Whether for a birthday or a summer party, everyone will gaga over the Best Kit Kat Ice Cream Cake. Customize it with your favorite ice cream flavors!
Needless to say, my boy never forgot about this fabulous birthday cake. Let’s be honest. No matter how old you are, everyone loves an ice cream cake.
The first time I made this kit kat ice cream cake was for Middle Child’s 8th birthday. Hard to believe but that was 10 years ago! That little boy is now a freshman in college. I’ll spare you my breaking-momma-bear-heart story.
What makes this the BEST ice cream cake ever?!
As I’ve shared with you before, I’m not a baking blog. I do not have the time, patience or stamina to decorate a cake like some of those great baking blogs do. If you want me to direct you to some mind-blowing dessert divas, let me know.
Like most projects I start, I have the best intentions in the beginning, I think through all of my ingredients and steps, and I’m super pleased (and sometimes taken by surprise) by the fabulous outcome.
But, I hate, I absolutely hate prepping the darn masterpiece up for it’s close-up, that final glamour shot for foodies.
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This particular cake is no-brainer. Warts and all, your guests will only see a heavenly dessert smothered in their favorite candies.
No fancy-schmancy decorating skills are required for this cake! No insane baking skills are needed. No fancy equipment or tools are required – just a 9-inch springform pan.
Feel free to customize it to your favorite flavors, from the ice cream choices inside to the candies and chocolates garnishing on top. It is an easy cake to make for a birthday party or anytime you want to scream for ice cream!
Ingredients you need
- Ice cream: Choose 2 quarts of any 2 ice cream flavors. Keep it simple with chocolate and vanilla, or go wild with rocky road, mint chocolate chip or strawberry ice cream.
- Kit Kat candy bars: These make up the sides of the cake and hold all the ice cream goodness inside.
- Frozen whipped topping: The top of the cake is finished with Cool Whip. You could use homemade whipped cream, but the point of this cake is to keep things easy on you. Not a fan of whipped cream? Add a third layer of ice cream.
- Oreo cookies: The crust of the cake is made with smashed Oreos and the top is garnished with some more Oreos. I used original Oreos, but you can use any flavor you want.
- Assorted chocolate candies: You can go crazy here or keep it simple. Wish M&Ms you can use regular, minis, peanuts or any other variety. You can also use Hershey Kisses, chocolate malt balls, Rolos or even chocolate chips.
- Milk: A little milk is added with the crushed Oreos to make the crust of the ice cream cake.
- Non-stick spray: You will add a coat of oil to the springform pan to keep everything from sticking and help release the cake more easily when done.
Tools to Use
How to make a Kit Kat Ice Cream Cake
1. The crust is made with milk and crushed chocolate Oreos. In a food processor combine milk and 24 Oreo cookies then pulse until crumbs are formed.
2. Coat a 9-inch spring form pan with nonstick spray and place each individual Kit Kat candy bar upright all around the side of the pan. Try to get the Kit Kats as close to possible as you can, with the Kit Kat name facing out, against the side of the spring form pan. You will need a lot of Kit Kats for this cake, 39 Kit Kats to be exact.
Ice cream melts in between. Things get messy. The little bit of oil makes sure your ice cream cake keeps its shape.
3. Line the bottom of the pan with parchment paper and press the Oreo mixture evenly over it. Place in the freezer for 10 minutes.
4. Stir the first flavor of softened ice cream in its container and press evenly over the Oreo crust. Place in the freezer for 10 minutes.
5. Stir the second flavor of softened ice cream in its container and press evenly over the first ice cream layer. Place in the freezer for 10 minutes.
6. Remove frozen whipped topping from the freezer and allow to thaw for 30 minutes. Spread whipped topping over the top layer of ice cream
7. Garnish with remaining Oreos and assorted chocolate candies. Return cake to the freezer and allow to set overnight.
8. Remove cake from freezer 10 minutes prior to serving. Gently open the spring form pan and remove. Use a thin knife or spatula to slide cake onto serving platter.
Recipe tips and FAQs
For this ice cream cake, because I used chocolate and vanilla ice cream, I topped it with all things chocolate: M&Ms, mini M&Ms, chocolate covered crisps, rolos and kisses. The M&Ms are nice and colorful and since I had vanilla and chocolate ice cream for the cake base, they complimented each other beautifully.
If you use fruity ice cream for the inside of your Kit Kat ice cream cake, then you can top with candies like gummy bears, Skittles, gummy worms and lollipops. Again, whatever candies you like should be the candies you use in this cake.
Just have fun with it! Let the child inside of you go nuts in a candy shop!
