Ice Cream Sandwich Cake Pops: A Chilled Twist on a Classic Treat

Ice cream sandwich cake pops? Yes, you read that right! We’re taking two beloved desserts – ice cream sandwiches and cake pops – and fusing them into one unbelievably delicious and fun treat. This recipe is perfect for summer parties, kids’ birthdays, or any occasion that calls for a sweet and refreshing surprise. Imagine the creamy coolness of an ice cream sandwich combined with the cakey goodness and playful presentation of a cake pop. It’s a guaranteed crowd-pleaser! This recipe will guide you through creating these delightful treats, from selecting the right ingredients to mastering the decorating techniques. Get ready to embark on a sweet adventure that will impress your friends and family!

## Why Ice Cream Sandwich Cake Pops?

Before we dive into the recipe, let’s talk about why these cake pops are so special:

* **Unique and Unexpected:** They’re not your everyday dessert. The combination of ice cream and cake is a delightful surprise that will leave everyone wanting more.
* **Perfect for Summer:** The cool and creamy ice cream filling makes them ideal for hot summer days.
* **Easy to Customize:** You can use different flavors of ice cream sandwiches, cake, and coatings to create endless variations.
* **Fun to Make:** The process of assembling and decorating the cake pops is a fun activity for both kids and adults.
* **Portable and Convenient:** They’re easy to eat on the go, making them perfect for parties and picnics.

## Ingredients You’ll Need

Here’s a breakdown of the ingredients you’ll need to make these ice cream sandwich cake pops:

* **Ice Cream Sandwiches:** The foundation of our cake pops. You’ll need about 6-8 regular-sized ice cream sandwiches, depending on how many cake pops you want to make. Vanilla, chocolate, or cookies and cream flavors work well. Consider using a specific brand that is known to hold its shape and not melt too quickly.
* **Cake:** You can use a store-bought cake mix (baked according to package directions) or a homemade cake recipe. Chocolate, vanilla, or funfetti cake are all great options. Approximately half of a standard 9×13 inch cake is usually sufficient. Avoid cakes with too much moisture, such as a tres leches cake, as they will make the mixture too soggy.
* **Frosting (Optional):** A small amount of frosting can help bind the cake and ice cream together. Vanilla or chocolate frosting works well, but you can also experiment with other flavors that complement your cake and ice cream. A couple of tablespoons should be enough.
* **Coating:** This is where you can get creative! Melted chocolate (milk, dark, or white), candy melts, or even a simple glaze can be used. You’ll need enough to fully coat all of your cake pops. Approximately 12-16 ounces of melting chocolate or candy melts should suffice.
* **Toppings:** Sprinkles, crushed cookies, chopped nuts, mini chocolate chips, or any other toppings you like. Have these ready to go before you start dipping the cake pops.
* **Lollipop Sticks:** These will be used to hold the cake pops. You’ll need one stick for each cake pop.
* **Vegetable Oil or Shortening:** Adding a small amount of vegetable oil or shortening to your melted chocolate or candy melts will help thin it out and make it easier to work with. This also gives the coating a smoother, shinier finish. Start with a teaspoon and add more as needed until you reach the desired consistency.

## Equipment You’ll Need

* **Baking Sheet:** For chilling and storing the cake pops.
* **Parchment Paper or Wax Paper:** To line the baking sheet and prevent the cake pops from sticking.
* **Mixing Bowls:** For mixing the cake and ice cream.
* **Fork or Spatula:** For crumbling the cake and mixing the ingredients.
* **Melting Pot or Microwave-Safe Bowl:** For melting the chocolate or candy melts.
* **Lollipop Sticks:** For holding the cake pops.
* **Styrofoam Block or Cake Pop Stand:** To hold the cake pops while they dry.
* **Ice Cream Scoop (Optional):** To help form uniformly sized cake pops.

## Step-by-Step Instructions

Now, let’s get down to the fun part: making the ice cream sandwich cake pops!

**Step 1: Prepare the Cake**

1. If you’re using a store-bought cake mix, bake it according to the package directions and let it cool completely. If you’re using a homemade cake, bake it according to your recipe and let it cool completely.
2. Once the cake is cooled, crumble it into a large mixing bowl. You can use a fork, your hands, or even a food processor to do this.

