You won’t believe how EASY it is to make a homemade gluten-free ice cream cake! Use your favorite ice cream flavors and make it all summer long.
With a fudgy cookie-crunch filling, it’s just like the ice cream cake you ate growing up. Nobody will guess it’s gluten-free!
No matter how old you are, there’s something about ice cream cake that instantly makes you feel like a kid again. Cold, creamy, fudgy, and downright fun, this gluten-free ice cream cake is the best of every dessert—wrapped up in one impressive package!
It’s special enough that you’re not eating it all the time, so any time you do get to indulge in an ice cream cake, it’s a moment to really savor!
And while this ice cream cake looks extra impressive, it’s actually easier to put together than it seems. Sure, there are quite a few steps, but it’s mostly just time spent assembling the cake.
In fact, you don’t even have to actually bake a cake or make a traditional frosting for this recipe!
The cookie crunchies layer and the chocolate fudge layer are the perfect accompaniment to the ice cream layers. Then, the whipped cream topping comes in as the light and fluffy finishing touch.
I love making this layer cake for my kids’ birthdays, or even for the birthday celebration of a friend. Trust me when I say everyone is going to LOVE this cake!
For more show-stopping desserts, try this gluten-free chocolate mousse cake, gluten-free vanilla cake, gluten-free cheesecake and gluten-free birthday cake!
You also might like this article on are oreos gluten-free.
Why You’ll Love this Recipe
- Great for birthdays or a special occasion
- Extra impressive
- Cold, creamy, and fudgy
- No traditional cake baking required
- Perfect summer dessert
You also might like these easy vanilla ice cream, gluten-free chocolate cupcakes or this flourless chocolate torte.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Here’s what goes into this homemade ice cream cake to make it so delicious!
- Chocolate chips: Choose high-quality chocolate chips like Guittard or Ghiradelli, since you’ll be using them to make the chocolate sauce fudge layer of the cake.
- Corn syrup: Corn syrup helps thicken the fudge layer until it’s the perfect consistency!
- Vanilla: Use pure vanilla extract in the fudge layer for a richer flavor.
- Powdered sugar: Powdered sugar creates a smooth, light, and fluffy homemade whipped cream layer. I don’t recommend using granulated sugar, but you can if you’re in a pinch.
- Butter: Butter adds richness and helps bind the gluten-free chocolate cookies layer together.
- Sprinkles: Sprinkles make this cake look more fun and festive. Choose your favorite color scheme to fit the occasion!
- Gluten-free Oreos: Not all Oreos are gluten-free, so make sure you’re buying the gluten-free version at the grocery store.
- Heavy cream: Use heavy whipping cream to make a more flavorful whipped cream—and more overall delicious cake. I don’t recommend using Cool Whip for this cake!
- Chocolate ice cream: Choose your favorite brand of gluten-free chocolate ice cream, or consider changing the recipe to include a difference ice cream flavor.
- Vanilla ice cream: Choose your favorite brand of gluten-free vanilla ice cream, or consider changing the recipe to include a difference ice cream flavor.
How to Make this Ice Cream Cake
Make the Cookie Crunchies
- TIP: Now is a good time to set out the chocolate ice cream (not the vanilla) so it can soften for 20 minutes before making the cake layers.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
- In a small bowl, mix together the gluten-free Oreo crumbs and melted butter until well combined. Spread the crumbs evenly onto the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 8-10 minutes, then cool completely to room temperature. Break up any big clumps into smaller ones and set aside.
You also might like this gluten-free oreo cheesecake.
Make the Chocolate Fudge
- Add the chocolate chips, corn syrup, butter, vanilla and salt to a medium sized bowl.
- Microwave the heavy whipping cream for 45 seconds to 1 minute until just starting to boil. Pour the hot cream over the chocolate chips mixture. Let sit for 2-3 minutes, then whisk until smooth. Set aside at room temperature.
