Ice Cream Sandwich Cake with Hot Fudge and Sprinkles Recipe
This Ice Cream Sandwich Cake is a delightful no-bake dessert that layers classic vanilla ice cream sandwiches with rich chocolate pudding, creamy Cool Whip, and hot fudge sauce. Topped with colorful sprinkles and optional candy additions, it’s a fun and easy treat perfect for summer gatherings or any celebration.
- Author: Rita
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 2 hours 20 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
Pudding Mixture
- 1 (3.9 oz) instant chocolate pudding mix
- 1 Tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 cup half-and-half
- 8 oz Cool Whip (half of the 16 oz, thawed)
- ½ cup rainbow sprinkles
Other Ingredients
- 16 oz Cool Whip (thawed, divided)
- 19 vanilla ice cream sandwiches (regular size)
- ½ cup hot fudge topping (at room temperature, divided)
- Optional toppings: additional sprinkles, M&Ms, chopped candy bars, caramel sauce, chocolate sauce, etc.
- Prepare the baking dish: Line a 9 x 13 inch baking dish with parchment paper and set aside to ensure easy removal of the cake later.
- Make the chocolate pudding mixture: In a medium bowl, whisk the instant chocolate pudding mix and unsweetened cocoa powder together. Slowly add the half-and-half and mix until the pudding thickens. Fold in half of the Cool Whip (8 ounces) along with the rainbow sprinkles gently until well combined. Set aside.
- Layer ice cream sandwiches: Arrange a single, even layer of ice cream sandwiches on the bottom of the prepared dish. Trim the sandwiches as necessary to cover the entire bottom without large gaps; typically, this will be about 2 rows of 4 sandwiches plus one and a third sandwiches.
- Add fudge layer: Spread ¼ cup of the room temperature hot fudge evenly over the ice cream sandwiches to create a rich chocolate layer.
- Spread the pudding mixture: Pour and spread the prepared chocolate pudding mixture evenly over the fudge layer to create the next layer of the cake.
- Freeze briefly: Place the dish in the freezer for at least 20 minutes to allow the pudding mixture to firm up enough to support the next layers without sinking.
- Repeat layers: Remove the dish from the freezer and add a second layer of ice cream sandwiches on top of the pudding layer. Spread the remaining hot fudge sauce (about ¼ cup) evenly over these sandwiches.
- Top with Cool Whip: Finally, spread the remaining Cool Whip evenly over the entire cake to create a smooth, creamy topping.
- Freeze until firm: Return the entire cake to the freezer and chill for at least 2 hours or until firm enough to slice cleanly.
- Add optional toppings and serve: Before serving, decorate the cake with additional sprinkles and any other desired toppings such as M&Ms, chopped candy bars, caramel drizzle, or chocolate sauce. Slice and serve immediately for the best texture.
Notes
- The baking dish should be lined with parchment paper to make removal of the cake easier and cleaner.
- Do not warm the hot fudge topping; use it at room temperature for easy spreading.
- Trim the ice cream sandwiches to ensure full coverage without gaps to maintain neat layers.
- Freezing between layers helps maintain distinct layers and prevents sinking.
- This dessert is best served immediately after slicing to preserve the texture of the ice cream sandwiches.
Keywords: Ice Cream Sandwich Cake, No-Bake Dessert, Chocolate Pudding Cake, Frozen Dessert, Summer Dessert