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Frozen Ice Cream Cake (Vegan Option)

This was originally a sponsored post for my vegan ice cream cake. Make it vegan or with regular ice cream, and you’ll love it! Some links in this post are affiliate links that earn me a commission if you purchase through them.

Dairy Free vegan gluten free frozen ice cream cake recipe

Mister Man is no longer interested in cake for his birthday. So this year, he asked to have a certain frozen treat that Little Miss can’t have due to her dairy allergy.

We offered him a cake version of that certain frozen treat that shall not be named, which he declined – but Little Miss was intrigued. The problem, however, is Little Miss’s dairy allergy.

A traditional version was just not going to happen for her. Fortunately, she has me for her mom (I say with all modesty), and the promise of this vegan ice cream cake has had her on her best behavior all week.

Of course, Little Miss isn’t the only one we know with allergies. And those allergies don’t just cover dairy, so this vegan ice cream cake is also gluten free, soy free, corn free, and vegan. And did I mention that it tastes amazing?

That said, if you don’t have allergies? Make it with your favorite ice cream instead!

When I cut the very first piece for photos (something I did with no one around because otherwise people start clamoring around me and rushing me), I planned to take just a bite to try it.

I’m not showing how I pieced the frozen dream cake back together for dessert with my entire family because let’s just say that there’s more than just one bite missing. Holy cats is this good!

Slice of dairy free gluten free vegan ice cream cake

To make this fantastic vegan ice cream cake, you need just a few other ingredients. For the magic chocolate crunchies in the center of the frozen dream cake, grab some gluten free chocolate sandwich cookies, dark chocolate, coconut oil, and agave. The whipped topping needs just powdered sugar, vanilla, and two cans of coconut milk.

If you aren’t gluten free or vegan, go with your traditional Oreo’s and honey in place of the agave.

Looking for more unique cake recipes? Check out some of my favorites at the bottom of this article.

Ice Cream Cake Pro Tips:

  • Whenever making a frozen cake like this, you want to use a springform pan. The springform pan makes it easy to release the sides of the cake. Bonus? Use parchment paper or a sheet of wax paper to line the bottom of the springform pan, which makes it that much easier to remove the ice cream cake when it’s done and place it on your serving plate to decorate and enjoy.

Line your springform pan with parchment paper

  • Make sure you leave a border of your ice cream when you place that layer of magic chocolate crunchies. You want the two layers of your frozen treat to be touching. If your magic chocolate crunchies go all the way to the edge, your ice cream cake layers won’t adhere to each other and your cake will slide around. No bueno!

Leave a border around the cookie crumb filling

  • Make sure you freeze your layers before moving to the next step. Leave yourself two days for this project. Though each step just takes a few minutes, you want everything completely frozen before moving on to create clean layers. Two to three hours is sufficient time between steps, but I tend to do a step and leave it for most of the day or overnight just because I get busy.
  • When you’re ready to remove the springform pan from your ice cream cake, make sure the very edge of the pan is warm so it separates cleanly and doesn’t stick to the springform pan or rip away. The easiest way to do that? Use your kitchen sponge. Get it a little damp (squeeze out excess water) and place it in the microwave for 30 seconds until it’s hot but you can still grasp it. Run the sponge around the outside of the springform pan until it cools, flipping the side of the sponge touching the springform pan periodically.

Run a hot sponge along the outside of the springform pan to loosen the ice cream

  • Don’t worry if your ice cream cake doesn’t look perfect when you first remove it from the springform pan. Your whipped topping will fix it. Frosting fixes anything!

Release ice cream cake and see the two layers

  • Before you place your ice cream cake onto your plate to decorate, cut strips of parchment paper and use them to line the plate. Once you’ve finished decorating the cake and it’s refrozen, carefully pull them out. This leaves you with a clean plate and makes it look that much more professional.

Line your cake plate with parchment paper strips to keep it clean while decorating your cake

  • Because your topping is frozen, when you first pull it from the freezer after applying your frosting, use a knife to carefully cut around the edge of the frosting – being careful to not cut through the parchment paper – to give it a clean edge and remove any excess. If you decide you “have” to eat that portion, I won’t blame you.

Use a knife to cut away excess frosting

  • When cutting your ice cream cake, make sure to use a hot, sharp knife. This gives you clean edges and makes it easy to cut. The simplest way is to fill a glass with hot water from the tap and dip your knife in it between each cut. Make sure you have a towel handy to quickly wipe the excess water from the knife before cutting.

