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Grandma’s Ice Cream Crunch Cake

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This ice cream crunch cake is full of chocolate and caramel goodness. Vanilla ice cream with caramel and a chocolate crunch topping. It’s so easy to make and so delicious.

Grandmas-Ice-Cream-Crunch-Feature

The best recipes are the ones that bring back fond memories.  And the ones that bond us together.

This recipe for ice cream crunch cake is my Grandma Opal’s published in the Olsen Family cookbook.  Which is basically the bible of cookbooks in our family.

Caramel Chocolate Ice Cream Crunch Cake

My Grandmother used to make this in a 13 X 9 pan and my Mother still does.  Today I’m sharing a version made in a spring-form pan.

If you are looking for something different to make for Father’s Day — this is it.  Who doesn’t love chocolate, peanuts, ice cream, and caramel!

Grocery List

  • 1/2 gallon of vanilla ice cream
  • 1 box of chocolate cake mix (any kind really)
  • 3/4 cup butter
  • 1 package or jar of peanuts (enough to make 1/2 cup of chopped peanuts)
  • 1 jar or bottle of caramel topping

Instructions & Recipe Tips

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.

Then melt 3/4 cup of butter.  Add the butter to a medium-sized mixing bowl.

Next, add 1 box of chocolate cake mix.  Chop enough peanuts to make 1/2 cup and add.  Mix all 3 ingredients well.

Feature image - Crunch

Prep a cookie sheet with parchment paper.  (If you don’t have parchment paper that’s fine, it just makes cleanup a little easier.)  Spread the chocolate and peanut mixture evenly over the cookie sheet.

Feature image - spread in pan

Bake at 350 degrees for about 11 minutes.

While you are waiting, take the ice cream out to soften.

Remove the crunch mixture from the oven and stir it continuously while it cools.

Once it cools, add half to the bottom of a spring-form pan.

Then scoop the entire 1/2 gallon of vanilla ice cream on top.  Spread evenly with a spatula.

Drizzle caramel over the vanilla ice cream.

Then add the other half of the crunchy pieces on top.

Feature image - steps

Cover and stick in the freezer for at least a couple of hours before serving.

When you are ready to serve — slice and drizzle with caramel.  Enjoy!

Other fun options – scoop ice cream into a bowl and then add crunchy pieces and caramel.  Or make individual cupcakes in a muffin pan or silicone baking cups.

Print
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Grandmas-Ice-Cream-Crunch-Feature

Grandma’s Ice Cream Crunch Cake

Grandma’s ice cream crunch cake. Vanilla ice cream, chocolate nutty crunch with caramel topping. So good.

  • Total Time: 30

Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 3/4 c butter (melted)
  • 1 box chocolate cake mix
  • 1/2 c chopped peanuts
  • 1/2 gal vanilla ice cream
  • 1 bottle or jar of caramel topping

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
  • Then melt 3/4 cup butter. Add to a medium-sized mixing bowl.
  • Add 1 box of chocolate cake mix.
  • Chop enough peanuts to make 1/2 cup. Add to the chocolate cake mix and butter.
  • Mix all 3 ingredients well.
  • Prep a cookie sheet with parchment paper. (If you don’t have parchment paper that’s fine, it just makes cleanup a little easier.)
  • Spread the chocolate and peanut mixture evenly over the cookie sheet.
  • Bake at 350 degrees for about 11 minutes.
  • While you are waiting, take the ice cream out to soften.
  • Remove the chocolate cake mixture from the oven and stir continuously until it cools.
  • Once it cools, add half to the bottom of a spring-form pan.
  • Then scoop the whole 1/2 gallon of vanilla ice cream on top. Spread evenly with a spatula.
  • Drizzle caramel over the vanilla ice cream.
  • Then add the other half of the crunchy pieces on top.
  • Cover and stick in the freezer for at least a couple of hours before serving.
  • When you are ready to serve — slice and drizzle with caramel. Enjoy!

Notes

You can make in a 13 X 9 pan as well.

  • Author: Northern Yum
  • Prep Time: 30
  • Category: Dessert

Keywords: ice cream cake, caramel, chocolate

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4 Comments

    1. Northern Yum says:

      So glad you enjoyed it. Thank you for the review!

  1. Christine Rogers says:

    Yum!! How have I never tasted this before?! Will think of Opal as we enjoy this recipe!

    1. Northern Yum says:

      That is crazy! I guess we were too busy with taco salad and mixed nut bars at the Lee gatherings. 🙂 Thanks for reading and leaving a comment! 🙂

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