Black Forest Ice Cream Cake

This black forest ice cream cake is made with an Oreo cookie crust, chocolate ice cream, maraschino cherries, and whipped topping. A quick and easy no-bake dessert recipe that's a showstopper on any dessert table!

Course Dessert

Cuisine Christmas, Easy, Holiday, Sweet, Valentine's Day

Diet Low Salt

Prep Time 20

Freeze time 1

Total Time 1 20

Servings servings

Calories 658kcal

Author Jessy Freimann

Equipment

Ingredients

1 Oreo cookie crust I bought mine pre-made in the baking aisle
4 cups Chocolate ice cream about half of a regular size box
16 ounces maraschino cherries pull aside the 9 prettiest cherries and drain and chop the rest
1 ½ cups Whipped topping about ⅓ of a container
Chocolate shavings for garnish mini chocolate chips will also work

Instructions

Pull container of ice cream out of the freezer and let it sit out for 7-10 minutes to soften it.
Carefully spread your ice cream inside of the pie crust leaving about ¼ of an inch of space above it. Use a spatula to smooth the top of it (I use my offset spatula).
Evenly distribute your chopped cherries on top of the ice cream.
Next, carefully spread a layer of whipped topping over the cherries to cover the top of the cake.
Decorate by placing 8 of the whole cherries around the perimeter of the pie, evenly spaced and the other cherry in the middle and sprinkle with shaved chocolate.
Place cake back in the freezer for at least an hour. After the hour, cover it and keep in the freezer until serving.

Video

Notes

Pull aside your nine best-looking cherries before chopping the rest. It makes the decorating step much easier.
Drain remaining cherries well and chop them small. This prevents the ice cream layer from getting icy and ensures a better distribution in every slice- be sure to put a few whole ones aside for topping.
An offset spatula is your best friend for getting a smooth, even ice cream layer.
Let the ice cream soften before spreading. 7-10 minutes on the counter makes all the difference and prevents tearing up the crust.
Work quickly once the ice cream is softened. You don't want it melting before it goes back in the freezer.
Don't skip the freeze time. A full hour minimum ensures clean slices. Longer is even better.
Make two pies. Seriously. This goes fast, and leftovers are not a guarantee. Having a backup in the freezer is never a bad idea!
Ingredients to prep ahead- You can drain and chop your cherries in advance and keep them in the fridge until you're ready to assemble.
Leftovers and storage- Cover tightly and store in the freezer for up to one week.

Nutrition