It’s easy to make this homemade Cake with detailed step-by-step instructions! This decadent dessert is layered with chocolate cake, ice cream, chocolate fudge, and cookie crunchies! It’s a great summer treat you can customize by changing the cake and ice cream flavors.
Ice Cream Cake Recipes: The Best Ice Cream Cakes
Ice cream cakes are my favorite! It’s a great treat to enjoy on a warm summer day or at any other time of the year. This is the best of two worlds: cake and ice cream in one. This recipe is so versatile that you will never need to make another!
This recipe is based on my Copycat Dairy Queen Ice Cream Cake. This dessert is made with one layer each of chocolate cake and ice cream (from my Best Chocolate Cake Recipe). The same crunchy, fudgy filling separates the layers. This dessert is the perfect blend of flavors and textures. You have to try it.
Making a homemade ice cream cake may be intimidating, but I assure you it is not impossible. This recipe uses a straightforward method. I’ve included many photos and a video to ensure you succeed!
What you’ll need
This is the ingredients you will need to make your ice cream cake. Scroll down to see the measurements.
Cake Layer
- All-purpose flour — Feel free to substitute your favorite 1:1 gluten-free flour.
- Sugar
- Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
- Baking Soda
- salt
- The egg should be at room temp. The egg will easily incorporate into the batter.
- Let the milk reach room temperature before you use it. The milk will blend better with the other ingredients.
- Vegetable Oil This will add moisture to the Cake.
- Vanilla extract
- Hot Water — The heat of the water makes the cocoa “bloom,” resulting in more rich chocolate.
Chocolate Cookie Crunchies
- Oreo Crumbs I prefer the original Oreos, but you can use vanilla Oreos instead. Oreos can be crushed in a food processor with the filling still in them.
- Butter
Chocolate Fudge
- Semisweet chocolate chips I recommend using semisweet to achieve the desired fudge consistency.
- Corn Syrup This will keep the fudge layer soft even when frozen.
- Vanilla extract
- Heavy Whipping Cream
Ice Cream
- Choose your favorite ice cream – There are no limits. Are you feeling adventurous? Make your own. I can’t get enough of my birthday cake ice cream.
Whipping Cream Frosting
- Heavy Whipping Cream The heavy whipping must be cold. It will only whip properly and retain volume if it’s hard.
- Powdered Sugar — To stabilize the whipped Cream
- Vanilla extract – For flavor.
- Mini Chocolate Chips You can use other garnishes such as cookie crumbles, rainbow sprinkles, etc.
Chocolate Ganache Drip
- Semisweet chocolate chips
- Heavy Whipping Cream
Recipe Variations
It’s so much fun to customize this chocolate ice-cream cake. Here are some fun variations to help you customize your dessert.
- Choose your favorite ice cream flavor. Select your favorite flavor of ice cream to personalize this dessert. You can experiment with other flavors. I chose cookie dough ice cream.
- You can use another cake. The chocolate cake is delicious, but there are other options. Ensure that your recipe is designed to fit an 8-inch pan. For one 8-inch layer, you could use the Moist vanilla Layer Cake recipe or my moist vanilla cupcakes.
- If you don’t like Oreos originals, try chocolate chip cookies or vanilla Oreos.
- Try a new garnish. Sprinkles caramel Sauce or strawberries. Use garnishes that are inspired by your favorite ice cream or event.
Ice Cream Cake Recipe
This recipe may seem daunting at first because it has multiple components. Nevertheless, each piece is easy to make. Take your time and follow the steps. How to make it. Scroll down to see more detailed instructions.
How to make a cake
- Prepare. Line and grease the bottom and sides of an 8-inch cake pan with parchment.
- Mix the dry ingredients.
- Mix the dry ingredients with the wet ingredients. Add egg, milk, and vegetable oil.
- Add hot water. Add vanilla extract.
- Bake. Bake for 35-40 minutes.
- Cool the Cake for 5 minutes, then transfer it to a wire rack.
How to make crunchies with chocolate fudge filling
- Prep. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a cookie tray with parchment paper.
- Bake. Spread the Oreo crumbs on the cookie sheet and bake it for 8-10 mins.
- Combine the corn syrup and vanilla extract with the chocolate chips.
- Bring the heavy whipping crème to a boil and pour over the chocolate chunks. Let it sit for 2 to 3 minutes before whisking until smooth.
How to build a cake
- This cake is constructed upside-down for ease of assembly.
- Thaw ice cream for 15-20 minutes.
- Prepare the pan. Two pieces of clear plastic wrap should line an 8-inch baking pan (they should extend past the pan). Press the wrap into the bottom and side of the pan.
- Mix the ice cream till creamy and smooth.
- Pour the Ice Cream into the lined pan. Spread the ice cream into an even layer.
- Add the chocolate cookies on top and spread them evenly.
- Spread the chocolate fudge mixture evenly on top.
- Freeze your cake for approximately 10 minutes.
- Place chocolate cake on top of the chocolate fudge layer. Wrap the Cake in the clear plastic wrap and freeze it for 3-4 hours or until the chocolate fudge is firm.
Finish the Cake
- Flip the cake over onto a serving plate and remove the clear wrapping.
- Prepare the whipped cream. Whip the heavy whipping cream with powdered sugar and vanilla until stiff peaks are formed.
- Frost the Cake using whipped cream. Press mini chocolate chips in the bottom of the Cake and freeze.
- Make chocolate ganache. Pour the hot, heavy cream over the chocolate. Allow the mixture to sit for 2 to 3 minutes, then whisk it until smooth.
- Add the chocolate drip using my two tutorials.
- Decorate. Pipe shells around the edge of the Cake and decorate with decorations that reflect ice cream within.
How Do You Assemble A Ice Cream Cake?
They can be challenging to assemble because they tend to fall apart. It is essential to create cakes to avoid a messy mess carefully. Here are some helpful tips to make a visually appealing and mess-free dessert.
- Use clear wrap. Line the pan with clear wrap before spreading the ice cream. The clear wrap must extend beyond the sides of the pan. It will be used to cover and wrap the Cake to freeze it. You can also use the clear wrap to remove the dessert from the pan without making a mess.
- Make it upside-down. Place your dessert’s base (the cake portion) on top of your ice cream before you put it in the freezer. Invert the dessert when it comes out of the freezer so that the cake portion is at the bottom and the ice cream is at the top.