The beauty of this kit kat ice cream cake is that it appeals to kids of all ages. Even my father-in-law’s eyes widened with delight when I first brought out this cake. It is sure to be a crowd pleaser!
But honestly, you don’t need a birthday as a reason to make it. I also made a Halloween Kit Kat Ice Cream Cake. Because kids eat ice cream 365 days out of the year. And it’s a great way to use up leftover Halloween candies.
Bon Appetit!
This Kit Kat ice cream cake is made with an Oreo cookie crust. There are two layers of ice cream and topped with whipped cream and chocolate candies. You can also top with fresh fruit.
An ice cream cake is super easy to make as it is a no-bake cake. The crust can be made with crushed cookies, like sandwich or wafer cookies. Let your store bought ice cream soften by sitting out on the counter for 10-15 minutes. This makes it easy to spread into your springform pan. Freeze your cake overnight to set. By using a springform pan, it makes it easier to remove the cake to serve.
This ice cream cake can definitely be made without eggs. The Oreo crust is egg-free. The ice cream I chose was a big brand name and it was also egg-free. Kit Kats do not have egg in them. And you can easily find chocolate and candies that do NOT contain eggs.
If you do end up with leftover ice cream cake, you can easily keep it in the freezer. Simply wrap what was left in plastic wrap or foil and it will keep for up to one month.
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The Best Kit Kat Ice Cream Cake
Whether for a birthday or a summer party, everyone will gaga over this amazing Kit Kat Ice Cream Cake. Customize it with your favorite ice cream flavors!
Ingredients
- 2 qt ice cream, any 2 flavors
- 2 TBS milk
- 39 Kit Kat candy bars
- 16 oz frozen whipped topping (like cool whip)
- 1 (14.3 oz) box of Oreo cookies
- 1 cup assorted chocolate candies
- Non-stick spray
Instructions
- Remove ice cream from the freezer and leave on the counter to soften.
- In a food processor combine: milk and 24 Oreo cookies.
- Coat a 9-inch spring form pan with nonstick spray and place each individual Kit Kat candy bar upright all around the side of the pan. Try to get the Kit Kats as close to possible as you can, with the Kit Kat name facing out, against the side of the spring form pan.
- Line the bottom of the pan with parchment paper and press the Oreo mixture evenly over it. Place in the freezer for 10 minutes.
- Stir the first flavor of softened ice cream in its container and press evenly over the Oreo crust. Place in the freezer for 10 minutes.
- Stir the second flavor of softened ice cream in its container and press evenly over the first ice cream layer. Place in the freezer for 10 minutes.
- Remove frozen whipped topping from the freezer and allow to thaw for 30 minutes.
- Spread whipped topping over the top layer of ice cream and garnish with remaining Oreos and assorted chocolate candies.
- Return cake to the freezer and allow to set overnight.
- Remove cake from freezer 10 minutes prior to serving.
- Gently open the spring form pan and remove. Use a thin knife or spatula to slide cake onto serving platter.
- Slice and serve immediately!
Notes
Use any varieties of chocolates and candies for this cake. You can also use any other variety of Oreo cookies, as well.
You can keep leftovers in the freezer, just wrap in plastic wrap or foil and it will keep for up to one month.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
15Serving Size:
1 sliceAmount Per Serving: Calories: 572.2Total Fat: 29.4gSaturated Fat: 11.7gTrans Fat: 0.1gUnsaturated Fat: 2.7gCholesterol: 25.9mgSodium: 187.9mgCarbohydrates: 72gFiber: 0.9gSugar: 30.1gProtein: 7.0g
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This cake was gorgeous and made folks so happy!
For anyone with no access to Cool Whip like me: do not use mascarpone as a replacement. Froze rock solid while everything else was already approaching milk shake consistency (though it tasted great once it finally thawed about an hour after everything else ;)).
I’m definitely making this again but next time around I’ll simply use a third flavour of ice cream for the top – maybe yogurt ice cream to replicate the look of cream.
Hi Jen-
Oh no! Mascarpone sounds delicious, though! You can also try whipping up your own whipped cream. Try 1 cup of heavy whipped cream, 1 TBS sugar and 1/2 tsp vanilla extract.
Laura
I have a question. I only have an 8.5” pan and a 10” pan. Which one would be best to use for the Kit Kat ice cream cake ?
Hi Melissa-
I hate it when that happens. Use the 8.5-inch pan. And enjoy!
Laura
Thanks Laura
I just realized the instructions say let it set overnight answered my own question lol
Hi Mandy-
LOL good luck! Happy birthday to your baby boy!
Laura
Thank you it came out great and you were right everyone absolutely loved it. Definitely would make this again.
