Easy recipe to make homemade Ice Cream cake for birthday and celebrations. Delicious and much less expensive than buying.

It doesn’t matter how old you get, ice cream and cake is a must for celebrating a birthday. Our oldest daughter just had her special August birthday. Erin isn’t crazy about cake or desserts in general. Really… how can she be my offspring?! But, she loves ice cream. So, I made her a big beautiful homemade ice cream cake with a chocolate Oreo crust to make her feel loved and special and because she thinks she is our favorite daughter 😉

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This girl of ours came into our lives 39 years ago with spunk and determination. Lots of it. She blazed the path for her three sisters and at times bewildered her parents. She is one of the most multi-talented, capable people I know, lets no obstacle stop her and above all, has a heart of gold.

I brought this newborn baby home from the hospital on my birthday and she tells me, I could’t had got a better present. She is right!If you have someone you love lots, make them a super yummy ice cream cake! It is easy to do and much less expensive than store bought.

Ice Cream Cake Cookie Crust

One of the best parts about ice cream cake is the crunchy stuff in the center. Oreo cookies are crushed into crumbs and mixed with melted butter to make the bottom crust and sprinkled in the middle between the two ice cream layers.

Press the Oreo crumbs into a springform pan and up the sides. A little time in the freezer and the crust will hold together.

Adding ice cream layers

Spread a layer of softened ice cream over the Oreo crust.

Smooth the surface.

Sprinkle with the reserved Oreo crumb mixture and pop back into the freezer to firm up.

Spread the second layer of softened ice cream over the crumbs.

Smooth the top of the ice cream.

Cover with plastic wrap.

Then cover with aluminum foil to prevent air from getting in and ice crystals forming. It helps keep the ice cream, well, creamy. Store the ice cream cake, tightly covered in the freezer until almost ready to serve. When it is time to serve the ice cream cake, you will want to remove it from the freezer 15-20 minutes before to soften and make cutting easier.

Decorating ice cream cake with whipped cream

If you want to go an extra step, frost the ice cream cake with whipped topping. You can, of course make fresh whipped cream, but it is really convenient to use the whipped topping. You can even tint it with a couple drops of food coloring. Not too much though or it will become too thin.

Spread the whipped topping over the top of the ice cream cake and then pipe a border around the edge. Jimmies or sprinkles will make it look festive.

Piping on a personalized chocolate greeting

Personalize the top by piping melted chocolate with a piping bag and small round tip.

Melt chocolate and shortening in a small bowl in the microwave, stirring until smooth.

Fill a piping bag with the melted chocolate.

And write whatever you’d like onto the top of the cake.

Homemade Oreo Crust Ice Cream Cake

PRINT RECIPE

1 package Oreo Cookies (if you prefer you can use chocolate wafer cookies, remove the cream centers from the Oreo’s or just use them as the come from the package)
1/2 cup butter, melted
1 (1.5 qt) container vanilla ice cream, softened
1 (1.5 qt) container ice cream flavor of your choice, softened
8-ounce container frozen whipped topping, thawed

Anytime up to two weeks before serving, make crumbs from cookies in blender or crush with a rolling pin or meat mallet. Combine crumbs and melted butter, reserving 2/3 cup of crumbs. Firmly press remaining crumbs over bottom and up sides of a 10-inch springform pan. Freeze until firm (15 minutes).Remove from freezer and spread vanilla ice cream in an even layer. Sprinkle with reserved crumbs. Return to freezer until ice cream is firm

Spread on the second container of ice cream. Cover top with plastic wrap and then foil and freeze. Early on serving day put serving plate in freezer to chill. Ten minutes before serving, invert pan onto plate, release catch, and remove sides and bottom.

If you plan on frosting the ice cream cake, spread on the thawed whipped topping and decorate as desired. This can be done before freezing or just before serving.