We all scream for ice cream cake! Use our comprehensive guide to create an impressive (and delicious) homemade ice cream cake that’s so much better than the store-bought version. You’re going to love it!

A piece of ice cream cake.

Ice cream cake is one of those classic party desserts that we all know and love. If you’re a big fan of it for your birthday (or any other special occasion for that matter!), you know that they can be hard to find and are a bit on the expensive side. Well, we’ve got some good news for you: making a homemade ice cream cake is a lot easier than you think! Our recipe features a cake layer, a filling layer, an ice cream layer, and some frosting to finish it all off. The hardest part will be deciding what flavors you want to go with! You can also get really creative with the size and shape of your cake. While this recipe isn’t very difficult to pull off, it does involve a few steps and some time. We recommend that you make yours the evening before you plan on serving it so that it’s ready to go for an afternoon party!

Cake Flavor Options:

You can use whatever type of cake you’d like for this recipe. Here are some of our favorites for some inspiration:

If you’re in a pinch for time, you can also use a store-bought cake or cake mix!

Filling Options:

Your filling layer is just one more place where you can truly make this homemade ice cream cake recipe your own! If you watch the video below, you’ll be able to see that we use yummy safe-to-eat cookie dough. Here are some other ideas:

  • Peanut butter
  • Oreos
  • Fudge
  • Caramel
  • Whipped cream

If you do use cookie dough, consider making it from scratch!

Frosting Options:

We’ve shared an incredibly simple recipe for whipped cream frosting on the recipe card below. As with the other ingredients, you can use store-bought if you don’t have enough time to make your own. You can also add a few extras to our homemade version. Why not try it with:

  • Chocolate chips or shavings
  • Nuts of your choice
  • Rainbow sprinkles for a Funfetti feel
  • Peanut butter
  • Caramel
  • Crumbled up cookies

Troubleshooting: Should I Melt The Ice Cream First?

You don’t need to completely melt your ice cream before you get started, but it should be soft enough for you to scoop it out and then spread it on the pan. You don’t want to hurt yourself or break a spoon as you go along!

Do Ice Cream Cakes Have Eggs?

Unfortunately for those with egg allergies, our cake recipe does include eggs. You can always try an egg replacement product, or you can use your favorite allergen-friendly cake instead!

Does Ice Cream Cake Melt?

It definitely does. If you want to serve yours at an outdoor party or barbecue, we recommend that you leave it in the freezer right up until serving — this is especially important on those hot summer days! 

Ice cream cake with cookie dough on top.

Storage Instructions:

Once you’ve created your dessert you should store it in the freezer until you’re ready to enjoy it. If you do have any leftovers, you should store them in an airtight freezer-safe container in your freezer. They will keep for about one week.

If you like this recipe, you may be interested in these other delicious cake recipes: