How Long Does Ice Cream Cake Last in the Freezer?

If you are looking for the best expert tips for how long does ice cream last and how to store your ice cream cake in the freezer, you have come to the right place! The general rule to store an ice cream cake to avoid freezer burn and ice crystals from forming on your delicious dessert is 7 days, but not to worry I will walk you through the critical steps if you need to store your ice cream cake for longer.

For years I have made homemade cakes for my friends and family and have perfected all of the essentials to walk you through success. I'm sure you have a busy schedule like I do and freezing your cakes before or after event is key to saving time and ensuring you have the perfect cake!

Whether you are celebrating a special occasion, birthday, holiday, retirement or family gathering, ice cream cakes are a popular choice for a delicious dessert that everyone will love! The question always comes when storing this frozen dessert before or after eating; how long does ice cream cake last? I am breaking down all the details for you along with some extra tips and tricks to help you prepare for your special occasion.

The general rule to store an ice cream cake to avoid freezer burn and ice crystals from forming on your delicious dessert is 7 days. For both the the store-bought version or a homemade ice cream cake the best way to store it is to wrap the outside of the ice cream cake with plastic wrap to avoid warm air from inside your cake container.

In the circumstances where you need to extend the shelf life for an unopened ice cream cake or leftover ice cream cake for longer than 7 days, here are the general guidelines:

Tightly wrap the plastic container or cake container with plastic wrap to ensure it's properly sealed.
Store in a freezer that is 0°F for the optimal consistent temperature. Ice cream cakes need to kept consistenly cold due to the layers of ice cream and cake layers.
If you have a box freezer or second freezer that is not opened frequently, store the ice cream there to ensure it remains frozen.
I would recommend storing an ice cream cake for a maximum of 3 months to ensure the best texture and quality. If you have the store-bought version be sure to check the expiration date as well.
If making my chocolate chip cookie ice cream cake recipe, the outside cake layers are the cookie. This allows you to freeze the cookie cake until it is frozen solid and then wrap the cake completely in plastic wrap before placing into an airtight container.

For this frozen dessert, you can easily buy the store-bought version or a homemade ice cream cake for your special occasion. With ice cream cakes, they come in a variety of ice cream flavors such as vanilla ice cream and chocolate ice cream. I made an incredible chocolate chip cookie ice cream cake for my husband's birthday party recently and it was a hit!

How to Cut Ice Cream Cake

For serving and cutting, here are some helpful tips to ensure the perfect slice:

Use a sharp knife to cut into the cake. I like to cut my cake right out of the freezer using a sharp knife to ensure the ice cream isn't melted.
If the cake is too hard, you can defrost it in the fridge for 20-30 minutes or at room temperature for 10-15 minutes until slightly softened.
Dip the knife in hot water to help the knife glide through the ice cream cake easier.
If you are serving a large party or know that the ice cream cake slices will be sitting out for a period of time, consider pre-slicing the cake and freezing until you are ready to serve.

The key to cutting your cake for a crowd is to plan out your timing! About 30 minutes before your crowd is ready to eat your delicious dessert, take your cake out and test your first cut. Is it too hard, is the ice cream too soft? This will give you plenty of time to think through how to best serve your frozen dessert.

The first time I made this recipe, I melted my ice cream a bit too much and it didn't have enough time to set. The cuts were manageable, but once I really allowed the ice cream to set in the freezer, it sliced like a dream!

Don't forget to think through your party size, are you serving for 8 people at birthday party at your house? Have everyone sit down, slice your cake, sing "happy birthday" and you have avoided ice cream cake soup!

If you are serving for a larger party around 15 or more, save yourself the stress and pre-slice your cake! I would cut of all of my slices and store in the cake storage container pre-sliced. Place your slices on serving plates when your crowd is ready to eat!

Looking for some great dessert recipes? Try these: