If you’re looking for an easy summertime dessert, Ice Cream Sandwich Sheet Cake is it! Assembled with purchased ice cream sandwiches and all your favorite ready-made ice cream toppings.
I love to bake sweet things for every season, but summer? Not my fave. However, I love all things ice cream. Which is summer’s unofficial dessert (second only to Strawberry Shortcake). It’s easy to get excited about making something delicious, cold, and creamy to enjoy in this sweltering summer heat.
I decided to whip up an easy ice cream cake with no baking required. It’s not my first ice cream sandwich cake, (see the first one here) but it is the most decadent. It’s layered in a 13×9-inch dish (easy!) and loaded up ice cream sundae-style with strawberry and caramel toppings. Along with hot fudge, nuts, and plenty of sprinkles, of course. I think it would be absolutely perfect to serve at a kid’s birthday party – or even a pool party! This cake is a sugar rush, so any event that kids expend lots of energy running, swimming, or playing.
Make the Whipped Cream
Whip up a big bowl of heavy cream to stiff peaks. Don’t be tempted to sweeten it! It’s already a little sweet, plus the ice cream toppings will bring plenty more sweetness to the party.
Ice Cream Sandwiches
Purchase 2 boxes (or 20) of your favorite rectangular ice cream sandwiches. I used Neapolitan-filled, which gives this cake all the flavors of an ice cream sundae. Unwrap them and layer 8 whole sandwiches in the bottom of a 13×9-inch pan. Trim two of the sandwiches and fit them into the empty space to completely fill the pan.
Layer Up!
Next, spread on a layer of whipped cream, then add the strawberry topping. Try to drizzle it evenly over the cream. Don’t worry too much about spreading it out. I just left the drizzle as-is.
More Layers
Place more ice cream sandwiches over the strawberry layer. Trim 2 sandwiches as before and fill in the blanks. Next, drizzle over the caramel ice cream topping. Again, try to do this as evenly as possible.
All-Important Hot Fudge
Add another layer of whipped cream over the caramel layer, carefully spreading it to the top edges of the pan.
Warm a jar of hot fudge sauce in the microwave until it loosens considerably. Stir it well and let it cool slightly. Then, drizzle it over the whipped cream. Or, do as I do. Transfer it to a piping bag and drizzle it on in zigzag patterns.
Even More Toppings!
Sprinkle toasted chopped nuts over the hot fudge. To shortcut the work of chopping nuts, you can find some, ready to sprinkle, right in the ice cream toppings aisle (I used Fisher Nut Topping).
Use a standard size ice cream scoop to dollop whipped cream on top of the cake. It looks like scoops of vanilla ice cream, doesn’t it? Too cute!
Don’t Forget the Sprinkles!
Add maraschino cherries to each mound of whipped cream. And follow up with colorful confetti sprinkles. You could also use ice cream sprinkles found in the ice cream toppings section of the grocery store. These sprinkles won’t bleed or melt. Although pretty, rainbow nonpareils will bleed color with moisture. So avoid them this time.
This is one delicious, ooey-gooey ice cream sandwich sheet cake! I tried my best to get a good cross section picture of the cake, but I’m a bit slow when it comes to photography. So it looks a bit melty.
I’ve said it before – summer – especially in the south – makes me feel lazy in my bones. No wonder southerners have been observed to move slower, talk slower, and generally take our time. Spend an August here. Then you’ll know why. 😊 Desserts like these will always have a place on my menu. Because there’s not a lot of work to do, just some assembly required. It can be made ahead and stored in the freezer until you’re ready to serve.
Related Recipe: Easy Ice Cream Sandwich Cake
Ice Cream Sandwich Sheet Cake (13×9)
- 3 1/2 cups heavy cream
- 20 whole ice cream sandwiches unwrapped
- 11.75 oz. strawberry ice cream topping 1 jar
- 12.25 oz. caramel ice cream topping 1 jar
- 11.75 oz. hot fudge ice cream topping 1 jar
- 1/2 cup chopped mixed nuts
- 8 maraschino cherries patted dry
- 1/2 cup confetti sprinkles or other ice cream sprinkles
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Beat the heavy cream in a large chilled mixing bowl with an electric mixer until thickened to stiff peaks, about 4 minutes.
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Layer 8 whole ice cream sandwiches in the bottom of a 13×9 inch pan. Trim two ice cream sandwiches width-wise and fill in the empty space in the pan, so that the ice cream sandwiches completely fill the pan.
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Spread a layer of whipped cream over the sandwiches, a little less than 1/4 inch thick. Stir the strawberry ice cream topping in the jar to loosen. Drizzle it over the whipped cream layer.
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Layer on 8 more whole ice cream sandwiches atop the strawberry layer. Trim two ice cream sandwiches and layer to fill the pan as before. Drizzle on the caramel ice cream topping. Add another layer of whipped cream over the caramel; spread evenly.
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Stir the hot fudge sauce in the jar; microwave for 30 seconds or more, until loosened. Let cool slightly. Transfer to a piping bag or a zip-top bag with the corner snipped. Drizzle the hot fudge over the whipped cream layer in zig-zag fashion.
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Sprinkle chopped mixed nuts over the hot fudge. Using a trigger ice cream scoop, scoop remaining whipped cream in well-spaced mounds top of the hot fudge and nuts, about 8 mounds total – see video for action.
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Immediately top each scoop of whipped cream with a maraschino cherry; toss on confetti sprinkles.
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Transfer to the freezer to set, about 2 hours. Cover and keep frozen until ready to serve.
Banana Split: Make the recipe as written, except layer in two sliced bananas on top of the strawberry topping layer.
Pan Size: Some 13×9 inch pans flare at the top. If you can, use a pan that is the same size from the base to the top. Otherwise, you may have to do some creative re-arranging of the ice cream sandwiches.Â
Remix: Give this cake a makeover with your favorite ice cream toppings and ingredients. Add peanut butter ice cream topping, magic shell, or other candy elements to this cake (snickers, M&M candies, Reese cups).