Cut ice cream cakes with a knife dipped in hot water

How to Make Your Vegan Ice Cream Cake

Decorated frozen dream cake

Make the chocolate crunchies

Using the above tips, this is an easy cake to make. The magic chocolate crunchies (which you have to include in this frozen dream cake because they’re as much fun to say as they are to eat) can be made ahead of time, and I also stick my two cans of coconut milk in the fridge when I start so I don’t forget to do so later.

I love how easy it is to find gluten free chocolate sandwich cookies now (they’ve always been dairy free, but gluten free rocks!), and for this recipe, you’ll scrape out the filling from them. What you do with that filling is up to you….

Remove filling from gluten free chocolate filled cookies

Place the chocolate sandwich cookies (sans filling) into the bowl of your food processor and pulse until they form crumbles. In a small saucepan, add the dark chocolate and coconut oil and turn the heat to low.

Both chocolate and coconut oil melt at relatively low temperatures, so you don’t need much heat. Stir together until melted, then remove from the heat and add your agave before stirring again.

Add about half the chocolate mixture to your cookie crumbles and pulse again to combine. The mixture should look a little wet but not be dripping with moisture. Add a little more if needed. This does not need to be exact, and you’ll save the extra for decorating your cake later. 

Add liquid magic shell to crumbled chocolate cookies

Assemble the vegan ice cream cake

Once your magic chocolate crunchies are made, you’re ready to start assembling your cake. Pull out the first layer for your frozen dream cake, and let the ice cream soften on the counter.

If you’re in a hurry, you can put this into a glass bowl and put it in the microwave to defrost for 30 seconds at a time, making sure you stir between each jaunt into the microwave to ensure you don’t heat it too much. You want it just soft enough that you can stir it.

Stir So Delicious until smooth

Once it’s to that point, quickly assemble your springform pan. As mentioned in the tips above, I like to line the pan with a piece of parchment paper, but this is not necessary if you don’t have any. You don’t need to grease your pan at all. Simply scoop the ice cream into the center of the springform pan and use a spatula to smooth it to the edges.

Start with your layer of chocolate So Delicious

Once it’s smoothed, sprinkle your magic chocolate crunchies over the ice cream, being sure to leave a border around the edge with no crunchies. There’s no need to press them into the ice cream. Once that is set, place the pan in the freezer for at least three hours to ensure it’s fully frozen.

Leave a border around the cookie crumb filling

After your first layer is fully frozen, you’ll repeat the steps with the second flavor of your ice cream. Note that some flavors will soften faster than others, so keep an eye out.

Once the second layer is smoothed on, return your vegan ice cream cake to the freezer for another three hours.

Smooth the ice cream in your springform pan

Make the “frosting”

When you’re ready to top the cake with the whipped topping, remove the coconut milk cans from the fridge. Once you open them, you’ll want to drain the coconut water and just retain the solid coconut milk for this recipe.

Add the coconut milk to your mixing bowl and whip. Once it is somewhat softened and is starting to lighten in texture, add the vanilla and a quarter cup of powdered sugar and mix again, starting at low speed so the powdered sugar doesn’t fly out.

Whip for two to three minutes, then add another quarter cup of powdered sugar and repeat. This won’t become completely stiff, but that’s fine.

Drain the water from coconut milk

Once the whipped topping is thickened and all the ingredients are well incorporated, start to frost your vegan ice cream cake. As with any frosting, add it to the center of the top of your cake and use a spatula to smooth it from the center out. Once you have it frosted, return to the freezer for another hour.

Always spread frosting from the center over the edges

The last step is decorating it. Little Miss decided she wanted a “Dalmatian” frozen dream cake instead of the “zebra” I had originally envisioned, so we added polka dots of the remaining chocolate mixture we made earlier all over the cake.

If you want to make a more traditional zebra striped pattern, instead of flicking the fork at your cake, dip the fork in the chocolate and drizzle is quickly across the frozen dream cake or use a chocolate dipping tool. It will harden almost instantly.

Use a fork to decorate with magic shell

Lastly, carefully remove the parchment paper you have lining the edges of your cake to keep the serving plate clean. If you aren’t serving immediately, cover with plastic wrap and return to the freezer. This shouldn’t sit out for more than five minutes at a time.

Dairy Free vegan gluten free frozen ice cream cake recipe

Have you ever tried a vegan ice cream cake?

