This is not so much a recipe as a, uh, food idea. Yeah. This post is inspired by two things: childhood memories and birthday cake Oreos.
Growing up, nearly every birthday that I remember between Elsie, Doren, and I included a Dairy Queen ice cream cake. Sometimes our birthdays still include ice cream cakes. 😉 They're just awesome.
Here's a SUPER easy way to make your own ice cream cake. No cooking skills required. And you can totally customize this to fit whatever flavors you prefer for the filling and topping.
You'll need: a baking pan, wax paper, ice cream sandwiches (I used around 10 for this square pan), ice cream for the filling (I used chocolate), chocolate chips or frosting for the top, 5-10 cookies, and sprinkles.
Line your baking pan with wax paper; this allows you to easily remove your cake once it sets. Fill the bottom layer with ice cream sandwiches. You may need to cut a few into smaller pieces to fill out the edges of the pan.
Next add a layer of ice cream. You don't have to get the ice cream perfectly smooth. You actually want to work quickly here as you don't want all the ice cream to melt as you work. Then top the layer of ice cream with another layer of ice cream sandwiches.
Cover your cake and pop it back in the freezer. Chop up whatever cookies you choose; I highly recommend birthday cake Oreos. If you are using melted chocolate, go ahead and melt the chocolate and have it ready.
Now top the cake with the melted chocolate and toss on the cookie pieces and sprinkles. Cover and place the cake back in the freezer. Once set, you are ready to serve!
You can easily make this cake a day or two ahead of time and have it ready to go for a special occasion. You could also choose to swap out the melted chocolate for spreadable frosting instead. Either way you go, this is a sugar overload and totally delicious!
Happy celebrating! xo. Emma
Credits // Author and Photography: Emma Chapman. Photos edited with Stella of the A Beautiful Mess actions.
72 Comments
I did this for my boyfriend’s birthday and it was a huge hit! I added a peanut butter layer by mixing up some nutella & PB and smearing it between layers. So good and so easy!
-Lindsay from Dearest Darling
I love homemade ice cream cake and have never thought of using ice cream sandwiches- great idea!
This is such a cute idea! Sometimes I just don’t want to put the time into making a whole cake. And besides, who doesn’t love ice cream bars :3
Cat
http://oddlylovely.com
oh wow – yes please – a must try!
Rxx
http://www.peppermintdolly.wordpress.com
Oh man, I love where your head is at. Peanut butter AND nutella?! Yum!
-Emma
Agree. Plus if you end up with a few extra pieces of ice cream sandwiches lying around then the “cook” gets a treat too. 🙂
-Emma
So clever! I can’t wait to do this!!
http://www.ineedanothercloset.blogspot.ca
I seriously JUST made the same cake for my step-dad’s birthday on fourth of July!! Except, I didn’t put sprinkles because he says he hates them (he’s crazy). Everyone loved it and it was SUPER easy!
xoxo
Taylor
This looks absolutely mouth-watering… This will be great when i’m too lazy to make a sponge
http://cindismusings.blogspot.co.uk/
Considering that it has been 3985798574938593 degrees in Texas lately, this looks like the perfect summertime treat! Hopefully, it won’t melt TOO fast down here! 😉
Great recipe!
Neha // http://nehasharmaphoto.com/blog/
I was just thinking about recipes using oreo cookies. They always look so good and oreos are perfect for so many great cakes! I can’t wait to try to make my own!
Lovely! I want to try this myself 🙂
I’ve always wanted to make one of these! Just looking at this recipe makes you drool. I love how you’ve added a pop of colour with the hundreds and thousands, so cute!
Go big or go home! 🙂
This just looks so darn scrummy x
holljc.blogspot.co.uk
This is brilliant. I once made an ice cream cake (but not this way) and it took sooooo long I never wanted to make one again. This seems doable!
Dairy Queen cakes were always my favorite!
This is the perfect idea for combining my love of baking cookies and love of making ice cream! Time to find a friend with a summer birthday to celebrate!
What is the gooey stuff under the oreos?
this looks amazing!! And really simple. I’ll definitely have to try it 🙂
Erica
sweet-endeavors.com
My birthday is Friday. This would be perfect!
– Christina http://www.cityloveee.blogspot.com
That looks so good!
Sophia
http://sophiebysophia.blogspot.com/
This looks amazing, I’m already drooling from looking at the pictures! haha 😉 Can’t wait to try this out!
http://abeautifulmess.com/2014/07/easiest-ever-ice-cream-cake.html
Have always wanted to taste an ice cream cake. Will definately make it for my nieces upcoming birthday
Brilliant!!!! A must try for sure!!!! And the nutella and PB idea! Cant wait:)
http://prettypiecesshop.com/
Yum! This looks amazing! 🙂
Looks delicious!
Oh wow. This looks so so good!
http://erstwhilefelicity.blogspot.co.uk/
Yes, I am a sucker for Oreos now and again for sure!
