This post may contain affiliate sales links. Please read my disclosure policy.
This Copycat Dairy Queen Ice Cream Cake has layers of chocolate and vanilla ice cream around the iconic layer of chocolate crunchies and chocolate fudge. It is so easy to make and tastes just like the real thing!
Easy Copycat Dairy Queen Ice Cream Cake
As a kid, I rarely had the same birthday cake twice. I like all kinds of cake too much to stick with one. Regular cake, cheesecake, ice cream cakes – you name it. The only one I didn’t need to have for my birthday was a cookie cake, because I knew I could depend on my dad for that one at his birthday. So naturally, I’ve tried quite a few cakes – including ice cream cakes.
So, these days I feel like I’m a bit of an ice cream cake connoisseur. There’s definitely something to love about all the different kinds available, but when it comes to a Dairy Queen ice cream cake, that middle layer of chocolate fudge along with the chocolate crunchies is pure heaven. Often, I’d just dig that right out from between the ice cream and eat it alone. So darn good!
When I started playing around with ice cream cakes several years ago, I did a fair amount of experimenting with that middle fudge layer and finally perfected it. I’ve shared it before, but never for this copycat cake so I’m excited to share it with you today.
How to Make An Ice Cream Cake
First let’s talk about the cake pan. I used an 8 by 3 inch cake pan, because I prefer a taller cake. You could definitely use a 9 inch pan though, and a springform pan would certainly be convenient. All according to what you’re going for.
Once you’ve got your pan, you’ll want to line the inside of it with clear wrap. Now it’s time to make your cake!
- Chocolate Ice Cream: Add your chocolate ice cream and spread it evenly into the pan. Pop the pan and ice cream into the freezer for about 30 minutes so it firms up just a bit.
- Chocolate fudge layer: You’re actually going to make chocolate ganache – it’ll just be a little thinner than normal and have some corn syrup in it. The corn syrup is really essential here. It helps it stay softer even when frozen, giving it that fudgy consistency. It’s not too firm and not too soft and drippy. The fudge layer is added on top of the ice cream and then frozen for another 10 minutes or so.
- Chocolate crunchies: You’re going to use Oreo crumbs and some melted butter for this layer. Mix the crumbs and butter together, spread them evenly onto a baking sheet and bake for about 8 minutes. As it cools, break it up into smaller pieces so you have the perfect little chocolate crunchies. They are seriously perfect! They aren’t big chunks of Oreos (yay!), but because they’ve been baked a bit they still keep their crispiness even when added to the ice cream cake. Perfection!Add the chocolate crunchy layer and then pop it back in the freezer for about two hours, so the cake can firm up and the layers stay even.
- Vanilla ice cream: Add the vanilla ice cream on top and freeze the cake until it’s firm. When it’s done, frost it with my homemade whipped cream. It uses some powdered sugar to keep it from wilting. It stays stable for days and days making it ideal for an ice cream cake. Decorate the ice cream cake as you like for your occasion and you’re ready to go!
This is seriously the BEST Copycat Dairy Queen Ice Cream Cake! The middle fudge and crunchy layer is pure perfection. You will love it. And just like when I was a kid, you will want to eat the chocolate fudge and chocolate crunchy layer right out of the center!
HOW TO STORE AN ICE CREAM CAKE
This ice cream cake is actually a great recipe to make ahead. You can layer everything together, cover it and leave it in the pan you built it in. It should be fine sitting in the pan for about a week ahead of time. Then you can frost it the of or the day before you need it so that the decorations looks nice and fresh.
After decorating, it’s ideal to store it in a container (such as a cake box or cake carrier) in the freezer. If you don’t have a container that size or space in your freezer, it’ll be fine for a few days in your freezer.
You might also enjoy
Strawberry Crunchy Ice Cream Cake
Peanut Butter Chocolate Ice Cream Cone Cake
S’mores Ice Cream Cake
Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie Ice Cream Cake
Red Velvet Ice Cream Cake
Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream Cake
Oreo Cookies and Cream Ice Cream Cake
Shop the post
Watch How To Make It
Print
Copycat Dairy Queen Ice Cream Cake
- Prep Time: 5 hours 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 5 hours 25 minutes
- Yield: 12-14 slices
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Oven
- Cuisine: American
Description
This Copycat Dairy Queen Ice Cream Cake has layers of chocolate and vanilla ice cream around the iconic layer of chocolate crunchies and chocolate fudge. It is so easy to make and tastes just like the real thing!
Ingredients
Chocolate Cookie Crunchies
- 3/4 cup (100g) Oreo crumbs (about 9 Oreos)
- 1 1/2 tbsp butter, melted
Ice Cream Layers
- 1.5 quart container vanilla ice cream
- 1.5 quart container chocolate ice cream
Chocolate Fudge
- 6 oz | 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips*
- 3 tbsp light corn syrup
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup (120ml) heavy whipping cream
Whipped Cream
- 2 cups (480ml) heavy whipping cream, cold
- 1 cup (115g) powdered sugar
- 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- Sprinkles
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat and set aside.
