Decadent Ice Cream Cake Recipes Worth Throwing Together Before Summer Ends
There are a lot of great things about having a summer birthday. (I’m an August baby, so I would know!) You can plan an outdoor party, you don’t have to worry about it getting dark super early, and there’s zero chance of a snowstorm coming along and ruining everything. But the absolute best part of celebrating over the summer is that ice cream cake is an even more appealing option than a regular cake. (Cooks know ice cream cake recipes are also typically more appealing than regular cake recipes, too.)
Now, don’t get me wrong: I love a good red velvet or chocolate layer cake as much as the next person. It’s just that they sometimes feel like so much work. You need to make the cake and frosting separately, then wait around for cakes to cool before you can decorate. I don’t know about you, but when it’s gorgeous outside, the last thing I want to do is stand in a hot kitchen waiting for a sponge cake to bake evenly. With ice cream cake, there’s none of that.
And even if you don’t have a summer birthday, there’s plenty of hot weather worth celebrating. When it’s 90 degrees out, every weekend feels like an occasion for an outdoor bash. So scroll down and peruse the below ice cream cake recipes. Some of them are totally no-bake—just throw some ingredients together, pop your batter in the fridge, and voila. Others are a little more involved (if you do like baking brownies or a cake layer, these are for you). No matter what, you’ll definitely want to serve one of these easy ice cream cakes at your next birthday party. Or, frankly, any day of the week.
1. Copycat Dairy Queen Ice Cream Cake
Save the trips to DQ for when you want a dipped cone. When it’s an ice cream cake you need, you’re better off making this copycat version.
2. Fudge Brownie Ice Cream Cake
Make the process super easy by using boxed brownie mix for this fudgy ice cream cake.
3. Ice cream Sandwich Cake
Ice cream sandwiches mean built-in layers in this foolproof ice cream cake. Mini M&Ms make great decoration, but you can use whatever you want.
4. Copycat Carvel Ice Cream Cake
Bonus points if you can shape this Carvel copycat ice cream cake like Fudgy the Whale.
5. Cool Whip, Caramel and Chocolate Ice Cream Cake
The secret to this easy ice cream cake isn’t just Cool Whip. You’ll also use chocolate magic shell for some crunch on the exterior.
6. Salted Chocolate and Caramel Ice Cream Cake
The graham cracker crust on this chocolate-caramel ice cream cake almost makes it taste like a giant s’more.
7. Chocolate Oreo Ice Cream Pie
This is basically a giant Oreo cake, filled with ice cream instead of the usual filling.
8. Mint Chip Brownie Ice Cream Squares
Love grasshopper pie? You’ll love these mint chip brownie ice cream squares, too.
9. Strawberry Ice Cream Cake
So convenient (for this ice cream cake) that strawberry season and ice cream season are one and the same.
10. Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream Cake
Instead of eating cookie dough straight from this fridge, use it for this layered ice cream cake. (Or just double up on cookie dough and do both.)
11. Rocky Road Ice Cream Cake
There’s nothing rocky about the road to preparing this marshmallow-studded ice cream cake.
12. Butter Pecan Ice Cream Pie
For adult birthdays, class things up with a butter pecan ice cream pie.
13. Chocolate Peanut Butter Ice Cream Pie
It should come as no surprised that peanut butter cups and ice cream pie are a match made in flavor heaven.
14. Coffee Ice Cream Cake
This gorgeous ice cream cake will satisfy a sweet tooth and a caffeine craving, all in one.
