[This post is brought to you by M&M’S. I created a playful dessert for their Pinterest page — thank you for the support!]
There’s only one thing better than ice cream season.
ICE CREAM CAKE SEASON.
Or ice cream pie season — basically the same thing: a melty, dreamy ice cream layer, sprinkles and a thick, fudgy center. I’m obsessed.
This is why I get a little carried away with ice cream pie. It may sound odd, but hear me out.
I don’t always love cake and ice cream served together. I’ll happily have cake mixed into ice cream, but at parties I rarely want a scoop of ice cream alongside a slice of cake. I prefer one dessert at a time — cake or ice cream, not both on the same plate.
I’ve even hosted parties and forgotten to buy ice cream. Completely mortifying.
So I do this instead: make one big ice cream pie that acts as both cake and ice cream. That way you only have to slice and serve once.
I partnered with M&M’S to create a birthday-inspired dessert you can share with friends online or in person. I never say no to rainbow-colored chocolate candies.
Look at those colors!
This dessert is easy and can be assembled the night before your party. It’s mostly assembly work — no fuss, big payoff.
Start with a cookie crust: I prefer chocolate sandwich cookies, but graham cracker crusts work well too. Either choice pairs perfectly with the chocolate fudge layer that follows.
Then fold cake and sprinkles into ice cream — yes, really. I tore up two vanilla cupcakes and folded the crumbs and sprinkles into slightly softened vanilla ice cream, then spread that over the crust and froze it. Use any vanilla ice cream you like; sprinkles are optional but highly recommended.
Next comes my favorite part: a rich, gooey chocolate fudge layer. I was inspired by the old-school ice cream-cookie desserts my mom used to make that always had a thick fudge center — the best part, in my opinion. I’d sneak that layer and leave the ice cream to melt away. Thankfully I’m slightly more civilized now.
Top the warm fudge with a generous handful of M&M’S. Cold, crunchy M&M’S give the pie an irresistible contrast to the soft ice cream and smooth fudge — that satisfying crunch with every bite.
Finish with extra sprinkles and whipped cream for the full birthday vibe. It’s joyful, colorful and exactly the kind of dessert that makes people smile.
Confetti Ice Cream Fudge Pie with M&M’S
1
Makes (9-inch) ice cream pie
Ingredients
- 1 (14-ounce) package chocolate sandwich cookies
- 8 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- ½ gallon your favorite vanilla ice cream, slightly softened
- 2 vanilla cupcakes, crumbled
- ⅓ cups sprinkles, plus more for topping
- 1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
- 6 ounces dark chocolate, chopped
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 bag M&M’S Milk Chocolate candies
- Whipped cream for topping
Instructions
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Pulse the cookies in a food processor until they resemble fine crumbs. Transfer crumbs to a bowl and stir in the melted butter until evenly moistened. Press the mixture into a 9-inch springform pan and chill in the freezer for 10 minutes.
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Fold the crumbled cupcakes and sprinkles quickly and gently into the softened ice cream. Spread this mixture over the chilled crust and smooth the top. Freeze for 1 hour.
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Warm the sweetened condensed milk over low heat, then stir in the chopped dark chocolate and vanilla extract until melted and smooth. Let the mixture cool until it’s almost set but still pourable. Remove the pie from the freezer and pour the chocolate fudge over the ice cream, spreading evenly. Freeze for at least 1 hour.
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Press M&M’S onto the top of the fudge and sprinkle with a few extra sprinkles. Freeze for another hour or overnight. Before serving, top with whipped cream. Slice straight from the freezer or let the pie sit at room temperature for about 10 minutes for a softer, creamier slice. Enjoy!
Did you make this recipe?
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Oh hi cake and ice cream. This is how I like you.