Indulgence shouldn’t be complicated, and that’s why we’ve got the perfect dessert hack that will leave you craving more! Imagine a luscious, creamy, and utterly satisfying ice cream cake, but without the fuss and fancy price tag. Say hello to our Easy Ice Cream Cake with Ice Cream Sandwiches – the frozen treat that will have your tastebuds singing and your wallet smiling!
Imagine sinking your teeth into layers of creamy, dreamy ice cream, sandwiched between soft, delectable cookies, all in one glorious, homemade dessert. The best part? This easy ice cream cake comes together with just FOUR simple ingredients and a few minutes of active prep work! Yep, you heard us right — four ingredients and minimal effort for an ice cream cake that rivals expensive Carvel or Baskin Robbins offerings.
Table of contents
Why We Love This Easy Ice Cream Cake Recipe
Whether it’s a summer gathering, a birthday celebration, or simply a craving for something sweet, this easy ice cream cake recipe is the answer.
- Simplicity at Its Finest – In a world where time is precious and elaborate recipes can be daunting, our ice cream cake recipe with ice cream sandwiches comes to the rescue with just four simple ingredients and a handful of minutes of active prep work. Forget about slaving away in the kitchen; this is the kind of dessert you can whip up without breaking a sweat.
- A Personalized Pleasure – Variety is the spice of life, and this delectable treat is no exception. With an array of delightful ice cream flavors at your disposal, you have the freedom to customize this homemade ice cream cake to your heart’s content! From classic vanilla and rich chocolate to exotic mango or mint chip – the choices are as endless as the ice cream aisle at your local grocery store.
- Why Splurge When You Can Save? We’ve all been there – standing in the freezer aisle, drooling over those tempting store-bought ice cream cakes from Carvel or Baskin Robbins. But the reality check comes when we see the price tag. Fear not, for our ice cream sandwich ice cream cake offers a budget-friendly alternative without compromising on taste or quality.
With minimal effort and a dash of creativity, you’ll be serving up pure frozen delight that will impress friends, family, and yourself! So, let’s dive into the simple steps and unlock a world of frosty bliss. Let’s get ready to make magic with just four ingredients – ice cream sandwiches, your favorite ice cream, a few toppings, and a sprinkle of love.
Ingredients & Substitutions
As promised, you only need a handful of ingredients to make this marvelous recipe for easy ice cream cake. Here’s what to grab:
- Blue Bell Ice Cream Sandwiches – These are our personal favorites, but feel free to use the long, rectangular ice cream sandwiches of your choice.
- Ice Cream Flavor of Choice – Feel free to get creative!
- Cool Whip – Unlike real whipped cream, frozen whipped topping does a great job at remaining stable.
- Sprinkles – While these are optional, we think every treat deserves a little sparkle! Feel free to swap in any other decorations (e.g. shaved chocolate, mini chocolate chips, chopped candy bars or cookies, toasted nuts, etc) that your heart desires.
How To Make An Ice Cream Cake Using Ice Cream Sandwiches
This dang-near 5-minute ice cream cake comes together in a flash. Here’s how:
Prepare Ice Cream Sandwich Base: Stack 6 ice cream sandwiches side by side in a square or rectangular container, placing them 3 across and 2 deep.
Line Container and Add Ice Cream: Line a square or rectangular container with parchment paper. Fill the container with softened ice cream, leveling it with the top of the container to match the size of the ice cream sandwich stack.
Freeze Ice Cream: Place the ice cream-filled container in the freezer for about 5-10 minutes to allow it to firm up and freeze together.
Assemble the Cake: Remove the container from the freezer. Lift the ice cream out of the container using the parchment paper to help. Carefully place the block of ice cream on top of the stacked ice cream sandwiches.
Add Another Layer of Ice Cream Sandwiches: Place another layer of 3 ice cream sandwiches on top of the ice cream block.
Top with Whipped Cream: Cover the entire cake with a generous layer of whipped cream.
Decorate with Sprinkles: Sprinkle colorful sprinkles over the whipped cream to decorate the cake.
Final Freeze: Place the assembled ice cream cake back in the freezer until ready to serve. Ideally, freeze for at least a few hours to allow the cake to set completely.
Optional Variations
As much as we love this homemade ice cream cake with ice cream sandwiches, the best part is that you have full control over the result! Here are just a few adaptations you can make:
- Gluten-Free – Swap in your favorite GF ice cream sandwiches and ensure any ice cream flavor you choose doesn’t have any sneaky gluten-filled bits mixed in.
- Dairy-Free/Vegan – You can also make this easy ice cream sandwich cake completely dairy-free and vegan-friendly by choosing vegan ice cream sandwiches and vegan ice cream.
