No Bake Oreo Ice Cream Dessert

Why This Recipe Works

It’s no-bake and stress-free. When the weather’s hot, the last thing I want to do is turn on the oven. This dessert layers together in minutes and the freezer does all the work. It’s the perfect make-ahead sweet that you can pull out whenever the craving hits.

The layers are irresistible. This Oreo ice cream cake recipe has layers of goodness. The buttery Oreo crust adds crunch, the ice cream keeps it cool and creamy, and the homemade chocolate pudding brings a rich, fudgy bite. Then, it’s topped with lightly sweetened whipped cream and a sprinkle of crushed Oreos. It doesn’t get much better than that!

Perfect for any occasion. I don’t know about you, but I love a versatile (and easy!) dessert. This one works just as well for a casual family night as it does for birthdays or summer cookouts. You can even swap the vanilla ice cream for your favorite flavor to mix things up!

Ingredients

For the crust:

• Oreo cookies: Crushed into fine crumbs for a firm, chocolatey base. It is easiest to do this in a food processor!
• Melted butter: Binds the crumbs together into a sturdy crust.

For the ice cream layer:

• Vanilla ice cream: Slightly softened so it spreads easily. You can use other flavors, too.

For the chocolate pudding layer:

• Egg yolk + cornstarch: Helps the pudding thicken into a silky texture.
• Milk: The creamy base for the pudding! I recommend using whole milk. 
• Sugar: Adds sweetness and balances the cocoa.
• Cocoa powder: For that deep chocolate flavor.

For the whipped cream layer:

• Whipping cream: Lightly whipped for a fluffy topping.
• Powdered sugar: Just enough to sweeten the whipped cream!
• Oreos: For the cookie crumbs on top, if desired.

Here’s How to Make It

1. Make the Oreo Crust: To make the crust, blitz the Oreos in a food processor until you have a light sand. Add the butter and blitz until like rubble. Press into the bottom of a roughly 10” x 6” dish and use the bottom of a measuring cup to make sure it is smooth and well compacted.
2. Layer in the Ice Cream: Spoon over the semi-melted ice cream and use a spatula to smooth it into a single layer. Place in the freezer for 1 hour to firm up again.
3. Make the Pudding: To make the chocolate pudding, whisk together the egg yolk and cornflour, adding splashes of 1/4 cup milk to keep the mixture smooth. Stir together the sugar, cocoa and remaining 3/4 cups of milk in a small saucepan. Heat until just boiling, then remove from the stove. Whisking constantly, trickle in the egg yolk mixture, then return the pudding to a medium heat. Simmer, whisking often, until the mixture has figured to a thick but still pourable pudding. Leave it to cool for 10 minutes, whisking often to help cool it down and to prevent a skin from forming.
4. Layer in the Pudding: Pour the slightly cooled pudding over the ice cream layer, smooth the top, then freeze for a further 1 hour 30 minutes.
5. Make the Whipped Cream Layer & Freeze: Lightly whip the cream and the powdered sugar together until it only just holds its shape. Smooth it over the frozen chocolate pudding layer. Crumble the 2 remaining Oreos over the top. Freeze for a final 4 hours, or overnight.
6. Serve & Enjoy: Take the dessert out of the freezer to thaw for 1hour before slicing to get clean slices. Leave the slices to stand for a further 10-15 minutes before serving.

Expert Tips

• Use softened ice cream. Let the ice cream sit out for 10 to 15 minutes so it’s scoopable and easy to spread. Too hard and it will tear the crust, too soft and it can melt into a puddle. It’s best to aim for somewhere in between.
• Cool the pudding properly. If you pour it over the ice cream while too hot, it will melt the layer underneath. Stirring it often while it cools keeps the texture silky and prevents a skin from forming.
• Don’t rush the freezing. Each layer needs time to set so you get clean, distinct layers in the final dessert, so be sure not to rush that process!
• Slice with a warm knife. Run your knife under hot water and wipe it dry before cutting. This makes it much easier to get neat squares or rectangles!
• Play with flavors. While vanilla ice cream is classic, peppermint, cookies-and-cream, or even strawberry are amazing swaps. Just keep the rest of the Oreo dessert recipe the same.

FAQs

More Dessert Recipes to Try

• Fudge Ripple Chocolate Ice Cream
• Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Hot Fudge Sundae
• No Bake Cheesecake
• Peanut Butter Oreo Stuffed Chocolate Chip Cookies
• No Bake Peanut Butter Pie