The 50 Most Delicious, Spectacular Ice-Cream Cake Recipes (2024)

food

By Heath Goldman

•

Published Jul 3, 2018

Myth: Ice cream cakes are reserved for your toddler’s birthday. Here, 50 chic and scrumptious stunners that totally kick Carvel to the curb. Party at your place?

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

Ice Cream Sandwich Cake

No mixing, measuring or baking—just layer and stick it in the freezer.

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

Ombre Ice Cream Cake

It’s surprisingly easy to assemble.

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

Kit Kat Bar Ice-cream Cake

Our favorite candy bar just got better.

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

Ice Cream Cake

Psst: you don’t have to turn on the oven.

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Half Baked Harvest

Triple Layer Chocolate Fudge Ice Cream Cake

Go big or go home.

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Also the Crumbs Please

Peanut Butter S’mores Ice Cream Cake

Cut a slice, and gooey marshmallow will ooze out.

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The Seasoned Mom

Five-ingredient Ice Cream Sandwich Cake

It’s ready with just 10 minutes of prep.

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Amanda's Cookin'

Raspberry Ice Cream Delight

It’s a cold slice of heaven.

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Broma Bakery

Pint-sized (literally ) Funfetti Ice Cream Cake

Dare we call it personal-size?

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Sally's Baking Addiction

Brownie Baked Alaska

A throwback to the ’50s.

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Completely Delicious

Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream Cake

Yeah, we’re having seconds.

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The Cake Chica

Chocolate Root Beer Float Cake

The frosting is made with vanilla ice cream. Yum.

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Chelsea's Messy Apron

30-minute Triple Decker Chocolate Waffle Pie

Putting chocolate cake mix in your waffle maker = brilliant.

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Carob-banana Ice Cream Cake

Vegan, gluten-free and glorious.

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Life Love and Sugar

Cake Batter Fudge Brownie Ice Cream Cake

No one will ever know you used brownie mix.

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Sweetapolita

Birthday Party Ice Cream Cake

Cotton candy and bubble gum ice cream galore.

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Just So Tasty

Oreo Ice Cream Cake

You only need four ingredients.

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Nourish Everyday

Chocolate Banana ‘nice’ Cream Cake

It’s classy to the core. (And vegan.)

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The Urban Poser

Grain And Dairy Free Neapolitan Ice Cream Cake

A naked version? Don’t mind if we do.

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Simple Bites

Meringue-topped, Layered Ice Cream Birthday Cake

Don’t be afraid to really pile it high.

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Icing In Sight

Giant Dropped Ice Cream Cake

This is the cutest.

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Serving Dumplings

Raspberry Chocolate Ice Cream Cake

Hot tip: Use Magnum ice cream for extra silky results.

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Sprinkle Babes

Easy Ice Cream Sandwiches Cake

Close your eyes and you’re five again.

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Drizzle and Drip

Easy No-churn Lemon Ice Cream Cake

Think of this like a palate cleanser.

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Beyond Frosting

Fruity Pebble Ice Cream Cake

We love this nod to Christina Tosi.

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Sprinkles for Breakfast

Blackberry Blackout Ice Cream Cake

This is basically a fruit salad, right?

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The Girl Who Ate Everything

Unicorn Ice Cream Cake

We had to.

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A Pumpkin and a Princess

Swiss Rolls Ice Cream Cake

Yule logs, meet summer.

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Sugar Et Al

Ice Cream Cheesecake With Mixed Berry And Thyme

Frozen fruit dyes this masterpiece a pretty pink.

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Goodie Godmother

Cookie Dough Ice Cream Cake

Amen.

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The Kate Tin

Neapolitan Ice Cream Cake With Raspberries

They say you can’t buy happiness…but you can buy ice cream.

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A Family Feast

Biscoff Crunch Ice Cream Cake

Give the people what they want.

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Mommity

Strawberry Shortcake Ice Cream Cake

It’s one of those recipes that you’ll add to the family cookbook.

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The Fitchen

Mini Ice Cream Cakes

Half the size, double the fun.

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Confessions Of A Cookbook Queen

Drumstick Cake

You’ll love the magic shell topping.

