Every time I make a new no-churn ice cream flavor, my imagination bursts with more recipe ideas. I can’t help but be inspired and I’m totally rolling with it! In this case, my no-churn s’mores ice cream recipe got me thinking about how amazing it would be in ice cream cake form. And because you probably know by now that I cannot resist a s’more under any circumstances, making this s’mores ice cream cake recipe shot to the top of my list of things to try. I am beyond happy with how it turned out! Just look at this beauty:
This s’mores ice cream cake is what my dreams are made of. It starts with an extra thick no-bake graham cracker crust pressed into the bottom of a springform pan. Then, you’ll add layers of hot fudge, no-churn chocolate ice cream, graham cracker crumbles, and no-churn toasted marshmallow ice cream. The layers look so pretty all together and the flavor is insanely good! If you love s’mores and you love ice cream, this cake will be what your dreams are made of too.
Let’s talk about these ice cream layers. They both begin with the same batch of no-churn ice cream base, which then gets divided into two separate bowls to create two different flavors. One half gets flavored with melted semi-sweet chocolate to create an amazingly simple (yet delicious) chocolate ice cream. The other half is infused with marshmallow fluff before folding in toasted mini marshmallows. After about 6 hours in the freezer, each of these layers becomes the perfect ice cream texture like magic! It’s the easiest way to make ice cream ever and blows my mind every single time.
The hot fudge sauce is homemade in this recipe, but you can absolutely use store bought hot fudge as an alternative. If you do, I recommend Hershey’s brand or any brand that you already know you love. It’s important to have a good quality hot fudge here to tie the marshmallow and graham cracker flavors together.
The layers in this cake are beautiful all on their own, which means you really don’t have to decorate after assembling and freezing it. I chose to add a half drip with the homemade hot fudge that I had leftover and tossed on some more graham crackers and toasted mini marshmallows. Once the cake sets and you reveal those layers though, I completely understand if you’d rather just dig in than add anything extra!
If you know my love for s’mores then you know that I made sure every detail was perfect. It’s a must-make for the s’mores lover in your life (especially if that s’mores lover is you!). The best part about this ice cream cake is that it’s super easy to assemble and pop in the freezer way ahead of time – up to two months ahead if you want! That makes it an awesome option to have ready to go for your next summer gathering, saving you the stress of making dessert the day of. Enjoy!
S’mores Ice Cream Cake
Ingredients
Hot Fudge Sauce
- 2/3 Cup (160ml) heavy whipping cream
- 2 Tbsp (30ml) light corn syrup*
- 1/3 Cup (66g) granulated sugar
- 1/3 Cup (75g) unsalted butter
- 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 1/8 tsp salt
- 4 Oz (117g) semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 2 Tbsp unsweetened natural cocoa powder
Graham Cracker Crust
- 1 1/4 Cups (130g) graham cracker crumbs
- 2 Tbsp (25g) granulated sugar
- 5 Tbsp (70g) unsalted butter, melted
S'mores Ice Cream Layers
- 1/2 Cup (88g) semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 2 Cups (480ml) heavy whipping cream, cold
- 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 14 Oz sweetened condensed milk, divided
- 1/4 Cup (20g) marshmallow fluff
- 1 1/2 Cups (75g) mini marshmallows, toasted**
Additional Fillings & Toppings
- 1/2 Cup graham cracker crumbs
- 1/4 Cup toasted mini marshmallows
Instructions
Make the Hot Fudge Sauce
- In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine the heavy whipping cream, corn syrup, sugar, salt, butter, and vanilla. Whisk constantly until the butter is fully melted and the mixture begins to simmer.
- Reduce heat to medium-low and add the chocolate chips. Stir until melted.
- Whisk in the cocoa powder and continue to cook on low until fully incorporated and glossy, about 1 minute.
- Place the hot fudge into an airtight container and store in the refrigerator until room temperature, 20-30 minutes. It will thicken significantly as it cools.
