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Ice Cream Sandwich Cake is a no bake dessert with layers of ice cream sandwiches, chocolate pudding, whipped cream, Oreo cookies, and colorful M&M’s. It’s an easy dessert for a hot summer day and it’s the EASY way to make an ice cream cake!
Easy Ice Cream Sandwich Cake Recipe
This easy ice cream cake is a simple dessert and the absolute most perfect summer dessert. I love it because it’s an easy way to make a classic ice cream cake without all the fuss of the layers and baking a cake.
A total crowd pleaser and huge hit for summertime gatherings, Memorial Day, church potlucks, family gatherings or a birthday party. You’re guaranteed to leave with an empty pan!
What Is An Ice Cream Sandwich Cake?
Have you heard of an ice cream sandwich cake? It’s essentially a layered ice cream cake but instead of creating separate layers of cookie, cake, ice cream, and whipped topping… we’re using convenient ice cream sandwiches to create it for us. Along with layers of instant pudding, whipped cream, and lots of fun add-ins like chopped Oreo cookies and mini m&m’s.
Similar to a no bake icebox cake which has layers of cookie (like this Oreo Icebox Cake) or graham crackers (like this Chocolate Icebox Cake), but instead we’re using ice cream sandwiches to give us those cake-like layers as well as the ice cream layer too. It’s a simple way to make an ice cream cake! And I love anything simple.
The end result is a delicious no bake dessert that is equally impressive as it is easy to make.
Simple Ingredients Needed
- Ice Cream Sandwich Bars : Get creative with this one! There are lots of varieties of ice cream sandwiches like vanilla, chocolate, Neapolitan, or cookies and cream. For the photos, I used vanilla ice cream sandwiches.
- Hot Fudge Sauce
- Cool Whip : If you don’t want to use store-bought Cool Whip then make homemade whipped cream. The instructions for that are down below and in the recipe card.
- Instant Chocolate Pudding Mix
- Half and Half : This is the best milk to use because of it’s thickness and higher fat content. Whole milk can be used if needed but I would not use anything lower in fat that that.
- Oreo Cookies : Crush the cookies for the topping/garnish for the top of the cake.
- Mini M&M’s : Another fun garnish for this simple ice cream sandwich cake.
How To Make A Delicious Ice Cream Sandwich Cake (Printable Recipe Card)
In a large bowl, whisk together the instant chocolate pudding mix and half and half until smooth and thickened, about 2 minutes. Let it sit for 5 minutes to thicken even more. Stir in 8 ounces of Cool Whip until well combined.
In a 9×13 baking dish, line the bottom of the baking dish with 10 ice cream sandwiches, placing them side by side, and cutting them if needed to form a single layer of ice cream sandwiches.
Evenly spread the chocolate pudding mixture over top the ice cream sandwich layer.
Warm the hot fudge sauce in the microwave according to the instructions on the jar. Carefully pour the hot fudge sauce over top the pudding layer and spread it out evenly.
Sprinkle the crushed Oreo cookies over top the hot fudge sauce layer.
Place the remaining ice cream sandwiches on top.
Evenly spread 8 ounces of Cool Whip for the top layer – making sure to spread it to the sides of the pan. Sprinkle the crushed Oreo cookies and mini M&M’s over top. Cover the pan with plastic wrap and then aluminum foil. Freeze for at least 6 hours before serving, or up to overnight is even better.
Slice and serve cold! Let the ice cream sandwich cake sit at room temperature for a few minutes to make slicing easier, if needed.
Variations & Substitution Ideas
This easy recipe is so fun because there are endless ways to customize it and get creative with different flavors & combinations of all the ingredients. Here are some ideas to get you started.
- Funfetti Birthday Cake : Use vanilla ice cream sandwiches (or funfetti if you can find them), white chocolate instant pudding or vanilla instant pudding, and then add tons of sprinkles in between each layer and on top of the cake.
- Reese’s Peanut Butter Chocolate : Use chocolate ice cream sandwiches, chocolate instant pudding, and instead of the hot fudge drizzle some warmed peanut butter for that layer, and then be sure and add tons of chopped Reese’s peanut butter cups and Reese’s pieces to the top of the cake and in between the layers.
- Neapolitan : Use Neapolitan ice cream sandwiches.
- Candy Bar : Instead of Oreo cookies and mini m&m’s use several types of candy bars that have been chopped up. You could even add some chopped nuts in between the layers if wanted.
