13 Ice Cream Cake Recipes You Can Absolutely Make at Home
Store-bought ice cream cakes have made many birthdays happier, but these homemade ice cream cake recipes have the power to transform any gathering into a joyful celebration. These frozen, creamy delights are packed with flavor and texture—plus, they offer the option for full customization based on your own preferences. Swap out the flavor of the ice cream, riff with your favorite mix-ins, or follow the recipe line by line for our test kitchen-approved flavor combos. Below, you'll find a few of our favorite ice cream cake recipes, including seasonal options loaded with fruit, easy freezer riffs on the icebox cake, and sophisticated desserts for your next summer dinner party.
Photo by Ted Cavanaugh1/13Banana Split Ice Cream Cake
Some of the best ice cream cake recipes lean on nostalgic flavors, like this extraordinary banana-split-inspired frozen dessert, which is layered with caramel banana jam, maraschino cherries suspended in vanilla ice cream, and crunchy crushed peanuts. We're not sure we can imagine a better summer birthday cake idea.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Michelle Gatton3/13Raspberry and Pistachio Ice Cream Icebox Cake
Icebox cakes are no-fuss summer favorites. This riffable take on the classic adds layers of nutty pistachio ice cream along with bright jam-flavored whipped cream.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Olivia Mack Anderson4/13Baked Alaska Saint Pierre
Well, here's a true showstopper. This flaming meringue-coated confection houses layers of vanilla ice cream, orange sorbet, and orange-scented cake within.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Michelle Gatton5/13Peach and Butter Pecan Ice Cream Icebox Cake
If you love a dessert that's a little bit salty and a little bit sweet, this is the one for you. Ritz crackers add a buttery, salty note that's perfectly balanced with peach jam and store-bought butter pecan ice cream. This fuss-free ice cream cake recipe is easy to prep in advance and serve at your next outdoor dinner party.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Michelle Gatton7/13Blackberry and Chocolate Ice Cream Icebox Cake
Photo by Michael Graydon & Nikole Herriott8/13Neo-Neapolitan Bombe
Okay, this retro dessert doesn't actually have cake inside, but you'll slice it like a cake, which is what counts. The recipe calls for coconut ice cream, pistachio ice cream, and strawberry ice cream, plus freeze-dried strawberries and pistachios for the exterior, but once you've made it once, you might find yourself ready to riff on this simple make-ahead dessert.
Lara Ferroni9/13Red, White, and Blue Ice Cream Cake
If you've been looking for a 4th of July dessert, you've come to the right place. This extravaganza of a dessert is a gorgeous amalgam of ice cream, cake, and blueberries and raspberries cooked separately into their own jammy fillings.