Prepare the Graham Cracker Crust
- In a small bowl, combine the graham cracker crumbs and granulated sugar, then pour in the melted butter. Mix well until all the ingredients are fully combined. Place a 6-inch cardboard cake circle into the bottom of a 6-inch springform pan, then use a glass jar or cup to press the graham cracker crust evenly on top of the cardboard cake circle and into the sides of the pan. Refrigerate the crust in the springform pan until you're ready to assemble the ice cream cake.
Make the S'mores Ice Cream Layers
- Wait to make the ice cream layers until right before you're ready to assemble the cake. Place a large metal or glass bowl into the refrigerator for at least 20 minutes to chill before you get started.
- Melt the semi-sweet chocolate chips in the microwave in 20-second intervals, stirring after each one until the chocolate chips are fully melted. Allow to cool completely to room temperature, about 15-20 minutes.
- Add the heavy whipping cream and 2 teaspoons of the vanilla extract into the chilled bowl, then whip it with a hand mixer on high speed until stiff peaks form, 3-4 minutes. You can alternatively use a stand mixer with the whisk attachment for this part. Place the whipped cream into the refrigerator while you move on to the next step.
- Divide the sweetened condensed milk evenly between two medium bowls. To one bowl, whisk in the melted and cooled semi-sweet chocolate. To the second bowl, whisk in the marshmallow fluff.
- Divide the whipping cream evenly between the two bowls you created in the previous step. Fold each sweetened condensed milk mixture together with the divided whipped cream to create chocolate ice cream and marshmallow ice cream. Fold the toasted mini marshmallows into the marshmallow ice cream mixture.
Assembly
- Un-latch the springform pan and place a sheet of acetate between the outer edge of the graham cracker crust and the inside of the pan. Re-latch the springform pan and tape the acetate together once it's the same diameter as the pie crust. Here are more detailed instructions on how to prepare the acetate collar.
- Reserve about 1/3 Cup of hot fudge sauce for the decorative drip, then pour the rest onto the graham cracker crust. Smooth with a rubber spatula to create an even layer. Add the chocolate ice cream on top of the hot fudge layer and smooth with a rubber spatula.
- Add about 1/3 Cup of the crumbled graham crackers on top of the chocolate ice cream before adding the marshmallow ice cream on top and smoothing it down with a rubber spatula.
- Freeze the s'mores ice cream cake for at least 6 hours. When you're ready to serve it, remove the cake from the springform pan and unwrap the acetate. Re-heat the hot fudge sauce in the microwave in 10-second intervals until it reaches room temperature, then use it to create a decorative half drip around the top edge of the cake. Garnish with more graham cracker crumbs and toasted mini marshmallows.
Notes
- The hot fudge can be made ahead and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. When you’re ready to use it, gently reheat it in the microwave in 10 second intervals until spreadable.
- The graham cracker crust can be made ahead and stored in the freezer for up to 2 months. Place a piece of plastic wrap over the top of the crust followed by a piece of aluminum foil and store it in the springform pan to keep it fresh.
- The ice cream layers must be made right before assembling the cake and cannot be made ahead.
- The assembled cake or leftovers can be stored in the freezer, wrapped in acetate or plastic wrap, for up to two months.
Did you make this s’mores ice cream cake recipe? I want to know what you think! Tell me about it in the comments below and feel free to tag @sugarandsparrowco on Instagram to show me. I love to see what you create with my recipes!
Hi! I was hoping to make individual cakes for a birthday party – about the size of a cupcake. Would I be able to make and assemble these a week ahead of if I kept them in an airtight container?
That is such a fun idea, Sam! Yes, you can totally make and assemble them a week ahead and store in an airtight container in the freezer.
I made this cake for my daughter’s 8th birthday and it was a huge hit! It was surprisingly easy to make, and everyone really enjoyed it. Thanks so much for great recipe!
Yay, Trista! This is one of my favorite ice cream cakes and I’m so thrilled you chose it to celebrate your daughter’s birthday, and that everyone loved it!