2. Combine the Oreo crumbs and melted butter and stir until well combined. Spread the crumbs evenly onto the prepared cookie sheet.
3. Bake for 8-10 minutes, then allow to cool. Use your fingers to break any big clumps into smaller ones. Set aside.
4. Line an 8×3 inch cake pan* with clear wrap that covers the bottom and goes above the sides of the cake pan. I used two pieces.
5. About 20 minutes before you need it, set the chocolate ice cream out to soften. Once softened, stir it up until smooth and creamy. Add the softened chocolate ice cream to the prepared cake pan and spread into an even layer. Freeze for 30 minutes.
6. To make the fudge layer, add the chocolate chips, corn syrup and vanilla extract to a medium sized bowl.
7. Heat the heavy whipping cream just until it begins to boil, then pour it over the chocolate chips. Allow to sit for 2-3 minutes, then whisk until smooth.
8. Remove the cake pan with the chocolate ice cream from the freezer, then pour the chocolate fudge over the ice cream and spread into an even layer. Freeze for about 10 minutes.
9. Add the cookie crumbles to the top of the fudge layer, then freeze for about 2 hours, until mostly firm.
10. About 20 minutes before you need it, set the vanilla ice cream out to soften. Once softened, stir it up until smooth and creamy. Add the vanilla ice cream to the top of the cake, then freeze until firm, 2-3 hours.
11. Use the clear wrap to lift the frozen cake out of the pan, then place it on a cardboard cake circle or a serving plate. Set it back in the freezer.
12. To make the whipped cream, add the heavy whipping cream, powdered sugar and vanilla extract to a large mixer bowl. Whip on high speed until stiff peaks form.
13. Frost the cake with the whipped cream and decorate as desired. I used Ateco tip 844 for piping the borders.
14. Freeze the cake until ready to serve. Cake is best when stored well covered and eaten within 4-5 days.
Notes
- I like using the 8×3 inch cake pan and having a taller cake, but if you don’t have one of those pans on hand and don’t want to purchase it, you could also use a 9 inch pan (including a springform pan). The cake just won’t be as tall.
- Semi-sweet chocolate must be used, not milk chocolate or another, for the fudge layer to set properly
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 661
- Sugar: 50 g
- Sodium: 118.6 mg
- Fat: 46.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 55 g
- Protein: 8.4 g
- Cholesterol: 173.7 mg
Do you use the whole oreos for cookie crumble, or do you remove the cream before crumbling?
Use the whole Oreo, filling and all.
This is perfect I make it all the time now that I love abroad and can not zip into DQ. THANK YOU!
I’m so glad you enjoy it!
For the fudge layer, dark chocolate doesn’t work! Be good, and follow recipe. I had to dissect a layer of hard chocolate off the ice cream. It was a mess!
Your recipe looks delicious and instructions are well laid out. I’ve not made an ice cream cake before but my hubby requested one for his birthday. My question for the oreo cookies, do you use the cream in the middle also or discard that?
I leave the cream in the middle.
I would like to try this recipe for a strawberry ice cream cake as my husband doesn’t care much for fudge. So my question would be what to use instead of the fudge for the middle layer?
I actually have a couple of strawberry ice cream cake options that I think might work well. My Strawberry Ice Cream Cake and my Strawberry Crunch Ice Cream Cake. I hope that helps!
Can I use a Sugar sheet decoration on top of ice cream cake?
I’ve used Chocolate chip cookies for this instead of Oreos, seems to work?
I’m not sure. I haven’t used those before and don’t know anything about them.
great recipe, I had lots of making it too, thanks.
how can i make the fudge sweeter?
I’m glad you enjoyed it! I’m not sure there’s a good way to make the fudge sweeter. A different type of chocolate will thin it out and it may not stay in place as well. You could try mixing in a tablespoon or two of sugar, either granulated sugar or powdered sugar, and see if that gives you the sweetness you were looking for. You could also experiment with milk chocolate, but you would probably need to reduce the amount of corn syrup and I’m not sure by how much.
I really enjoy this recipe! I wanted to ask, would there be any way to make the fudge layer a bit sweeter? I find it more dark than the DQ kind, with the semi-sweet chocolate chips, but I saw the recipe note that said other kinds won’t set. Thanks for any help!
Hmm, you could experiment with it a bit. If you use something like milk chocolate, you’d want to reduce the amount of cream by probably a tablespoon or two (or three). Glad to hear you enjoy it!
Hi! Is it ok if I make the layers, keep in freezer for a few days, then do the whipped topping later?
Definitely!!
Can you use a spring cake pan to make this kind of cake?
You could use a 9 inch springform pan. That should be fine.
Concerning the Copycat DQ Ice Cream Cake: I’m making this for my grandson’s 11th birthday. The ganache calls for light syrup. Will regular corn syrup be okay?
When it says light corn syrup, it’s referring to the color, since there’s also dark corn syrup. So yes, regular corn syrup is fine. I recommend the light colored one.
Is there a recipe to make this for 20 people?
I don’t have a recipe for the specifically, but I think there are some comments from people who have made it as a 9×13. I think they either do 1 1/2 recipes worth or double it.