Make the Ice Cream Cake
- Line a 8×3 cake pan with a generous layer of plastic wrap to cover the bottom and sides of the pan. (You can also use an 8-inch springform pan.)
- Spread the softened chocolate ice cream into an even layer. (If you want a thicker chocolate layer use the whole carton. If you want even layers of chocolate and vanilla ice cream use ⅔ of the container.) Freeze for 30 minutes. Set out the vanilla ice cream to soften while the chocolate ice cream layer freezes.
- Remove the cake from the freezer. Spread the chocolate fudge in an even layer over the chocolate ice cream. Sprinkle the cookie crumbs over the fudge. Freeze for 10 minutes to set the fudge layer.
- Spread the softened vanilla ice cream layer (you may not use all the ice cream) over the cookie crumbs. Freeze for 2-3 hours until firm.
Make the Whipped Cream Topping
- In a large mixing bowl, add the heavy whipping cream, powdered sugar and vanilla extract. Using a hand mixer, whip on high speed until stiff peaks form.
- Take the cake out of the freezer. Use the plastic wrap to lift the frozen cake out of the pan, and place on a serving platter.
Frost the Cake
- Spread the whipped cream frosting over the top and sides of the cake, and decorate as desired. The whipped cream can also be piped on top of the cake decoration. Top with sprinkles.
- Keep the cake in the freezer until ready to serve, then remove the cake from the freezer and let it sit at room temperature for 10 minutes before slicing. Enjoy your custom ice cream cake!
You also might like this gluten-free peppermint oreo pie!
Storage/Make Ahead Instructions
- Freeze the cake until ready to serve. The cake will keep covered for up to 3 days in the freezer.
FAQs
Not all Dairy Queen ice cream cakes are gluten-free, but some are. It’s likely that most of the pre-made cakes at Dairy Queen contain gluten. However, you can contact Dairy Queen and order a gluten-free ice cream cake in advance.
It depends on the cake. Some ice cream cakes contain cake, which is made from wheat flour and is not gluten-free. Others use ice cream made with additives that are not safe for a gluten-free diet. If you’re not sure, check the ingredients label and look for gluten-containing ingredients. Or, you can use this recipe to make a gluten-free ice cream cake at home.
Good news! Many ice cream brands offer flavors that are naturally gluten-free and even certified gluten-free, meaning they are tested to ensure the gluten content is below 20 ppm. Some of the most popular brands offering gluten-free ice cream include Dryer’s and Edy’s, Ben & Jerry’s, Alden’s Organics, Straus Family Creamery, Breyer’s, and Blue Bell. Keep in mind: not every flavor from these brands is gluten-free, so it’s important to check the label to make sure.
Expert Tips & Tricks
- I highly recommend using a deeper than standard 8×3 cake pan to make this gluten-free cake!
- You can use parchment paper instead plastic wrap to remove the cake from the pan, or use a springform pan instead.
- Feel free to swap out chocolate ice cream or vanilla ice cream for other ice cream flavors. This cake would taste great with strawberry ice cream, mint ice cream, etc. Choose your favorite ice cream brand and you can’t go wrong!
- Don’t have time to make the chocolate fudge layer? Take a shortcut and buy hot fudge sauce at the store.
- Dip a sharp knife in hot water to it easier to cut and serve the cake.
If you’re looking for a way to wow friends and family on their birthday, this gluten-free ice cream cake is it!
I hope you love this gluten free ice cream cake recipe as much as we do! If you try it, be sure to leave me a comment/rating below. I’d love to hear from you!
Gluten-Free Ice Cream Cake
Ingredients
Cookie Crunchies
- 1 cup gluten-free oreo crumbs 130 grams (about 12 crushed oreos)
- 2 tablespoons butter melted
Chocolate Fudge
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips 170 grams
- ¼ cup light corn syrup 85 grams
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream 120 ml
Ice Cream Layers
- 1.5 quart container vanilla ice cream
- 1.5 quart container chocolate ice cream
Whipped Cream Topping
- 2 cups cold heavy whipping cream 480 ml
- 3/4 cup powdered sugar 100 grams
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Sprinkles for topping
Instructions
- I highly recommend using a deeper than standard 8×3 cake pan to make this recipe! This is the pan I use.