- Mint Chocolate : Use mint ice cream sandwiches in the recipe and add some chopped Mint Oreo cookies and/or chopped Andes mint chocolates on top and in between the layers.
- Cookies and Cream : Sometimes you can find cookies & cream ice cream sandwiches, use Oreo instant pudding mix, and add tons of chopped Oreo cookies as well as chopped Hershey’s cookies and cream chocolate bars.
Recipe Tips
- Let the ice cream sandwiches sit at room temperature for a few minutes to soften slightly. This will make them easier to cut and arrange in the baking dish.
- When layering the ingredients inside the pan, press down gently after each layer to ensure the cake is compact and holds together well when sliced.
- Because this cake keeps in the freezer, you can make it days (or weeks ahead of time), and store it in the freezer until ready to use. Be sure and cover the pan well with two layers (plastic wrap + foil) to prevent freezer burn.
- For an extra special treat, put bowls of different toppings out and let everyone garnish and customize their own ice cream sandwich cake just how they like. Some ideas are caramel sauce, strawberry sauce, sliced fresh strawberries, chocolate chips, chocolate syrup, sprinkles, an assortment of chopped candy bars, maraschino cherries, spray can whipped cream, etc.
- Store any leftovers covered in the freezer for up to one week. Allow the cake to thaw/soften for a few minutes before slicing and serving.
Ice Cream Sandwich Cake
Ingredients
Chocolate Pudding Mixture
- 1 box (3.9 oz) instant chocolate pudding mix
- 2 cups half and half
- 8 ounces Cool Whip thawed
Ice Cream Sandwich Cake
- 20 vanilla ice cream sandwiches
- 1 jar (12 oz) hot fudge sauce
- 8 ounces Cool Whip
- 15 Oreo cookies chopped/crushed
Garnish & Topping
- 5 Oreo cookies chopped/crushed
- Mini M&M's
Instructions
- Make The Chocolate Pudding Mixture : In a large bowl, whisk together the instant chocolate pudding mix and half and half until smooth and thickened, about 2 minutes. Let it sit for 5 minutes to thicken even more. Stir in 8 ounces of Cool Whip until well combined.1 box (3.9 oz) instant chocolate pudding mix, 2 cups half and half, 8 ounces Cool Whip
- Assemble Ice Cream Sandwich Cake : In a 9×13 baking dish, line the bottom of the baking dish with 10 ice cream sandwiches, placing them side by side, and cutting them if needed to form a single layer of ice cream sandwiches.
- Evenly spread the chocolate pudding mixture over top the ice cream sandwich layer.
- Warm the hot fudge sauce in the microwave according to the instructions on the jar. Carefully pour the hot fudge sauce over top the pudding layer and spread it out evenly.1 jar (12 oz) hot fudge sauce
- Sprinkle the crushed Oreo cookies over top the hot fudge sauce layer.15 Oreo cookies
- Place the remaining 10 ice cream sandwiches on top.
- Evenly spread the Cool Whip for the top layer – making sure to spread it to the sides of the pan.8 ounces Cool Whip
- Sprinkle the crushed Oreo cookies and mini M&M's over top.5 Oreo cookies, Mini M&M's
- Freeze : Cover the pan with plastic wrap and then in aluminum foil. Freeze for at least 6 hours before serving, or up to overnight is even better.
- Slice and serve from the freezer. Let the ice cream sandwich cake sit at room temperature for a few minutes to make slicing easier, if needed.
Notes
- Let the ice cream sandwiches sit at room temperature for a few minutes to soften slightly. This will make them easier to cut and arrange in the baking dish.
- When layering the ingredients inside the pan, press down gently after each layer to ensure the cake is compact and holds together well when sliced.
- Because this cake keeps in the freezer, you can make it days (or weeks ahead of time), and store it in the freezer until ready to use. Be sure and cover the pan well with two layers (plastic wrap + foil) to prevent freezer burn.
- For an extra special treat, put bowls of different toppings out and let everyone garnish and customize their own ice cream sandwich cake just how they like. Some ideas are caramel sauce, strawberry sauce, sliced fresh strawberries, chocolate chips, chocolate syrup, sprinkles, an assortment of chopped candy bars, maraschino cherries, spray can whipped cream, etc.
- Store any leftovers covered in the freezer for up to one week. Allow the cake to thaw/soften for a few minutes before slicing and serving.
- Switch up the pudding flavors, ice cream sandwich flavors, and toppings/garnishes to create a different kind of cake.
Nutrition
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