunchy part of ice cream cake? ›

There is typically an ice cream layer, some fudge sauce, the cookie layer, and then more ice cream. From what I've gathered online, the cookie layer is just a mixture of cookie crumbs (Oreos) and something like Magic Shell. I haven't had an ice cream cake in about 20 years, so I can't remember.

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