Make the Cookie Crunchies
- TIP: Now is a good time to set out the chocolate ice cream (not the vanilla) so it can soften for 20 minutes before making the cake layers.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
- In a small bowl, mix together the gluten-free oreo crumbs and melted butter until well combined. Spread the crumbs evenly onto the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 8-10 minutes, then cool completely to room temperature. Break up any big clumps into smaller ones and set aside.
Make the Chocolate Fudge
- Add the chocolate chips, corn syrup, butter, vanilla and salt to a medium sized bowl.
- Microwave the heavy whipping cream for 45 seconds to 1 minute until just starting to boil. Pour the hot cream over the chocolate chips mixture. Let sit for 2-3 minutes, then whisk until smooth. Set aside at room temperature.
Make the Ice Cream Cake
- Line a 8×3 cake pan with a generous layer of plastic wrap to cover the bottom and sides of the pan. (You can also use an 8-inch springform pan.)
- Spread the softened chocolate ice cream into an even layer. (If you want a thicker chocolate layer use the whole carton. If you want even layers of chocolate and vanilla ice cream use ⅔ of the container.) Freeze for 30 minutes. Set out the vanilla ice cream to soften while the chocolate ice cream layer freezes.
- Remove the cake from the freezer. Spread the chocolate fudge in an even layer over the chocolate ice cream. Sprinkle the cookie crumbs over the fudge. Freeze for 10 minutes to set the fudge layer.
- Spread the softened vanilla ice cream into an even layer (you may not use all the ice cream) over the cookie crumbs. Freeze for 2-3 hours until firm.
Make the Whipped Cream Topping
- In a large mixing bowl, add the heavy whipping cream, powdered sugar and vanilla extract. Using a hand mixer, whip on high speed until stiff peaks form.
- Take the cake out of the freezer. Use the plastic wrap to lift the frozen cake out of the pan, and place on a serving platter.
- Frost the cake with the whipped cream and decorate as desired. The whipped cream can also be piped on top of the cake decoration. Top with sprinkles.
- Freeze the cake until ready to serve (at least 4 hours, preferably overnight!) . The cake will keep covered for up to 3 days in the freezer. Let sit at room temperature for 10 minutes before slicing. Enjoy!
Notes
- I highly recommend using a deeper than standard 8×3 cake pan to make this gluten-free cake!
- You can use parchment paper instead plastic wrap to remove the cake from the pan, or use a springform pan instead.
- Feel free to swap out chocolate ice cream or vanilla ice cream for other ice cream flavors. This cake would taste great with strawberry ice cream, mint ice cream, etc. Choose your favorite ice cream brand and you can’t go wrong!
- Don’t have time to make the chocolate fudge layer? Take a shortcut and buy hot fudge sauce at the store.
- Dip a sharp knife in hot water to it easier to cut and serve the cake.
My fudge layer didn’t set, so the whole thing melted when it came out of the pan. What did I do wrong?
Hi Kait, we’re sorry you had this experience! This usually means the fudge was too warm or too thin when added to the cake. This can also happen if the cake, with all the layers, wasn’t frozen long enough to become fully firm. We hope your next one goes much better!
If I don’t want to use corn syrup, do you have any other suggestions? Can I just do it without?
Hi Amy, thank you for your questions. The corn syrup plays a big part in the fudge’s texture. Without it the fudge may turn gritty, separate, or even harden too much when frozen. You could try brown rice syrup or golden syrup, as the will produce the closest texture. We hope this helps!
Loved this ice cream cake…it tasted just like something from Carvel.