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Jamie Kamber

Homemade Five-layer Ice Cream Cake

Customize the brownie base with your favorite flavors.

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Taste and Tell

Red Velvet Ice Cream Cake

With cheesecake ice cream layers. Now that’s what we’re talking about.

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Bourbon and Brown Sugar

Chocolate Speculoos Ice Cream Cake

Are you drooling?

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Zestful Kitchen

Honey And Thyme Goat Milk Ice Cream Cake

The homemade ice cream is totally worth it.

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Prevention RD

Salted Caramel Brownie Ice Cream Cake

Get in our belly.

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Wood and Spoon

Hot Fudge Sundae Cake

*Sighs and takes another slice.*

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Displaced Housewife

Chocolate Affogato Ice Cream Cake

Pairs well with bubbles.

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Cooking for Keeps

Neapolitan Ice Cream Sandwich Cake

It’s deceptively easy.

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Pip and Ebby

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream Cake

Why yes, the crust is a giant cookie.

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Baking Sense

Tiramisu Ice Cream Cake

Take a good look at those fluffy layers.

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Also the Crumbs Please

Black Forrest Ice Cream Cake

Brandied cherries take everything over the top.

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Sprinkle Bakes

Tropical Sherbet Cake

As easy as lying on a Caribbean beach.

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The Missing Lokness

Baked Alaska

Hey gorgeous. Come here often?

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Lovely Little Kitchen

Chocolate Peanut Butter Ice Cream Slice Cake

Practically a work of art.

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Simply Delicious Food

Salted Caramel And Chocolate Ice Cream Bombe

Even the name sounds like a party.

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Heath Goldman

Food Editor

From 2017 to 2019 Heath Goldman held the role of Food Editor covering food, booze and some recipe development, too. Tough job, eh?

read full bio

The 50 Most Delicious, Spectacular Ice-Cream Cake Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What was the fancy ice cream cake in the 80s? ›

Viennetta was introduced in the United States and Canada in the late 1980s under the Breyer's brand, and was discontinued in the mid-1990s, but was re-introduced in the US in 2021 under the Good Humor brand.

Discover More Details ›

Can you give me a list of desserts? ›

Tiramisu recipe (with video)
Chocolate mousse in minutes recipe.
Angel food cake.
'Not so fried' ice-cream.
Roasted strawberry crumble.
Apple and butterscotch pie.
Almond and date cake.
Apple cinnamon custard cake.

More items...

Why ice cream cake is the best? ›

The flavor combinations are endless

Regular cake has its limits—there are only a handful of cake and frosting flavors to choose from. But you can use literally ANY ice cream flavor in an ice cream cake—there are no wrong answers here. And since our recipe makes a two-layer treat, you get to use two different flavors.

Find Out More ›

Is there real cake in ice cream cake? ›

Ice Cream Cake Doesn't Involve Cake At All

It is composed of layers of ice cream with some fun goodies in between, made in a cake pan and frosted like a normal cake would be. It cut just like a regular cake and has a cool and refreshing flavor that is perfect for summertime.

Keep Reading ›

What was the popular ice cream in the 1980s? ›

1980s: Cherry Chocolate

Cookies and cream rose in popularity alongside flavors like cookie dough, and cherry Garcia. Gourmet brands pushed for fun and funky-sounding names, and the classic cherry ice cream was a popular amped of flavors filled with pieces of fruit and big chunks of chocolate.

Know More ›

Were ice cream cakes popular in the 80s? ›

Ice cream cakes were all the rage during the 1980s and 1990s, thanks to companies like Friendly's and Carvel, but the height of ice cream cake excellence was the Viennetta. This sophisticated ice cream cake was made of layers of fudgy chocolate and vanilla ice cream arranged in an ornate design.

What was the ice cream cake in the 1990s? ›

Viennetta, the Fanciest Dessert of the '90s, Is Back.

Know More ›

What was the fancy frozen dessert in the 90s? ›

Viennetta: The Fancy Frozen Treat That Ruled The '90s — Tasting Table. Viennettas were all the rage until vanishing at the turn of the century.