Orange Creamsicle Ice Cream Cake

This post may contain affiliate sales links. Please read my disclosure policy.

This Orange Creamsicle Ice Cream Cake is light, tangy and tastes just like an orange creamsicle! It’s been a long time in the making and I’m so excited to share it with you!

Orange Creamsicle Ice Cream Cake topped with swirls of whipped cream and candied oranges

Orange Creamsicle Ice Cream Cake

I have always been a big fan of the classic orange creamsicle pop. That combination of orange and ice cream is just heavenly. It is and always will be a favorite. Probably in part because it reminds me of being a kid.

I’ve been wanting to make an ice cream cake version of the pop for the longest time. I actually have an ongoing list of things I want to make but haven’t quite figured out how I want to do them yet. This cake was on that list for a while.

I finally decided to go for it!

I used my favorite vanilla cupcake recipe, cut in half, to make the layer of vanilla cake. It’s a great, easy, moist cake.

For the orange flavor of the cake, I used a box of orange gelatin powder. To add some orange flavor to the cake layer, I used a method similar to one you’d use on a poke cake. Once the cake cooled, I removed the dome, poked holes in the top of the cake and poured some of the orange gelatin over the cake.

It adds just enough flavor the vanilla cake and also makes it look pretty neat. 🙂

Orange Creamsicle Ice Cream Cake slice on a plate
Orange Creamsicle Ice Cream Cake with a slice removed

The cake is topped with a layer of vanilla ice cream and orange ice cream. The orange ice cream is again flavored with orange gelatin.

Tips for Making This Creamy Cake

I used my favorite ice cream base. The base is made with cream cheese and cool whip (you could also use homemade whipped cream). I’m often asked if it tastes like cream cheese and it really doesn’t. People are usually surprised that it isn’t store bought ice cream when they have it. It’s got a great, creamy consistency and is just like eating traditional ice cream – if not better. Plus, it doesn’t melt as easily. Bonus!

To ice the cake, I colored additional Cool Whip with icing color to match the orange ice cream. To finish it off, a little piping around the edges and some orange candy slices. Cuteness!

This cake was a big hit and I love it! Just like eating a creamsicle, smooth, creamy and so fun. It’s a great summer recipe that’s sure to be loved by all.

Orange Creamsicle Ice Cream Cake slice on a plate
Orange Creamsicle Ice Cream Cake slice on a plate with a bite on a fork

You might also like

Orange Creamsicle Poke Cake
Orange Creamsicle Puppy Chow
Orange Cream Cupcakes
Lemon Mascarpone Cream Pie
Skinny Orange Creamsicle Smoothie

Print
clock clock icon cutlery cutlery icon flag flag icon folder folder icon instagram instagram icon pinterest pinterest icon facebook facebook icon print print icon squares squares icon
A slice of Orange Creamsicle Ice Cream Cake on a plate
Recipe

Orange Creamsicle Ice Cream Cake

  • Author: Lindsay
  • Prep Time: 25 minutes
  • Cook Time: 18 minutes
  • Total Time: 43 minutes
  • Yield: 12-14 Slices
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Oven
  • Cuisine: American

Description

This Orange Creamsicle Ice Cream Cake is light, tangy and tastes just like an orange creamsicle! It’s been a long time in the making and I’m so excited to share it with you!


Ingredients

CAKE LAYER

  • 3/4 cup + 2 tbsp all purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1 1/4 tsp baking powder
  • 6 tbsp salted butter, room temperature (I use Challenge Butter)
  • 2 egg whites
  • 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/4 cup sour cream
  • 1/4 cup milk
  • 3 tbsp hot water
  • 3 tbsp orange JELLO powder*

ICE CREAM LAYERS

  • 12 oz cream cheese, softened
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 1/4 cup milk
  • 12 oz Cool Whip
  • 3 oz package orange JELLO powder, less 3 tbsp*
  • 2 tbsp hot water
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract

ADDITIONAL INGREDIENTS

  • 8 oz Cool Whip
  • orange candy slices
  • orange gel icing color
*You need one 3 oz package of orange JELLO powder. 3 tbsp will be used for the cake, the rest will go into the ice cream layer.

Instructions

CAKE

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line the bottom of an 8 inch cake pan with parchment paper and grease the sides.
2. Whisk together flour, sugar and baking powder in a large mixing bowl.
3. Add butter, egg whites, vanilla, sour cream and milk and mix on medium speed just until smooth. Do not over mix.
4. Spread batter evenly into cake pan.
5. Bake 18-20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out with a few crumbs.
6. Allow to cool for 3-4 minutes, then remove to cooling rack to finish cooling.
7. Once cake has cooled, remove dome from cake with a large serrated knife. Poke holes in the top of the cake with something like the end of a wooden spoon, or a straw.
8. Combine hot water and orange JELLO in a small bowl, then spoon mixture over the cake and spread it so that it goes into the holes.

