Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Triple treat in every bite – Rich chocolate cake, indulgent ice cream, and chewy cookie dough collide.
No ice cream maker needed – Uses homemade or store-bought ice cream that’s easy to soften and layer.
Impress without stress – Though it looks gourmet, it’s surprisingly straightforward to assemble.

Ingredients

(Tip: You’ll find the full list of ingredients and measurements in the recipe card below.)

Chocolate Cake

1 cup flour
1 cup sugar
⅓ cup Hershey’s Special Dark cocoa powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 large egg
½ cup buttermilk
½ cup vegetable oil
¾ tsp vanilla extract
½ cup boiling water

Eggless Cookie Dough

6 Tbsp butter
½ cup brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup heat-treated flour
1–2 tsp milk
½ cup mini chocolate chips

Ice Cream

8 oz cream cheese, softened
½ cup brown sugar
⅛ cup milk
2 tsp vanilla extract
8 oz Cool Whip (or homemade whipped cream)
½ cup mini chocolate chips

Additional

4–8 oz Cool Whip for icing
Extra mini chocolate chips
Optional: chocolate sauce (e.g. Smucker’s)

Directions

Chocolate Cake

Preheat oven to 300 °F (150 °C).
Whisk dry ingredients in a bowl.
Add egg, buttermilk, oil; blend until smooth.
Stir vanilla into boiling water, then mix in.
Pour into two 8″ pans and bake 25–30 min. Cool fully.

Eggless Cookie Dough

Cream butter and brown sugar; mix in vanilla.
Add flour, milk (until thick dough), then chocolate chips.
Form ½–¾″ balls; chill until firm.

Ice Cream Layer

Beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth.
Mix in milk and vanilla.
Fold in Cool Whip, chocolate chips, and most cookie dough balls.

Assembly

In one pan, layer chocolate cake, then ice cream mixture.
Top with remaining cookie dough and smooth over Cool Whip.
Decorate with extra chips and cookie dough.
Freeze until solid (at least 6 hours or overnight).

Servings and timing

Serves: 10–12 slices
Prep time: ~35 minutes (active)
Freeze time: ~6–8 hours or overnight
Total time: ~7–8 hours or overnight

Variations

Cake swap: Swap chocolate cake for dense brownies for a fudgier experience.
Ice cream flavor: Use strawberry, mint chip or coffee ice cream instead.
Toppings: Drizzle caramel or add crushed nuts, sprinkles, or fudge sauce.

storage/reheating

Store in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 1 week. For serving, let stand at room temperature 5–10 minutes for easier slicing—run a sharp knife under hot water before slicing for clean edges.

FAQs

What kind of pan works best?

A 9-inch springform pan is ideal—it helps you remove the cake easily without ruining the layers.

Can I use store-bought ice cream?

Yes! Soften it slightly before folding in cookie dough. However, homemade mix-ins often taste fresher and more flavorful.

Is it safe to use raw flour in cookie dough?

Be sure to heat-treat your flour (bake at 350 °F for 5–10 minutes) to eliminate bacteria as recommended by food safety sources.

Can I prepare this ahead of time?

Absolutely—you can bake the cakes and make the dough a day ahead, then assemble and freeze the next day.

Why use Cool Whip instead of whipped cream?

Cool Whip provides stability and freezes well, though homemade whipped cream works too if used fresh and kept cold.

How firm should the cake be when slicing?

It should be fully frozen. For the cleanest slices, run a warm knife through the cake between cuts.

Can I freeze it longer than a week?

Up to one month is fine, though ice crystals may form and texture may alter slightly.

Can I halve the recipe?

Yes! Just reduce all ingredients proportionally and use a smaller pan (6–7″) for a smaller cake.

Can I omit the cookie dough layer?

Yes — the cake is still delicious with just chocolate cake, ice cream, and a Cool Whip topping.

How do I cleanly serve it?

Dip your knife in hot water before each cut and wipe clean—this prevents sticking and keeps layers intact.

Conclusion

This Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream Cake is the ultimate celebration dessert—layered, indulgent, delicious, and surprisingly easy to make. Whether you’re treating guests or indulging at home, the combination of textures and flavors is sure to impress. Just plan ahead for freezer space, and you’ll be rewarded with a showstopper that’s practically effortless.