16 Ice Cream Cake Recipes to Sweeten Any Celebration

Skip the cup or cone and cool off with a slice of these ice cream cakes instead.

neapolitan ice cream cake
Credit:

Anson Smart

Whether you're celebrating a birthday, hosting a summer cookout, or just enjoying the warm weather, ice cream cakes are one of our favorite cooling desserts—and we think you'll agree. The possibilities really are endless: Start with a cookie crust or a pillowy cake-like base, top it with your favorite flavors of ice cream (think beyond the usual chocolate and vanilla), then garnish with classic ice cream shop toppings, such as sprinkles, maraschino cherries, whipped cream, nuts, and lots and lots of hot fudge or caramel sauce. The beauty of these ice cream cake recipes is that you can swap in different flavors based on what you love the most. Yes, it is that easy!

01 of 16

Brownie Sundae Ice Cream Cake

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Credit: Johnny Miller

Here, we've taken everything we love about the classic chocolate sundae and turned it into an extravagant ice cream cake. We're talking layers of brownies, vanilla and strawberry ice cream, crunchy peanut butter, and crushed raspberries topped with whipped cream, sugared peanuts, and cherries.

02 of 16

Banana-Split Ice Cream Cake

banana split ice cream sheet cake
Credit: Alpha Smoot

Inspired by the old-fashioned sundae, this ice cream sheet cake is garnished with all the fixings—bananas, maraschino cherries, walnuts, and a cloud-like whipped cream topping.

03 of 16

Triple-Chocolate Ice Cream Cake

triple ice cream cake chocolate martha bakes
Credit: Mike Krautter

If you love chocolate desserts, you will adore this over-the-top ice cream cake. Sliced chocolate cake is layered with white chocolate ganache and chocolate ice cream, then topped with whipped cream and chocolate shavings.

04 of 16

Chocolate-Pistachio Tartufo

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Credit: Bryan Gardner

For a romantic dessert for two or a fancy small gathering, try our easier-than-it-looks take on Tartufo, the classic Italian dessert. You'll love the flavor combo, but also the party of textures thanks to the chocolate shell and cookie crumbs.

05 of 16

Star-Spangled Ice Cream Sandwiches

Star-Spangled Ice Cream Sandwiches
Credit: Kate Sears

This confection has three classic treats combined into one delicious dessert: two sheets of sponge cake, softened vanilla ice cream, and swirls of raspberry sorbet. Once set, you can slice it up and serve the cake as individual ice cream sandwiches. Genius!

06 of 16

Grasshopper Dome Ice Cream Cake

grasshopper dome ice cream cake
Credit: NGOC MINH NGO

Enjoy a slice of mint chocolate heaven with this ice cream cake. It's formed in a glass mixing bowl, which gives it a distinctive dome-like shape.

07 of 16

Eggnog Semifreddo Genoise Cake With Meringue Frosting

Eggnog Semifreddo Genoise Cake with Meringue Frosting
Credit: Aya Brackett

For the holiday season, make this ice cream cake, which is spiked with rum, spiced with ground nutmeg, and topped with a billowing torched meringue.

08 of 16

Almond-Crunch Ice Cream Cake

almond crunch ice cream cake martha bakes
Credit: Mike Krautter

Inspired by Good Humor's Toasted Almond Bar, this is the definition of decadence! A frozen almond extravaganza made with almond cake layers brushed with amaretto syrup, vanilla ice cream, and sugared almonds. The best part? Cake crumbs and even more almonds on top.

09 of 16

Coffee Meringue-Ice Cream Cake

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Credit: Jonathan Lovekin

Surprise and delight the coffee lovers in your life with this stunning dessert. Elevate store-bought coffee ice cream with flaky sea salt and ground coffee beans and sandwich the whole shebang between coffee-swirled meringues.

10 of 16

Neapolitan Ice Cream Cake

neapolitan ice cream cake
Credit: Anson Smart

Instead of the usual chocolate ice cream, we lightened up this Neapolitan-inspired ice cream cake with pistachio ice cream, which gives each slice a pale green hue. It's topped with sliced strawberries and chopped pistachios.

11 of 16

Vanilla-Raspberry Baked Alaska

almond daquoise bomb martha bakes meringue white plate slice removed
Credit: Mike Krautter

This is surely a showstopper dessert thanks to the layers of raspberry sorbet, vanilla ice cream, and a homemade dacquoise base, all covered in a blanket of marshmallow-torched meringue.

12 of 16

Baked Alaska

baked alaska cake
Credit: VICTORIA PEARSON

If an almond-based dacquoise isn't for you, go back to the basics: a traditional Baked Alaska. Here, a vanilla cake is topped with ice cream and a berry sherbet, before being covered in a Swiss meringue. Lengthy, but worth it all the way!

13 of 16

Fudgy Ice Cream Cake

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Alternate graham crackers with vanilla ice cream and homemade fudge sauce to make this impressive cake. Whipped cream and a sprinkling of cocoa are the perfect final flourish.

14 of 16

Seven-Layer Ice Cream Cake

7-Layer Ice Cream Cake
Credit: Johnny Miller

Want to elicit oohs and ahhs from your guests? Serve this show-stopping seven-layer number. It's easier to make than you might think, especially if you use store-bought frozen pound cake.

15 of 16

Baked Alaska With Chocolate Cake and Chocolate Ice Cream

chocolate baked alaska
Credit: Nigel Cox

This treat is not for the faint of heart. Chocolate cake and ice cream are enrobed in a thick meringue blanket and baked until beautifully caramelized.

16 of 16

Striped Ice Cream Cake

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Credit: Ditte Isager

As delicious as it is beautiful, this cake is a layered masterpiece. Tiers of peach sorbet, raspberry sorbet, vanilla ice cream, blueberry jam, and angel food cake create a colorful, frosty treat perfect for summer.

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