ICE CREAM

1. To make the ice cream layers, beat the cream cheese and sugar in a mixer bowl until smooth.
2. Add milk and mix until smooth.
3. Fold in Cool Whip.
4. Divide mixture evenly between two bowls.
5. Combine hot water and remainder of orange JELLO powder in a small bowl. Fold into one of the bowls with half of the ice cream mixture.
6. Add vanilla extract to the other half of the ice cream mixture.

ASSEMBLY

1. Line the sides of an 8-inch springform pan with parchment paper. The parchment paper should stick up above the top edge of the pan, since the cake will probably be a little taller than your pan. If you want, put a cardboard cake circle in the bottom of the pan. If not using a springform pan, you pan put some plastic wrap in the bottom of the pan and up the sides and use it to lift the cake out of the pan when it’s done.
NOTE: You should be using the same 8-inch pan you used for the cake. Not all 8-inch pans are exactly the same size. Your cake needs to fit in this pan.
2. Put the cake layer into the bottom of your pan.
3. The top cake with the vanilla ice cream and spread into an even layer.
4. Add the orange ice cream and spread into an even layer.
5. Allow ice cream cake to freeze completely, 6-8 hours.
6. When frozen, remove from springform pan and remove parchment paper from sides.
7. To finish off the cake, ice the outside with additional Cool Whip. You can use gel icing color to make it orange, if you prefer. Pipe additional Cool Whip around the top edges and top with orange candy slices.
8. Freeze until ready to serve.

Notes

8-inch springform pans are best for this recipe so that you can easily remove the cake once it’s been assembled. If you do not have a springform pan, line your pan with clear wrap before adding your parchment paper and cake board. You can use the clear warp to lift your cake out of the pan once it’s assembled and frozen. You want to make your cake layers in the same pan you’ll use for layering the ice cream and cake together so that they cake layers fit in the final pan you use for layering.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 Slice
  • Calories: 401
  • Sugar: 42.4 g
  • Sodium: 161.3 mg
  • Fat: 20.8 g
  • Carbohydrates: 49.5 g
  • Protein: 5.6 g
  • Cholesterol: 55.5 mg

Filed Under:

Enjoy!

Side view of a whole Orange Creamsicle Ice Cream Cake topped with swirls of whipped cream and candied oranges

Share a Comment

Have a question? Use the form below to submit your question or comment. I love hearing from you and seeing what you made!

Recipe rating 5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

75 Comments
  1. Cheryl

    My Son told me to surprise him for his birthday cake. It was delicious! We all loved it! Thanks for sharing your recipe.

    1. Lindsay

      Because it’s a no churn ice cream, it doesn’t melt the same way as regular ice cream. It would probably be OK in the fridge, but definitely softer.

  2. Peg

    Can’t wait to try this but wonder how much heavy cream to whip for the recipe. Sorry, but I think cool whip is gross and I never use it.

  3. Christin

    Hi Lindsay!

    If you choose to do whipped cream vs cool whip for the ice cream layer, would you keep the milk in? I am figuring that I would use the same measurements as you used in your banana pudding ice cream cake for the whipped cream and powdered sugar to make homemade whip cream for this?

    1. Lindsay

      Yes, leave the milk in. And for the whipped cream, that should work. I’m not entirely sure without trying it though.

  4. Sheila

    I just made this cake tonight, can I take it out in the morning to frost and decorate it and then return it to the freezer until after dinner? Or is it best to frost before you serve?

    1. Lindsay

      Definitely! The whipped cream frosting will be fine if you add it ahead of time. It holds up very well for several days. I hope you enjoy it!

  5. M Bat

    The cake layer was good. The white ice cream layer had a good flavor/texture. The orange flavor tasted good but it didn’t taste like orange at all. Overall, if I ate it not knowing that it was supposed to be orange, it would have been good but since the point of making it was for an orange dessert…it was overall disappointing.  

  6. Cherlyn

    Made this for my moms birthday once and it was delicious. Believe me I have looked everywhere and through so many websites but you have the best cake recipes ideas for me. Thank you for the delicious tasty ideas for my kitchen.






Lindsay
About Lindsay

I’m the baker, recipe developer and photographer behind Life, Love and Sugar. I love sharing trusted recipes with helpful tips to give you great results.

Scripture I’m Loving

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Matthew 11:28-29