I bought the recommended pan and it worked great. I made my cake with strawberry (top flavor) and gf cookies and cream (bottom flavor from Strauss). I will say that after two hours, I felt like the cake was still too soft to add whipped cream and was melting too quickly. So I put the cake back in freezer and whipped cream in the refrigerator, and tried again in the morning and it worked much better for me. I doubled the cookie crumbles and topped my cake with cookie crumbles. So yummy…thank you:)
Hi Christina, thank you for taking the time to share your experience with us! We’re happy to hear how much you enjoyed the recipe. And those flavor combos sound delicious!
I love this recipe. And so do my kids and everyone else who tries it. They’re more shocked to learn it’s gluten-free. I make this for everyone’s birthday cake now. I change the flavor combo to fit the birthday boy or girl’s preferences.
Yay! We’re so pleased to hear how much everyone loves this recipe and that the customizations make for the perfect birthday cake for each person. Thank you for sharing your positive experience with us, Rainie!
Super easy and absolutely delicious!!
Yay! We’re so happy to hear how much you enjoyed the recipe, Danielle! Thank you for your positive feedback!
Both of my children got diagnosed with Celiac this past year and every birthday our tradition was an ice cream cake on their actual birthday. I was really worried about not being able to get them the ice cream cake this year. I just made this and I am so so happy to have found this recipe. It is amazing! Thank you so much!
Yay! We’re so pleased to hear you all enjoyed this recipe and can continue the ice cream cake tradition! Thank you for your kind feedback!
Good
We’re happy to hear you enjoyed the ice cream cake, Clerveus! Thank you for sharing!
Does this work well with non-dairy ice cream as well?
Hi Kat, good question! It should adapt well to non-dairy ice cream, just keep in mind that different brands are prone to melting or firming up more depending on what kind of milk is used (coconut, almond, oat, etc.) so the softening and freezing times may need to be adjusted. For dairy-free, you’ll also want to swap out the chocolate chips for a DF version, use vegan butter, and try coconut cream or a similar swap for the heavy whipping cream. If you decide to give it a try, we’d love to hear how it goes!
Looks good
We hope you give it a try and enjoy the recipe! We’d love to hear how it goes!
Why do you need to flip the cake after being done. I am using springform pan
This recipe was a huge success here! Everyone said it was better than DQ. Will definitely make again! Highly suggest still using plastic wrap even with a springform pan though.
Thank you for your feedback and tips, Laura! We’re happy to hear the ice cream cake got such rave reviews!
Do you leave the cream filling in the Oreos when you make the crumbs?
Hi Ellen, yes the cream filling can be left in when making the crumbs. We hope you enjoy the ice cream cake!
How is there vanilla ice cream at the top and bottom of the cake (in the picture) if you started off with the chocolate ice cream at the bottom?
Hi Sukhi, the cake gets flipped coming out of the pan so that the chocolate ice cream is on top and the vanilla ice cream is on bottom. The white seen on the top and sides in the pictures is actually the whipped cream frosting that is spread on the top and sides after the cake is out of the pan. Thanks for your question!
Are you supposed to scrap the cream out of the Oreos before making the crumbs? Looks great!
Hi Ellen, the cream filling can be left in when making the crumbs. We hope you enjoy the ice cream cake!
Do you use the whole oreo (with cream filling) or just the cookie part?
Hi Valerie, you can use the whole oreo for the crumb layer. We hope you enjoy the ice cream cake!
If you use a springform pan do you still need plastic wrap or parchment paper? Will the side of the pan some off smoothly?
Plastic wrap helps this cake come off the pan even with a springform pan. But you still might be able to get it out without it!
I made this this weekend and it was delicious. Big hit. I was told it was better than DQ.
Hooray! I’m so glad it turned out for you!
Do you ist only und oreo cracker or also the stuffing?
Hi Dagmar, good question! We crush about 12 whole Oreos, cracker and stuffing, to make the 1 cup of gluten-free Oreo crumbs needed for the cookie crunchies in this ice cream cake.