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Nonnie’s 6 Ingredient Chocolate Peanut Butter Ice Cream Cake is the go-to summer dessert…super easy, super simple, yet so delicious. The filling is made with two base ingredients, high-quality chocolate ice cream, and creamy peanut butter. The crust is a mix of sweet chocolate wafer cookies and salted butter. When combined with the creamy chocolate peanut butter ice cream filling it makes for a mouthwatering cake that’s chocolatey, peanutty, super creamy, and a touch salty. Once the cake is frozen, top with homemade “magic shell” and salty peanuts. This is everyone’s favorite summertime ice cream cake!
Clearly, I am all about cake on Fridays…
Last week it was all about this pretty blueberry lemon layer cake, which I am still overly excited about…did any of you make it? I am dying to make it again very, very soon. But this week it’s all about this ice cream cake. More specifically, my Nonnie’s chocolate peanut butter ice cream cake. Oh how I LOVE this cake! It will forever be a favorite. This cake is hands down in my top 10 most loved desserts. It’s both my dad’s and my older brother Brendan’s favorite dessert.
So yes, it’s safe to say that this easy ice cream cake is very much loved around here. With Father’s Day this Sunday, I knew that today was the perfect time to share this cake with you.
Why? Two reasons.
Reason 1…because dads love this cake.
Reason 2…because it is SO EASY to make, which is great for YOU!
Here’s the story. My Nonnie was good at a lot of things, but she was a pro entertainer. She knew how to throw an amazing party like no other. I learned so much from her when it comes to design, florals, entertaining, and making things “pretty”. She passed away a year and a half ago, so sharing this cake today feels extra special. This would be the cake she would have made for Father’s Day.
While I miss my grandma so much, I’m thankful to have recipes like this ice cream cake to always remember her by. I’m also thankful that I get to share these stories (and recipes) of hers with you guys! They bring back the best of times for me!
My Nonnie loved to entertain, but here’s the thing. While she enjoyed cooking and baking, she was always all about the simple recipes. Which is why her recipes are truly the best. Nonnie didn’t mess around with anything too complicated. She took short cuts when needed, and that is why I love her (and her recipes) so much. She taught me that not everything has to be made from scratch. Taking help from the store sometimes is just what you need to do.
Don’t get me wrong, I love doing all homemade as much as possible. But sometimes life gets busy. You need to give yourself a break and accept that the store has great time-saving options too.
This ice cream cake is the perfect example of one of Nonnie’s simple but delicious recipes.
This recipe requires 6 pantry staple ingredients, zero oven time, and almost no effort. The trickiest part about this cake? Waiting for it to freeze.
Let me break it down into steps.
Step 1: make the crust. This is super easy. Just combine crushed chocolate cookies with melted butter. I find this easiest to do in a food processor, but it can also be done in a bowl. Do what works for you. Now, press the cookie crust into a springform pan. Done with that.
Step 2: the ice cream filling. Are you ready? Mix slightly softened chocolate ice cream and a jar of creamy peanut butter together until they are just mixed and have pretty swirls throughout. Spread the ice cream over the crust. Done with that.
Step 3: freeze.
Step 4: make the “magic shell”. Mix melted chocolate with coconut oil until smooth. You now have a “magic shell”. Pour the “magic shell” over the cream cake and top with peanuts. The shell will harden and the peanuts with be secured into place. Done with that.
Step 5: Slice and eat. Simple, easy, and so darn delicious!
I’m not sure if that process seems too easy, but while this is a simple cake, it’s so so good. The crust is sweet and slightly crunchy, while the ice cream is sweet and so darn creamy. And that chocolate on top? It’s salty, chocolatey, and adds a nice crunchy “crack” with every bite.
To sum this cake up… It’s sweet, heavy on the chocolate, heavier on the peanut butter, so creamy, but a little crunchy too. Oh, and just a little salty as well. It’s perfect, and every bite leaves you wanting another…which admittedly is a very dangerous thing.
If you put this cake out at a party, it will get eaten, and it will be the first dessert to disappear. Only crazy people don’t love this cake.