More unique cake recipes:

Vegan Ice Cream Cake

This frozen dream cake uses gluten-free chocolate sandwich cookies, making it gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegan. It tastes amazing, and the chocolate crunchy layer makes it the perfect substitute for more traditional cakes.
4.75 from 8 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Diet: Gluten Free
Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Additional Time: 6 hours
Total Time: 6 hours 30 minutes
Servings: 16 servings
Calories: 467kcal
Author: Michelle

Ingredients

Magic Chocolate Crunchies

  • 2 ounces dark chocolate
  • 2 tablespoons coconut oil
  • 1 teaspoon agave
  • 15 creme filled chocolate sandwich cookies creme removed

Frozen Dream Cake

  • 2 pints chocolate ice cream
  • 2 pints vanilla ice cream

Whipped Topping

  • 2 cans coconut milk solid portion only
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla
  • 3/4 cup powdered sugar

Instructions

  • Start by placing the coconut milk cans in the fridge, then begin making the magic chocolate crunchies. Scrape out the filling and place the chocolate sandwich cookies (sans filling) into the bowl of your food processor and pulse until they form crumbles.
  • In a small saucepan, add dark chocolate and coconut oil and turn the heat to low. Stir together until melted, then remove from the heat and add honey before stirring again. Add about half the mixture to cookie crumbles and pulse again to combine. The mixture should look a little wet but not be dripping with moisture.
    2 ounces dark chocolate, 2 tablespoons coconut oil, 1 teaspoon agave, 15 creme filled chocolate sandwich cookies
  • Let the first ice cream flavor soften on the counter until it is just soft enough to stir. Once it's to that point, assemble springform pan, lining the bottom with parchment paper. Scoop the ice cream into the center of the springform pan and use a spatula to smooth it to the edges.
    2 pints chocolate ice cream
  • Once it's smoothed, sprinkle magic chocolate crunchies over the ice cream, being sure to leave a border around the edge with no crunchies, then place the pan in the freezer for at least three hours to ensure it's fully frozen.
  • After the first layer is fully frozen, repeat the steps with the second flavor of ice cream. Once the second layer is smoothed on, return your cake to the freezer for another three hours.
    2 pints vanilla ice cream
  • To make the whipped topping, remove the coconut milk cans from the fridge. Open and drain the coconut water, retaining the solid coconut milk for this recipe. Add the coconut milk to your mixing bowl and whip. Once it is somewhat softened and is starting to lighten in texture, add the vanilla and a quarter cup of powdered sugar and mix again, starting at low speed so the powdered sugar doesn't fly out. Whip for two to three minutes, then add another quarter cup of powdered sugar and repeat.
    2 cans coconut milk, 1 tablespoon vanilla, 3/4 cup powdered sugar
  • Once the whipped topping is thickened and all the ingredients are well incorporated, frost the frozen dream cake. Once frosted, return to the freezer for another hour. Once the topping is frozen, use the reserved magic shell (coconut oil, honey, and chocolate) to drizzle over the top of your cake as decoration.
  • Serve immediately or return to the freezer, tightly covered, until ready to serve. Do not leave out for more than five minutes at a time.

Notes

  • While this is vegan, gluten-free, corn-free, etc., you can also make this with traditional ice cream and regular Oreos plus honey in place of the agave if you don't have those allergies.
  • For more tips and tricks, be sure to read the full article above.

Nutrition

Serving: 1slice | Calories: 467kcal | Carbohydrates: 45g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 31g | Saturated Fat: 23g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 37mg | Sodium: 118mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 36g

This site uses an online source to provide nutrition estimates as a courtesy. If you need exact values, please calculate yourself.

Frozen dream cake gluten free dairy free vegan ice cream cake recipe

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4.75 from 8 votes (8 ratings without comment)

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  1. Amanda says:

    This tasted awesome and was easier to make than I thought it would be!! My family loved it so much, so I had to make it twice within a few weeks!!

  2. Kelly says:

    I am so impressed! I will make this for my spns birthday cake!!!

  3. […] Frozen Dream Cake with Magic Chocolate Crunchies (also vegan, optionally gluten-free, soy-free) […]

  4. […] a great excuse for anything, right? Yes, that is why I ran right out to Walmart to purchase the Inside Out Blu-Ray/DVD combo pack and have Movie Night with Mommy, along with a couple other surprises. Because when the movie is […]

  5. Emily says:

    I just drooled on my keyboard. This looks so delicious – I think I might celebrate my birthday at your house next year. You’d make me one, right?! #client

  6. Oh my I could so go for this now! Looks a bit healthier than a traditional cheesecake as well!

  7. Clare Speer says:

    This looks magical! And your pictures and descriptions how to make it are just wonderful!

  8. Shannon says:

    Oh my gosh, this sounds absolutely delicious! And I love that its a sweet treat I can actually enjoy (dairy free)!

  9. Kaci Alvarez says:

    OMG! This looks amazing! I’m just now starting to bake more and you’ve inspired me to try this. Like wow, I want to make this now!

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