Ice Cream Cake has got everything, creamy ice cream, the beautiful look of a cake, and coffee flavor. This dessert is guaranteed to bring smiles, there’s something about the combination of rich ice cream, crunchy cookies, and silky whipped cream that makes every bite a delightful experience.
Ice Cream Cake Recipe
Remember those childhood birthdays when we'd eagerly await those store-bought Ice Cream Cakes? The ones with that super sweet frosting. There was just something so magical about them. But you know what's even more amazing? Creating your very own, absolutely incredible Ice Cream Cake right in your kitchen!
One of the things I love about whipping up a homemade ice cream cake is being able to enjoy it with the people I care about most. Whether it’s a special birthday bash, celebrating an anniversary, or simply brightening up a lazy weekend, this cake has this amazing ability to bring everyone closer together.
You will also like Butter Truffles, Chocolate Ice Cream, Vanilla Ice Cream Sandwiches, Blueberry Ice Cream, and for a more healthy version without added sugar Sugar Free Ice Cream.
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⭐Why You'll Love This Ice Cream Cake Recipe
Easy to Make: This recipe is straightforward, and perfect for anyone to try, whether you're new to baking or a seasoned pro. With simple ingredients and clear instructions, you're sure to succeed.
Rich Flavor: Instant coffee powder and dulce de leche come together to create a decadent, irresistible flavor in this ice cream cake. It strikes a perfect balance of sweetness and a touch of coffee's rich bitterness.
Creamy and Smooth Texture: Thanks to the whipped cream filling and creamy dulce de leche, every bite of this cake is velvety smooth and satisfyingly creamy.
Great Make-Ahead Dessert: Make this cake ahead of time and let it chill in the freezer. It's a fantastic dessert option for parties or gatherings, ready whenever you need it.
Impressive Presentation: Not only does this Ice Cream Cake taste amazing, but it also looks stunning. The whipped cream topping can be beautifully decorated with your favorite toppings, making it a show-stopping centerpiece for any special occasion.
Versatile for Occasions: Whether it's a birthday, a family get-together, or just a relaxing weekend treat, this Ice Cream Cake fits any occasion perfectly. Enjoy its deliciousness whenever the mood strikes!
If you want more desserts you should check out Ice Cream without Sugar and
4-Ingredients Chocolate Fudge.
🧾Ingredients
Here’s what you need to make this Ice Cream Cake:
For the Crust:
Cookies: Cookies form the delicious base and sides of the crust, adding both flavor and texture to the ice cream cake. Feel free to swap them out with graham crackers, digestive biscuits, or your favorite cookie for a personalized touch.
Melted Unsalted Butter: Melted butter brings richness and a lovely buttery taste to the crust. It also helps bind everything together, ensuring the crust holds its shape. If you prefer, melted coconut oil or margarine can be used for a dairy-free alternative.
Ingredients for Filling:
Cream: Cold cream gives the filling its smooth, creamy texture, adding a luxurious mouthfeel to the ice cream cake.
Sugar: Sweetens the filling perfectly, balancing out the flavors. You can experiment with brown sugar or coconut sugar for different flavor profiles.
Instant Coffee Powder: Adds a delightful hint of coffee flavor to the filling, enhancing its richness.
Dulce de Leche: This creamy, caramelized milk adds a sweet and indulgent flavor to the filling, making the ice cream cake absolutely irresistible.
Ingredients For Frosting:
Cream: Cream gives the frosting a light and airy texture, making it wonderfully fluffy.
Icing Sugar: Sweetens the frosting just right, ensuring a perfect balance of flavors.
See the recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.
👩🏻🍳How to Make Ice Cream Cake
These step-by-step instructions and photos will help you to visualize how to make this recipe. See the recipe card for a printable version of this recipe.
1. Pulverize the cookies into fine crumbs using a food processor.
2. In a bowl, blend the cookie crumbs with the melted butter until the consistency is like damp sand.
3. Compact the blend into the base and sides of a cake pan to form the crust, ensuring even distribution. Allow it to chill in the fridge for 30 minutes as you get the filling ready.
