This easy ice cream sandwich cake is super quick to make at home with just 3 ingredients!
Why You’ll Love This Ice Cream Sandwich Cake
- frozen desserts fun to prepare Perfect for birthdays, sleepovers, summer pool parties, or Fourth of July barbecues with family and friends.
- All ingredients should be readily available at your local grocery store.
- And unlike other similar ice cream cake recipes, this cake doesn’t require cream cheese, condensed milk, heavy cream, or chocolate pudding mix.
- that Simple customization Try making different flavors. Everyone can add their favorite toppings!
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Step-by-step recipe video
main ingredients
Ice Cream Sandwich – You’ll need about 19 full-size vanilla ice cream sandwiches to fill a standard 9×13-inch baking pan. All brands available: gluten-free, sugar-free, dairy-free, and vegan ice cream sandwiches. You can also use mini ice cream sandwiches.
Whipped cream topping – I’ve never tested the recipe using low-fat or fat-free varieties, so I recommend a full-fat frozen whipped cream topping. Again, keto and dairy-free alternatives to Cool Whip also work.
If you don’t have whipped cream topping, substitute with an equal amount of ice cream. Feel free to use any flavor of ice cream. I’ve made DIY summer desserts with vanilla, chocolate, and cookie dough ice cream before, and they’re always delicious.
Variations and Topping Ideas
Red, white, blue – If you want to make an easy patriotic ice cream sandwich cake, garnish the dessert with fresh blueberries, raspberries, or sliced strawberries, optionally adding fruit jam between each layer. If you’re feeling fancy, try arranging the strawberries into a flag shape. Top each slice with holiday sprinkles and a cherry, if desired.
Cookies & Cream – Sprinkle one cup of crushed OREO cookies on top of each ice cream sandwich layer. Add chocolate syrup and more OREO at the end for presentation.
Nutella – Spread a layer of store-bought or homemade Nutella between each layer. Sprinkle toasted hazelnuts on top of the finished ice cream cake.
Caramel Fudge – This version is for true dessert lovers with a sweet tooth. Drizzle a 12-ounce bottle of caramel sauce and a 12-ounce bottle of hot fudge sauce over the first and second layers of whipped cream topping. Garnish with chopped peanuts, pecans, M&Ms, Butterfingers, Snickers, sliced bananas, or chocolate chips.
Dark Chocolate – Use chocolate ice cream sandwiches instead of vanilla. Add optional chocolate fudge sauce and top with chocolate cookies or chocolate peanut butter cups.
Want a healthy version? Try the Yogurt Breakfast Cheesecake
How to Make Ice Cream Sandwich Cake
- Unpack ice cream sandwiches in advance and store them in the freezer. This makes assembly easier when you’re ready to prepare your no-bake cake.
- Thaw a container of whipped topping in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 hours to make it easier to spread. For best results, do not leave on the counter or in the microwave. It may form a creamy soup.
- Arrange a single layer of ice cream sandwiches in a rectangular 9×13-inch pan, cutting one sandwich in half to fill the entire bottom of the pan. (See photos and video below for a visual tutorial.)
- Spread one container of whipped topping evenly over the frozen sandwich layers. If using chocolate fudge sauce and caramel sauce, add them as well.
- Next, add the second layer of Ice Cream Sandwich. Then cover the pan and freeze for at least an hour. When preparing a homemade ice cream sandwich cake for a party, I like to do steps 1-5 the day before and then freeze it overnight. This means less work to do on event day.
- Thaw the second container of whipped topping in the refrigerator a few hours ahead of time. Spread on frozen cake just before serving.
- Garnish with crumbled cookies, chocolate syrup, or any toppings of your choice. This time I decided to decorate the cake with patriotic fresh strawberries. Or, leave the cake as is and let your guests decorate their slices as they wish.
- Cut the ice cream pie with a fork or spoon and place it on a dessert plate.
Frequently Asked Questions
It is not recommended to substitute prepared heavy whipping cream for Cool Whip style frozen topping. Homemade dairy whipped cream lacks stabilizers and may separate. However, you can also use non-dairy ice cream, such as ice cream or coconut ice cream.
Freeze any remaining pieces immediately to prevent them from melting. Store leftovers in a tightly covered container in the freezer for up to 1 week.
entirely! The written recipe makes a huge ice cream sandwich cake that can feed up to 25 people. If you’re just making it for family or a small gathering, cut all the ingredients in half and fill a small pan. That means buy just one can of whipped topping and 10 ice cream sandwiches (or enough to fill the bottom of an 8-inch pan).
Use whatever flavor you like. The cake is fantastic with chocolate, mint chocolate chip or Neapolitan ice cream sandwiches. Or, make a Chipwich Ice Cream Cake by substituting the sandwich for a chocolate chip cookie sandwich.
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1. Unpack the ice cream sandwich in advance. Thaw your whipped topping container in the refrigerator (not on the counter or in the microwave) for 3 hours before using. Taking these steps will make it easier for it to spread.
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2. Cover the bottom of a 9×13-inch pan with a layer of Ice Cream Sandwich. You may need to cut the sandwich to size. (See the video below for a helpful visual.)
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3. Spread one container of whipped cream on top of the ice cream sandwich layer. If you’re using hot fudge sauce, drizzle it on now too.
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4. After adding the second Ice Cream Sandwich, cover the pan and freeze for at least 1 hour or overnight.
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5. When ready to serve, spread a second container of thawed frozen whipped topping over everything. Decorate with cookies, chocolate chips, patriotic berries, or cake toppings of your choice. If desired, it can be served sliced without toppings, or guests can decorate their own slices.
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6. Store leftover ice cream sandwich cake, covered, in the freezer for up to a week.
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