Ice Cream Cake

This festive copycat Dairy Queen ice cream cake is layered with rich chocolate ice cream, creamy chocolate fudge, crunchy Oreo pieces, and creamy vanilla ice cream, then frosted with whipped cream and finished with rainbow confetti sprinkles.

This homemade version of the classic is a show stopping centerpiece for your next birthday party or special occasion.

Ice Cream Cake Doesn’t Involve Cake At All

Although the name suggests cake, this ice cream cake doesn’t actually have any cake in it! 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. 

The Anatomy of an Ice Cream Cake

• The ice cream: The ice cream is the star of the cake, so I recommend using a high-quality ice cream for the best flavor possible. I used Tillamook ice cream for both of the layers, which is my favorite brand, but you could also use brands like Breyers or Haagen Daaz. Make sure the ice cream you choose is a dairy forward ice cream and not just a “frozen dessert” as this will not be as soft and creamy.
• The Oreo crunchies: This layer is quick and easy to make, and you only need two ingredients! The Oreo cookies are crushed and then mixed with melted butter before baking which makes them extra crunchy and gives the cake a layer of texture.
• The homemade fudge: Homemade fudge is surprisingly simple to make and brings a layer of richness to the ice cream cake.
• The whipped cream frosting: Regular buttercream frosting would be too heavy for this ice cream cake which is why it’s frosted in homemade whipped cream instead! 

How to Make Homemade Chocolate Fudge

Making chocolate fudge from scratch is quick and easy and you only need a few pantry staples to make it. 

1. Heavy cream: The cream is going to emulsify all of the fudge ingredients together and make it super smooth and creamy. Because it has a high fat content, the cream allows the fudge to stay soft even straight from the freezer.
2. Chocolate chips: You can use milk, semi-sweet, or dark chocolate chips for the fudge. This recipe uses semi-sweet which gives it a sweeter and less bitter flavor.
3. Butter and vanilla: The butter brings more richness to the fudge and helps it look shiny after it has set. The vanilla is for extra flavor!

How to Make Homemade Whipped Cream

The taste of homemade whipped cream is far better than store bought which is why we are going to make it from scratch! If you’ve never made homemade whipped cream before, don’t worry, it’s very simple. Here are some tips on making the best whipped cream.

Keep it chilled: Keep the cream in the fridge until right before you need to use it. and stick the bowl and whisk in the freezer for 10 minutes before mixing. If the cream is too warm, the fat becomes ineffective as a stabilizer, and the cream will fall flat.

Use a mixer: The easiest way to whip cream is in a stand mixer with a whisk attachment, or with an electric hand mixer. It should only take a few minutes of whipping to get a nice consistency. After it starts to form a soft peak where it’s barely hanging on to the whisk, watch it carefully. If the cream is overmixed, it’ll turn into butter!

How to Frost a Cake With Whipped Cream

You may think that frosting a cake with whipped cream is going to be more difficult than a buttercream, but it’s actually fairly easy to work with. These are my best tips for frosting the cake with whipped cream successfully:

• Use a large offset spatula: A large offset spatula is designed to frost cakes with little effort and is my go-to tool of choice when frosting. If you don’t have a large spatula you can also use a large butter knife, although the final texture won’t be as smooth.
• Use a piping bag: This is my favorite way to frost any kind of cake, but especially whipped cream as it has a much lighter texture and makes it easier to work with. You can fit the piping bag with a round tip, then pipe the whipped cream in a spiral over the top and on the sides of the cake, then use your spatula to smooth the lines out. If you prefer to not use a piping bag that’s okay! You can transfer the whipped cream onto the cake using a large spoon and then use your knife or spatula to spread it around the cake. 
• Piping rosettes: If you don’t have a piping bag you can also use a ziplock bag with the corner cut and then fit it with the star tip. You don’t have to use a lot of pressure to create the rosettes as the whipped cream is very airy. To create perfect rosettes, hold the bag directly above the top of the cake and move it in a clockwise motion while squeezing with even continuous pressure.

Tips and Tricks for Making Ice Cream Cake

Making a homemade ice cream cake may seem challenging at first, but it is actually simple to make. Here are a few tips for a rockstar cake:

• Use softened ice cream: This step is important because it’s very difficult to spread the ice cream if it’s straight out of the freezer. 
• Clear freezer space: Ice cream cakes make frequent trips to the freezer to chill in between layers and before serving. I recommend clearing the space before starting so the cake layers are not sitting at room temperature in between steps which could cause it to melt.
• Use a springform pan: This type of pan is best for an ice cream cake because it allows you to remove it from the pan easily. If you don’t have a springform pan you can also use a standard round cake pan.
• Make it ahead: Because this cake has multiple steps and lots of chill time, I recommend making it the day before you plan on serving it. I don’t recommend making it too far ahead of time though unless you have some kind of cake carrier container to store it in. Leaving the cake uncovered in the freezer for longer than 1 week will start to take on a stale freezer taste.

How to Store Leftover Ice Cream Cake

I recommend storing the cake or any leftovers in a large cake carrier if space allows, or cut into slices and store in a sealed container. You can place pieces of parchment paper in between cake slices to keep them from freezing together.

Any leftover ice cream cake will last for up to 1 week in the freezer if uncovered. After this time the cake can start to crystalize and taste freezer burnt.