This brownie ice cream cake is a tasty choice when you want a simple yet delectable dessert—combining fudgy brownies, creamy ice cream, crushed Oreo's, and vibrant mini M&M's results in a delicious freezer dessert.
I love baking recipes that are incredibly simple yet utterly delicious, such as Nutella puppy chow and crustless blueberry pie. Add this brownie ice cream cake recipe to the list! It is as easy as preparing boxed brownies and scooping ice cream!
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Uses a brownie mix from the grocery store, yes really!
- Make in advance
- Easily adapts to a gluten free, and low FODMAP recipe
Featured Ingredients
- Brownie Mix - Plus the ingredients needed to prepare the brownies!
- Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips - Just another layer of chocolate; nobody is sad about that.
- Vanilla Ice Cream - Use a high-quality, minimal ingredients vanilla ice cream for the ultimate creaminess.
- Oreo Cookies - Crushed and sprinkled over the ice cream for a classic cookies and cream flavor profile.
- Toppings: Mini M&M’s, Sprinkles, Chocolate Syrup, and Whipped Cream
See the recipe card for the exact measurements and complete instructions.
Step-By-Step Instructions
The hardest part of the recipe is waiting for the brownies to cool down and the ice cream to freeze. Put your patience pants on.
Step 1: In a 9x13-inch pan, prepare the brownies according to the package instructions. Before baking, sprinkle the chocolate chips on top. Avoid overbaking the brownies, as the crispy edges will be difficult to cut.
Step 2: Once the brownies are at room temperature or completely chilled, it's ice cream time. It's very important for the brownies to be cool; otherwise, the ice cream will melt, absorb into the brownies, and make a mess.
Take the ice cream out of the freezer to soften for 15 minutes. Once soft but not too soft, scoop out the ice cream on the cooled brownies. Using a large metal spoon, spread the ice cream into an even layer.
Step 3: Place the Oreo cookies in a large zip-top plastic bag and smash the Oreo cookies into crumbs. Sprinkle over the ice cream. Return it to the freezer to freeze.
Step 4: Remove the brownie ice cream cake 10-15 minutes prior to serving to make it easier to cut. Sprinkle mini M&M’s and sprinkles just before serving, as the M&M’s may bleed into the ice cream. If this concerns you, consider adding the sprinkles and M&M’s to each piece instead of the entire pan.
Top each piece with chocolate syrup, homemade whipped cream, and more M&M’s and Oreo's!
Tips and Tricks
Before preparing this brownie ice cream cake recipe, clear out space in the freezer to ensure you have enough room to store it.
Dip a sharp knife in warm water and wipe it off with a paper towel between cuts for clean, pretty slices.
Ingredient Swaps
- Ice Cream Flavors: Want to use mint chocolate chip ice cream or chocolate ice cream for a chocolate brownie ice cream cake? Go for it!
- Oreo Cookie Options: Use mint Oreos with mint ice cream!
- Sauce Options: Use hot fudge, peanut butter sauce, or caramel sauce.
- Candy Options: Try crushed Health bars or mini Reese’s peanut butter cups - really, whatever sounds delicious. I would stay away from anything gummy because it will freeze rock solid.
Special Diet Variations
Gluten Free Brownie Ice Cream Cake: Use a gluten free brownie mix and gluten free Oreo’s.
Low FODMAP Brownie Ice Cream Cake: Use a gluten free brownie mix, a lactose-free ice cream, a chocolate syrup without high fructose corn syrup like Hershey’s Simple chocolate syrup, and a low FODMAP whipped cream. Ingredient guidance is based on testing results from Monash University Food App.
FAQs
Either will work for this recipe. The only recipe that requires regular Oreo’s is in the Oreo pie crust recipe.
Absolutely! Create a twist of both kinds to get the best of both worlds, and have leftover ice cream!
Sure, as long as it works with the chocolate brownie. For example, cookie dough, cookies and cream, or chocolate chip would be delicious. The options are endless!
Sure! It would be a tasty topping option.
Storing
Store: Keep the brownie ice cream cake covered in the freezer. It will last up to a month in the freezer.
When To Serve Brownie Ice Cream Cake
Holiday gatherings: Customize the color of M&M’s and sprinkles to the season. For example, for Christmas, use red and green sprinkles with peppermint ice cream.
Birthday Parties: Kids love to choose their toppings. Put out small containers with toppings options. Great options include mini chocolate chips, sprinkles, crushed cookies, mini Reese’s peanut butter ups, mini marshmallows, or raspberries. Then, add whipped cream and chocolate sauce!
Potlucks: Be the favorite dessert at the potluck. The bright and colorful toppings make this frozen dessert option a hit!
Additional Dessert Recipes
Love This Recipe?
Leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating + comment. It helps so much, and we love hearing from everyone! Thank You -Venessa
Recipe
Brownie Ice Cream Cake
Ingredients
- 16 ounces brownie mix and ingredients needed to make brownies Note 1
- ½ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1.5 quart vanilla ice cream
- 13 ounces Oreo Cookies 1 package (Note 2)
- 1 cup mini M&M's
- ½ cup sprinkles
- Toppings: chocolate syrup, whipped cream
Instructions
- Bake brownies according to package instructions in a greased 9x13-inch baking dish. Do not overbake the brownies. The crispy edges can be difficult to cut when topped with ice cream. Cool brownies.
- Take out the ice cream and allow it to soften on the countertop for 15 minutes. The ice cream should be soft but not melted completely.
- Scoop the ice cream on top of the cooled brownies into an even layer. Use a large metal spoon to spread it out.
- Crush the Oreo cookies in a large zip-top bag. Sprinkle evenly over the ice cream. Cover and place back into the freezer. Allow it to freeze for at least 3 hours or until frozen.
- Remove the brownie cake from the freezer at least 10-15 minutes before serving to allow for easy cutting. Also, a sharp knife that has been warmed up with warm water and dried before cutting the cake will help.
- Sprinkle mini M&M’s and sprinkles over the brownie cake if serving a crowd, or top individual pieces if concerned about the M&M’s bleeding color into the ice cream.
- Drizzle chocolate syrup and whipped cream and serve!
Venessa Mandelkow says
Whenever we make this brownie ice cream cake it never lasts long. It is everyone's favorite!