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Homemade Ice Cream Cake ready to serve.
Sophie Bennett

Homemade Ice Cream Cake

Contrasting vanilla and chocolate ice cream layers with a cookie crunch and whipped topping.
Prep Time 35 minutes
Cook Time 0 minutes
Cooling/chilling/resting 8 hours 5 minutes
Total Time 8 hours 40 minutes
Servings: 12 slices
Course: Frozen Dessert
Cuisine: American

Ingredients
  

Crust
  • 2 cups (200 g) chocolate wafer cookie crumbs, without filling
  • 5 tablespoons (71 g) unsalted butter, melted
Layers
  • 3 cups vanilla ice cream, slightly softened
  • 3 cups chocolate ice cream, slightly softened
Middle
  • 1/2 cup (150 g) thick chocolate fudge sauce, cold
  • 1/2 cup (50 g) crushed chocolate cookies
Topping
  • 1 cup (240 ml) cold heavy cream
  • 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla

Equipment

  • 9-inch springform pan
  • Digital Kitchen Scale
  • Mixing Bowls
  • Silicone Spatula
  • Freezer Safe Containers
  • Digital Kitchen Timer

Method
 

  1. Line the springform base with parchment. Combine crust crumbs and melted butter, press firmly across the base, and freeze for 20 minutes.
  2. Let vanilla ice cream soften just until spreadable, not melted. Spread over the frozen crust in an even layer and freeze for 1 hour.
  3. Spread cold thick fudge sauce over the firm vanilla layer. Scatter crushed cookies over the sauce, leaving the outer edge reasonably clear.
  4. Soften chocolate ice cream slightly and spread carefully over the cookie layer. Press gently to remove large gaps without melting the layer below.
  5. Cover tightly and freeze at least 6 hours until solid. Keep the pan level so the layered cross-section is even.
  6. Whip heavy cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla to stiff peaks. Release the frozen cake from the ring, supporting the base securely.
  7. Spread whipped cream over the top and sides, working quickly. Freeze another 30–60 minutes to set the coating before cutting.
  8. Let stand 5–10 minutes, then slice with a warm dry knife, wiping between cuts. Return remaining cake to the freezer promptly after serving.

Notes

  • Yield: 12 slices
  • Oven/heat: Freezer only
  • Pan/container: 9-inch springform pan
  • Cooking time excludes chilling, churning, and freezing. Prepare an ice cream maker in advance only when the method requires one; manufacturer bowl-freezing time is additional.
  • Times are approximate: cook/bake 0 minutes (approximate); cooling/chilling/resting 8 hours 5 minutes (approximate; see method); total 8 hours 40 minutes (approximate).
  • Freeze each layer before adding the next; spreading soft ice cream onto another soft layer can blur the colors and force filling outward.
  • Use strawberry ice cream instead of chocolate for a strawberry-vanilla version with the same layer quantities.
  • Freeze tightly covered up to 1 week for the best texture. Wrap individual leftover slices to reduce freezer odors and ice crystals.
  • Nutrition values are not provided; no calculated nutrition data is included.