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Mint Chip Ice Cream Cake

By America's Test Kitchen Kids

Published on January 4, 2023

Time

45 minutes, plus 2 hours freezing time

Yield

Serves 16

What Kids Are Saying

“It was fun, especially the cookie-crushing act!” —Benjamin, recipe tester, age 6

Mint Chip Ice Cream Cake

Ingredients

36 Oreo cookies (1 package), broken into large pieces4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted2 pints chocolate ice cream 2 pints mint chocolate chip ice cream ¼ cup sprinkles

Before You Begin

You can substitute your favorite flavors of ice cream for the chocolate and mint chocolate chip ice cream, if desired.

Instructions

  1. Place cookie pieces in large zipper-lock plastic bag. Seal bag, making sure to press out all air. Use rolling pin to gently pound bag to break cookies into crumbs.
  2. Transfer cookie crumbs to large bowl. Add melted butter and use rubber spatula to stir until combined.
  3. Transfer half of cookie mixture to 9-inch springform pan. Use your hands to press mixture into even layer in bottom of pan. Place springform pan in freezer and let chill for 15 minutes. Let ice cream soften on counter while crust chills.
  4. Remove springform pan from freezer. Use ice cream scoop to scoop softened chocolate ice cream into pan. Cover ice cream with plastic wrap. Use your hands to gently push ice cream into even layer (see photo 1, “Step-by-Step: Assembling an Ice Cream Cake,” below).
  5. Sprinkle remaining cookie mixture on top of chocolate ice cream layer. Use your hands to gently press cookie mixture into ice cream in even layer (see photo 2, “Step-by-Step: Assembling an Ice Cream Cake,” below).
  6. Scoop softened mint chip ice cream into pan and cover ice cream with second piece of plastic wrap. Use your hands to gently push ice cream into even layer (see photo 3, “Step-by-Step: Assembling an Ice Cream Cake,” below). Remove and discard plastic wrap. Sprinkle top of cake with sprinkles.
  7. Cover pan with third piece of plastic wrap. Place in freezer and chill until firm, at least 2 hours or up to 1 week. To serve, run butter knife around inside edge of springform pan to loosen cake from from pan. Unlock and remove side of pan. Use chef’s knife to slice cake into wedges.
Mint Chip Ice Cream Cake
Photography by Kevin White. Styling by Elle Simone Scott.

Mint Chip Ice Cream Cake

Save

Time

45 minutes, plus 2 hours freezing time

Yield

Serves 16

What Kids Are Saying

“It was fun, especially the cookie-crushing act!” —Benjamin, recipe tester, age 6

Ingredients

36 Oreo cookies (1 package), broken into large pieces
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
2 pints chocolate ice cream
2 pints mint chocolate chip ice cream
¼ cup sprinkles

Test Kitchen Techniques

Ingredients

36 Oreo cookies (1 package), broken into large pieces
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
2 pints chocolate ice cream
2 pints mint chocolate chip ice cream
¼ cup sprinkles

Test Kitchen Techniques

Ingredients

36 Oreo cookies (1 package), broken into large pieces
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
2 pints chocolate ice cream
2 pints mint chocolate chip ice cream
¼ cup sprinkles

Test Kitchen Techniques

Why This Recipe Works

This two-layer ice cream cake might just become your family’s new go-to birthday dessert! A mixture of crushed Oreo cookies and melted butter forms the cake’s base, and two layers of ice cream sandwich another layer of crunchy cookies. This recipe calls for chocolate and mint chip ice cream, but kids can use their favorite ice cream flavors in this conversation! When it’s time to serve, ask your young chef to help you divide the cake into equal slices. Ask them how they would cut the cake in half. How about in half again? Now they should have four equal wedges. How would they turn those four equal pieces into eight equal wedges? (Answer: Cut each wedge in half to form two smaller wedges.) 

Want more? Read the whole story

Before You Begin

You can substitute your favorite flavors of ice cream for the chocolate and mint chocolate chip ice cream, if desired.

Instructions

  1. Place cookie pieces in large zipper-lock plastic bag. Seal bag, making sure to press out all air. Use rolling pin to gently pound bag to break cookies into crumbs.
  2. Transfer cookie crumbs to large bowl. Add melted butter and use rubber spatula to stir until combined.
  3. Transfer half of cookie mixture to 9-inch springform pan. Use your hands to press mixture into even layer in bottom of pan. Place springform pan in freezer and let chill for 15 minutes. Let ice cream soften on counter while crust chills.
  4. Remove springform pan from freezer. Use ice cream scoop to scoop softened chocolate ice cream into pan. Cover ice cream with plastic wrap. Use your hands to gently push ice cream into even layer (see photo 1, “Step-by-Step: Assembling an Ice Cream Cake,” below).
  5. Sprinkle remaining cookie mixture on top of chocolate ice cream layer. Use your hands to gently press cookie mixture into ice cream in even layer (see photo 2, “Step-by-Step: Assembling an Ice Cream Cake,” below).
  6. Scoop softened mint chip ice cream into pan and cover ice cream with second piece of plastic wrap. Use your hands to gently push ice cream into even layer (see photo 3, “Step-by-Step: Assembling an Ice Cream Cake,” below). Remove and discard plastic wrap. Sprinkle top of cake with sprinkles.
  7. Cover pan with third piece of plastic wrap. Place in freezer and chill until firm, at least 2 hours or up to 1 week. To serve, run butter knife around inside edge of springform pan to loosen cake from from pan. Unlock and remove side of pan. Use chef’s knife to slice cake into wedges.

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