I make this cake from Memorial Day through Labor Day, for pretty much every summer party or dinner with friends. It’s my “back pocket” ice cream cake that never ever fails me.
Best part? It’s an ice cream cake, so you can make it today as Sunday’s Father’s Day dessert and it’s going to be delicious…because it’s FROZEN.
Best. Ice Cream. Cake!
Make it, enjoy it, and have the happiest Father’s Day weekend!
If you make my Nonnie’s 6 Ingredient Chocolate Peanut Butter Ice Cream Cake, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ice cream cake is a must in the Summer and this recipe looks insanely good! Awesome combination of flavors!
Thank you Rahul! xTieghan
Why add coconut oil to the chopped chocolate for the “magic shell”?
Just curious, Ellen
Hey Ellen,
The coconut oil makes the chocolate nice and shiny. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Looks delicious. I will try for Fathers Day.
Amazing! I hope you all enjoy this one, Maureen! xTieghan
You had me at peanut butter and chocolate! I made this with a gluten free Oreo crust (trader joe’s). My family loved everything except the chocolate topping. I am wondering if milk chocolate might be more of a win for them. Or maybe just a fudgy topping. Everything else was perfect, though. And my husband just ate the last piece for breakfast yesterday, so, yeah.
I am so glad you enjoyed this Marina! Thank you so much! xTieghan
Always love your recipes. I’ve made several of them. Thank you for sharing!
Thank you for trying them! xTieghan
I loved my Nonnies recipes too- she always had homemade treats baked up from scratch with few but pure ingredients. I so miss coming into her kitchen to enjoy them! …Still have some of her hand written recipes that I treasure so much. Please keep sharing these!! The best ingredient in all of our Nonnies recipes? Definitely love.❤️
Aren’t they the best?! I miss having her make them as well. I hope you love this recipe, Gia! xTieghan
I made this for my husbands bday and everyone loved it!! I couldn’t find the chocolate wafer cookies so did graham crackers, and it worked well too!
Thank you so much Jane! xTieghan
Great recipe. I just served this to my Reese’s Cup loving husband for his Father’s Day dessert. And no we I know how to make homemade “Magic Shell”. Next time I will preslice the cake and individually coat them with the shell.
Ooo yes! I am so glad this turned out so well for all of you! Thank you! xTieghan
I’m giving this a 5 star even tho’ it’s sitting in the freezer waiting to be devoured! So far, super easy to make and when I was licking the spoon, delicious! Unfortunately, my grocery store didn’t have any chocolate wafer cookies so I bought some peanut butter/chocolate chip ones. This is gonna be great!
Thank you Julie! xTieghan
Does regular peanut butter with stabilizers (like skippy) work best, or can you use natural peanut butter (like Adams)?
Hi there! Honestly, my grandma used the old school Jiff Peanut butter, I but I use organic no-stir. It’s a little less creamy, but I find it still work great! Please use which ever you prefer. https://rstyle.me/+8cSUIYZNHrlq56e_Wa1OrA
By wafer cookies do you mean Oreos?
Hi Andrea! I actually use wafer cookies (linked below, but I just these at the grocery store). Oreo cookies work just as well however. You can remove the creme filling or you can keep the filling inside, either works great! Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe! Thank you! xTieghan
https://rstyle.me/+8cSUIYZNHrlq56e_Wa1OrA
What should you cover this with to freeze?
Hi Amy, I recommend a circle Tupperware, glass container/pie holder, or plastic wrap. Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe! Thank you! xTieghan
This looks insanely delicious! WOW!
Thank you so much Debbie! xTieghan
What type of wafer cookies are you referencing in your recipe? Excited to make this for a game day gathering !
Hi! Link to the wafers below. You can also use the Oreo cookie crackers too, just remove the filling. Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe. Thanks so much! xTieghan
https://rstyle.me/n/c8xe26b9wzf
Looks delish!! How far in advance do you think I can make this? TIA!!
HI! This can be kept in the freezer for up to 1 month, probably longer if well covered. Please let me know if you have other questions. Hope you love this recipe! Thanks! 🙂