4. In a mixing bowl, whip the cream together with sugar and instant coffee powder until it achieves firm peaks.
5. Gently incorporate the dulce de leche into the whipped cream mixture, ensuring a smooth and thorough combination.
6. Retrieve the chilled crust from the refrigerator and evenly pour the filling over it, ensuring uniform distribution.
7. Return the cake to the freezer and allow it to firm up for a minimum of 4 hours.
8. In a spacious bowl, beat the cream together with the icing sugar until it reaches a stage of stiff peaks.
9. Transfer the whipped cream into a piping bag.
10. Retrieve the cake from the freezer and carefully extract it from the cake pan.
11. Create decorative patterns on the cake by piping whipped cream onto its surface.
12. After decorating the cake, return it to the freezer for approximately 30 minutes to allow the topping to set.
13. When you're ready to serve, take the cake out of the freezer and allow it to sit at room temperature for a few minutes before slicing.
📖Variations
Chocolate Lover's Ice Cream Cake: Use chocolate cookies for the crust. Add chocolate chips or chunks to the filling. Top with a rich chocolate ganache or fudge sauce.
Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream Cake: Use mint-flavored cookies for the crust. Add mint extract or peppermint extract to the filling. Mix in chocolate chips or chunks. Top with a minty whipped cream frosting.
Caramel Pecan Ice Cream Cake: Use a combination of shortbread and graham crackers for the crust. Swirl caramel sauce into the ice cream filling. Mix in chopped pecans or other nuts. Top with a caramel drizzle and more nuts.
Peanut Butter Cup Ice Cream Cake: Use peanut butter cookies for the crust. Swirl peanut butter into the ice cream filling. Mix in chopped peanut butter cups. Top with a chocolate ganache and more peanut butter cups.
💭Tips for Making Ice Cream Cake
Prepare the Pan: Line the bottom and side of the cake pan with parchment paper for easy removal and serving.
Crust Consistency: Ensure the crust is well-packed and reaches the edges of the pan for a sturdy base and side.
Allow Time for Freezing: Be patient with freezing times. Allow each layer to set properly before moving on to the next step. This ensures a well-defined structure.
Keep it Cold: Work quickly when assembling the cake to prevent it from melting. Keep ingredients and utensils cold to maintain the frozen consistency.
Storage: Keep leftover ice cream cake fresh, wrap it snugly in plastic wrap, and store it in the freezer.
Serving: Remove the ice cream cake from the freezer and allow it to thaw at room temperature for about 10-15 minutes. Thawing slightly makes it easier to slice through the frozen layers.
🍛More Dessert Recipes!
Here are more of my favorite dessert recipes! Try these:
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📖 Recipe
Ice Cream Cake
Ingredients
For the Crust:
- 230 g Cookies
- 130 g Unsalted Melted Butter
For the Filling:
- 600 ml Cream
- 4 tablespoon Sugar
- 5 tablespoon Instant Coffee Powder
- 400 g Dulce de Leche
For the Frosting:
- 200 ml Cream
- 2 tablespoon Icing Sugar
Instructions
- Crush the cookies into fine crumbs in a food processor.
- In a bowl, combine the cookie crumbs with the melted butter until the mixture resembles wet sand.
- Press the mixture into the bottom and side of a cake pan to create the crust. Make sure it's evenly distributed. Place it in the fridge to set for 30 minutes while you prepare the filling.
- In a large mixing bowl, whip the cream with the sugar and instant coffee powder until it forms stiff peaks.
- Gently fold the dulce de leche into the whipped cream mixture until smooth and well combined.
- Take the crust out of the fridge and pour the filling over it, spreading it evenly.
- Place the cake back in the freezer and let it set for at least 4 hours.
- In a large bowl, whip the cream with the icing sugar until it forms stiff peaks.
- Place the whipped cream in a pipping bag.
- Take the cake out of the freezer and remove it from the cake pan.
- Pipe decorations onto the cake with the whipped cream.
- Once decorated, place the cake back in the freezer for about 30 minutes to set the topping.
- When ready to serve, remove the cake from the freezer and let it sit at room temperature for a few minutes before slicing.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered an estimate only. Actual nutritional content will vary based upon brands used, measuring methods, cooking method, portion sizes, and more.
John says
Ice cream cake is my absolute WEAKNESS! It's like the best of both worlds in one perfect dessert.