-Emma
Melted white chocolate. Or I suggest you could use frosting instead.
-Emma
Happy early birthday Christina!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
-Emma
This looks SO good! You could add so many different toppings to this recipe! Peanut butter, more chocolate, strawberries, pineapples…ah!
http://sometimesgracefully.com
um..can you say genius? i love this!
xo jac
thesunshinedistrict.blogspot.com
These look incredible, definitely going to give them a try!
This looks incredible! I will definitely be trying to make this some time in the near future 😀
http://katielouise-x.blogspot.co.uk
This cake is the best. Perfect ratio of ice cream to cookie. I really need to get some of those confetti oreos! Are those a limited time thing?
That sounds dangerously delicious! Nutella + ice cream… hmmmm.
That looks absolutely delicious!!
My mouth is watering for just looking.
Oh yumm! I could see me making a big ness with melting ice cream though lol
Lauren
livinginaboxx
My family has been doing this for years! It’s so easy, fun and tasty, isn’t it?!
Oh boy, This looks so yummy! My sweet tooth would be very happy.
Caitlin
lifealamodeblog.wordpress.com
this is my kind of cake, definitely brought back some childhood nostalgia!.. if only i could have an excuse to make it. thanks for sharing!
Yummy! Can’t wait to make this!
Do I need a special occasion to make this? Because I’m about ready to run and make one now !! yum!
http://wethinkthereforewecreate.blogspot.com
what an awesome idea!! Def trying this out!!!
We make one like this but cover the entire cake with Cool Whip and then shave chocolate (A Hershey bar works great with a veggie peeler) all over it and freeze it. OH MY!!!!!!!
Wow what a smart idea! Icecream cakes are always a big hassle, and for me I usually just get a melty mushy mess instead of a cake. Whoops! But this would be so perfect for a summer party!
xo
Mona
http://somethinghere-somethingthere.blogspot.com
This is one of the best things I’ve seen on the Internet in my life!!! I’ m soooooooooooooooooooo doing this because it’s just crazy!!! Just seeing your pictures makes me happy: it’s like childhood and Summer on a cake!
xx,
E.
http://www.theslowpace.com
i’m trying!!!!!!! i have an alergyc daughter and she can eat all this things!!!!! thank you!!!!! …. from Spain 😉
great idea! i’ll be making this, thank you!!
I have never had an ice cream cake! I need to rectify this. BIRTHDAY CAKE OREOSSSSSS. We do don’t get those here in the UK *cries inside* I wonder if I could make my own version!
I think I could kill for that ice cream cake right now. I am pregnant and literally due to give birth today! My biggest craving is a ice cream and it is about 30 degrees warm out there. Omg! I might die! That cake looks sooooo yummy!
Drooling over here. So easy but amazing! Pinned!
This is such a great idea. I’m sure my boyfriend will love that 🙂
Such a fun idea!
Looks absolutely delicious and fun to make!!
<3
http://www.RitaMaesShop.etsy.com
That was a great idea! Totally going to try this one out one day! Thanks!
Seems delicious!! Want to try someday!
<3
http://nathaliakalil.com.br/
That looks crazy good–love the added rainbow sprinkles. I’m pretty sure I’ll never be too old for ice cream cake 😉
You have me jonesing for a legit Dairy Queen ice cream cake now. The fudge layer. OMG.
DQ ice cream cakes were a staple in our house too. That brings back so many memories!! I can’t wait to try this. I love ice cream and maybe ice cream sandwiches even more. Thanks for sharing. Pinned!!
SO Delicious! My hubby would die for this… I’ll for sure have to try now that I know how easy it is!
Oh my word… how fun!
We don’t really have that kind of cakes in Germany. Never heard of it yet. But hell…ice cream+oreos=cake That’s must be heaven!!!
Thanks for all your awesome cake recipes. I love to read and to try them.
-Valeria
My girlfriends and I are always looking for new food blogs. I just discovered yours. I’m a big fan of the blogs “Cooking With Mr. C.” and “Smitten Kitchen”. I will now add you to my list. Thanks. Danielle
Could you use lattice biscuits instead of ice-cream sandwiches because i’m in Australia and I don’t think we have ice-cream sandwiches here. We might, but i’m too lazy to look 😉
I made this for a friends birthday BBQ last weekend and people thought it was store bought! I added Cool Whip as the frosting all over, and it looked/tasted delicious! Thanks for the tutorial!
I usually make something similar to this and I call it Ice Cream Surprise.
Omigosh that looks amazing! I’m gonna try a chocolated pretzel crusted version! (Hopefully they dont go soggy).
Oh YUM! Icecream cake and oreos!! Best things in the world. Recipe for happiness. 😉
I can’t wait to try this at home with my girls!!
WOW, what a treat! Best save this one up for a serious celebration. Like FRIDAY! 🙂