I’m making this for my son’s 3rd birthday tomorrow he’s going to love it. Just a quick question I’m making it tonight for tomorrow should I wait to put the cool whip and candy on till tomorrow or will it be fine if I put it on tonight and wrap the cake?
Hi, quick question if I make this on Wednesday for Saturday dinner (small) party, will it still be fresh? I do not want to make it Friday but will if this is better, please let me know, thanks
Hi Carmen,
Should be fine for Saturday. On Thursday, once cake has hardened, wrap it in foil so the top doesn’t dry out.
Laura
Thank you
Your Kit Kat Ice Cream Cake recipe and pictures have been used on another website. https://www.keyingredient.com/recipes/662366972/kit-kat-ice-cream-cake/
I made this cake for my son’s birthday and it was a huge hit! I want to make it again for my other son but just a little different. Do you think I could use cinnamon toast crunch in place of the oreos, or would that just end up being soggy? Thanks for any advice!
Hi Danielle-
So glad the cake was a hit! Remember, oreos come in different flavors, so that’s another option. I’ve never made an ice cream cake with a cereal crust. Remember, oreos have that cream filling that also binds it together with the little bit of milk. If you use cereal or any dry ingredient, you have to add some moisture to bind it. I found this recipe that uses cinnamon toast crunch as a crust: https://www.delish.com/cooking/recipe-ideas/recipes/a47013/cinnamon-toast-ice-cream-cake/ Hope that helps!
— Laura
That loads of sweetness but I’m sure my kid will love it! Thank you for sharing the recipes.
Ice cream cakes are the best! I will have to try this recipe!
This sure looks decadent!
This looks so amazing, thank you for sharing it! I will make it next week for my husband’s birthday (a very big kid). Question: what do you mean by “Line the bottom of the pan with parchment paper ” Do I need to cut the parchment paper in the shape of the round pan and place it in? Thank you!
Yes, exactly that: Cut a round circle of parchment paper and place it first in the pan. I hope your kid, er husband, enjoys his cake!
Thank you thank you! I made the cake yesterday and it was super simple! My husband loved it as did my two little boys! Must make again soon!!!
I am making this cake tomorrow for my 10 yr old birthday party! I am so excited about it and cannot wait to see all of the boys’ faces when I bring it out!!!
Oh, they will LOVE it! My son keeps asking me to make it again!
Hello,
How long in advance can I make this \Kit Kat ice cream cake?
Thank you
Hello, how long in advance can i make this cake?
Once everything is frozen again, if you cover the top of the cake with plastic wrap or foil (laying it flat against the surface so it is not exposed to air), your cake should be fine like this for several days – possibly up to a week.
I made this for my son’s 12th birthday. It was a huge hit! He chose moose tracks and salted caramel for the ice cream with Twix candy topping-YUMM! As a busy mom of 4 children, I was pleased how quickly this cake came together. Completed the recipe in under an hour and it came out looking every bit as delicious as the blog photos!
I’m not sure what store-bought whip cream is like. If it’s soft, I’m not sure it will freeze well. I’m afraid it will collapse. If it is stiff, then it will freeze well. If you are using soft whipped cream, then you can add it right before you serve the cake.
Hello. This looks amazing! I am a food lover and a perfectionist in photography, so i know how you feel, my family is similar. Ive had a look at the recipe and just want to ask a few questions though. Firstly do I leave the Kit Kats in two, or separate them to fit in the pan. Also, I live in Australia and I’d just like to understand the terms “qt”, “oz” and “TBS”? Lastly what is cool whip?
Hi Jordan and thank you for your questions! I love hearing from readers. Here are your answers: 1. Separate the Kit Kats, then place them in the pan.(I will fix this on the recipe, too) 2. The next questions are measurement questions (sorry I’m in the US. I’m working on adding metric to the site). qt = quart = 4 cups (about a good handful) oz = ounce TBS = tablespoon (approx small round spoonful) This isn’t a baking recipe, so you can easily guesstimate the measurements to what you have down under. For example, our ice cream tub is… Read more »
Sorry, but I just need to ask, can I make cool whip by freezing bought whipped cream? Thank you a lot for your help, I’m making this tomorrow and serving it the next day! I can’t wait.
🙂 Jordan
Can you tell me what you put the ice cream in to get it to hold together? Did you use a special pan? Want to make this for my daughter’s birthday which is coming up very soon. Thanks! 🙂
Yes, I used a springform pan – the same pan you use for cheesecake. Once everything is hardened and frozen, you slowly open the sides and remove the cake.
Googled ice cream cake for inspiration for son #3 upcoming birthday and finally came across this image. What a fantastic looking cake! Cannot wait to make it and definately cannot wait to eat it!!!