- Extra Layers – If you want to add a little extra texture to your easy homemade ice cream cake, consider adding a layer of chilled hot fudge, chopped candy, nuts, or thin cookies between the ice cream sandwich and ice cream layers.
Expert Tips
Here are our favorite expert tips for perfecting our ice cream sandwich ice cream cake recipe:
- To make the ice cream easier to work with, allow it to soften slightly at room temperature for about 5-10 minutes to make it more spreadable. Just be sure to not let it sit out too long — we want prevent it from melting too quickly when assembling the cake.
- Be adventurous with your ice cream choices! Try combining different ice cream flavors to create exciting layers. For example, mix chocolate and strawberry ice cream for a Neapolitan-inspired cake or go for a fun twist with cookies and cream and mint chip.
- To keep the layers well-defined and prevent them from mixing together, freeze the cake for about 20-30 minutes after adding each layer.
- Assemble the ice cream sandwich cake at least a few hours before serving or the night before your event. This will allow it to set firmly in the freezer and ensure it’s ready to be served in perfect slices.
- When it’s time to serve the cake, run a sharp knife under hot water before cutting into the frozen dessert to help you achieve clean slices without the ice cream or cookies sticking to the knife.
- If you have leftovers (although it’s doubtful there will be any!), cover the cake tightly with plastic wrap or aluminum foil before returning it to the freezer. Properly stored, the ice cream sandwich cake will remain delicious for a few days.
With these expert tips, your this easy ice cream cake with ice cream sandwiches will undoubtedly be a show-stopper at any gathering.
FAQs
In our houses? With kids and husbands?? Not long at all! 😆 All jokes aside, though, this sweet treat should be consumed within about a week for the best flavor.
Allow the cake to soften just slightly by sitting on the counter at room temperature for a few minutes. Run a knife around the outside edges of the cake to loosen it further. Slide the ice cream cake to the size you want. Then place a serving plate upside down on top of the cake pan. Hold the plate and pan together and carefully flip them over.
More Easy Dessert Recipes
- Easy Lemon Blueberry Loaf Cake
- Mini Baked Fruity Pebbles Donuts Recipe
- Birthday Cake Pops (Starbucks Copycat)
If y’all tried this sumptuous recipe for our Easy Ice Cream Cake with Ice Cream Sandwiches, holler and let us know how it turned out for you by giving us a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating and commenting below. You can also always feel free to tag us (@creamcheeseandlemonsqueeze) in your social media posts so we can cheer you on.
Alright, y’all. Thanks so much for stopping by! For even more down-home Mississippi Gulf Coast cooking inspiration, be sure to follow us on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, and TikTok. You can also get all of our newest content delivered straight to your inbox by signing up for our weekly newsletter. We can’t wait to see you again soon!
XO, Ashley & Anna
Easy Ice Cream Cake Recipe
Ingredients
- 9 ice cream sandwiches Blue Bell
- 5 cups any ice cream flavor or your choice
- 8 oz cool whip
- 2 tsbp sprinkles
Instructions
- Stack 6 whole ice cream sandwiches 3 side by side and 2 deep on a sheet on parchment paper and place in the freezer while preparing the rest of the steps.
- Next add parchment paper to a square Tupperware container (about 5x5x2.75 in), add your ice cream to cover the entire surface and level with the container (in a similar thickness to the thickness of the ice cream sandwich stack) and place in the freezer for about 10 mins.
- Take the ice cream cake and square Tupperware out of the freezer, take the layered ice cream out of the container and add to the top of the ice cream sandwiches.
- Add another layer of 3 ice cream sandwiches.
- Apply cool whip to the entire cake, and add sprinkles or decor of your liking. Enjoy!
Notes
- To make the ice cream easier to work with, allow it to soften slightly at room temperature for about 5-10 minutes to make it more spreadable. Just be sure to not let it sit out too long — we want prevent it from melting too quickly when assembling the cake.
- Be adventurous with your ice cream choices! Try combining different ice cream flavors to create exciting layers. For example, mix chocolate and strawberry ice cream for a Neapolitan-inspired cake or go for a fun twist with cookies and cream and mint chip.
- To keep the layers well-defined and prevent them from mixing together, freeze the cake for about 20-30 minutes after adding each layer.
- Assemble the ice cream sandwich cake at least a few hours before serving or the night before your event. This will allow it to set firmly in the freezer and ensure it’s ready to be served in perfect slices.
- When it’s time to serve the cake, run a sharp knife under hot water before cutting into the frozen dessert to help you achieve clean slices without the ice cream or cookies sticking to the knife.
- If you have leftovers (although it’s doubtful there will be any!), cover the cake tightly with plastic wrap or aluminum foil before returning it to the freezer. Properly stored, the ice cream sandwich cake will remain delicious for a few days.