If you’re looking for a frugal alternative to store-bought ice cream cakes, I’ve got the recipe for you!

This is a whole lot cheaper than a prepared ice cream cake, especially if you manage to find ice cream on a good sale.

Store-bought ice cream cakes usually just come in chocolate and vanilla, but you can buy whatever ice cream you like and switch up the flavors every time you make this one.

Allergy-friendly options!

This cake can be gluten-free if you choose ice cream with no gluten and you buy rice cereal that is certified gluten-free.

Aaaaand it can be nut-free as well if you leave out the peanut butter and choose nut free ice cream.

How big is this cake?

This serves up to 16, depending on how large you make your slices, so if you have a small family, you might want to cut the recipe in half. You’ll end up with a shorter cake, but it still tastes just as good.

The recipe calls for a 9 inch springform pan, which is what I use, but if you don’t have one, you could just use a 9×13 pan and cut the cake into squares instead of wedges.

Cake Directions

There’s a printable below, but here’s the basic idea.

First, melt chocolate chips (plus peanut butter if you like) and then stir it into a big bowl of rice cereal.

Then you can press some into the bottom of a springform pan, add a layer of ice cream, add more cereal, add another layer of ice cream, and top with more cereal, like so:

Or if you are in a hurry and don’t feel like messing with layers, you can freeze the cereal mixture until it’s hard, like this:

Then you can break it into pieces, fold it into the softened ice cream, and press the whole thing into a springform pan.

Either way, once you’re done, you can cover it with plastic wrap or foil, and freeze until serving time.

When you’re ready to serve your cake, loosen the sides of the springform pan and slice the cake into wedges.

If the cake is really hard and difficult to slice, you can let it sit for a few minutes so that it will soften.

The original recipe says to garnish the cake with whipped cream and strawberries, but I’ve never bothered with that. I think it’s just fine as is. 😉

Ice Cream Crunch Cake

Yield: One 9-inch cake

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

This homemade ice cream cake is much cheaper than the premade ones from the store, and you can customize it with whatever flavors you like!

Print

Ingredients

• 6 cups crisp rice cereal, such as Rice Krispies
• 12 oz. package chocolate chips
• 2/3 cup peanut butter (optional)
• 1 gallon of ice cream, whatever flavor you like, so long as it goes with peanut butter and chocolate

Instructions

1. Combine peanut butter (if using) and chocolate chips in a small saucepan. Cook and stir over low heat until chocolate is melted.
2. Measure rice cereal into a large bowl. Add melted chocolate and mix until cereal is evenly coated.
3. Spoon 1/3 of the cereal mixture into the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan to cover bottom. Press gently down with spatula; place pan in freezer for 10 minutes.
4. Soften half gallon ice cream; spread over cereal crust in pan. Cover with another 1/3 cereal mixture; place in freezer until firm.
5. Soften second half gallon ice cream; spread in springform pan. Cover ice cream layer with remaining cereal mixture, cover pan with foil, and freeze until serving time.
6. Let cake sit at room temperature to soften slightly before slicing and serving.

Notes

You can leave out the peanut butter to make this a nut-free cake. Just be sure to choose ice cream flavors with no nuts.

If you don't want to make layers of ice cream and the crunch mixture, after step 2, spread cereal mixture onto a sheet pan and freeze until firm. Once firm, break cereal into small pieces, mix with softened ice cream, and spread into springform pan.

Recommended Products

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• 
  Nordic Ware Leakproof Springform Pan, 10 Cup, 9 Inch

Nutrition Information

Yield 16 Serving Size 1 slice
Amount Per Serving Calories 578Total Fat 35gSaturated Fat 15gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 17gCholesterol 58mgSodium 299mgCarbohydrates 62gFiber 4gSugar 41gProtein 10g

Nutrition will vary depending on ice cream used in cake