**Step 2: Soften the Ice Cream Sandwiches**

1. Take the ice cream sandwiches out of the freezer and let them soften slightly at room temperature. You want them to be soft enough to mix easily but not completely melted. This should take about 5-10 minutes, depending on the temperature of your room.

**Step 3: Combine Cake and Ice Cream**

1. Add the softened ice cream sandwiches to the bowl with the crumbled cake.
2. Using a fork or your hands, mix the cake and ice cream together until they are well combined. The mixture should be moist and slightly sticky. If the mixture seems too dry, you can add a tablespoon or two of milk or cream to moisten it. If it seems too wet, add a little more crumbled cake.
3. If you’re using frosting, add it to the mixture and mix well.

**Step 4: Form the Cake Pops**

1. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or wax paper.
2. Using your hands or an ice cream scoop, form the cake and ice cream mixture into small balls. Aim for about 1-inch to 1.5-inch in diameter. This will vary depending on how large you want your cake pops to be.
3. Place the cake balls on the prepared baking sheet.

**Step 5: Chill the Cake Pops**

1. Place the baking sheet with the cake pops in the freezer and chill for at least 30 minutes, or until they are firm. This will help them hold their shape when you dip them in the melted chocolate or candy melts.

**Step 6: Melt the Coating**

1. While the cake pops are chilling, melt your chocolate or candy melts according to the package directions. You can use a melting pot or a microwave-safe bowl.
2. If using a microwave, heat in 30-second intervals, stirring in between, until completely melted and smooth.
3. Add a teaspoon of vegetable oil or shortening to the melted chocolate or candy melts and stir well. This will help thin it out and give it a smoother finish.

**Step 7: Dip the Cake Pops**

1. Remove the cake pops from the freezer.
2. Dip the tip of a lollipop stick into the melted chocolate or candy melts and then insert it into the center of a cake pop. This will help the stick stay in place.
3. Dip the entire cake pop into the melted chocolate or candy melts, making sure it is completely coated. Gently tap off any excess coating.
4. If desired, immediately sprinkle the cake pop with your favorite toppings, such as sprinkles, crushed cookies, or chopped nuts.
5. Insert the lollipop stick into a styrofoam block or cake pop stand to hold the cake pop upright while it dries. If you don’t have a styrofoam block or cake pop stand, you can place the cake pops on a parchment-lined baking sheet, being careful not to let them touch each other.

**Step 8: Let the Coating Set**

1. Allow the coating to set completely. This will take about 15-30 minutes at room temperature, or you can speed up the process by placing the cake pops in the refrigerator for a few minutes.

**Step 9: Enjoy!**

1. Once the coating is set, your ice cream sandwich cake pops are ready to enjoy! Store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

## Tips and Tricks for Perfect Ice Cream Sandwich Cake Pops

* **Don’t Overmix:** When combining the cake and ice cream, be careful not to overmix. Overmixing can result in a tough cake pop.
* **Chill Thoroughly:** Chilling the cake pops before dipping them is crucial. This will help them hold their shape and prevent them from falling off the sticks.
* **Melt the Coating Carefully:** Avoid overheating the chocolate or candy melts, as this can cause them to seize up. Heat in short intervals and stir frequently.
* **Thin the Coating:** Adding a little vegetable oil or shortening to the melted coating will help thin it out and make it easier to work with. This will also give the coating a smoother, shinier finish.
* **Work Quickly:** Once you start dipping the cake pops, work quickly to prevent the coating from setting before you can add the toppings.
* **Use Quality Ingredients:** Using high-quality ingredients will result in a better-tasting cake pop.
* **Experiment with Flavors:** Don’t be afraid to experiment with different flavors of ice cream sandwiches, cake, and coatings to create your own unique variations.
* **Practice Makes Perfect:** If you’re new to making cake pops, don’t get discouraged if your first batch isn’t perfect. The more you practice, the better you’ll get.

## Variations and Customization

One of the best things about ice cream sandwich cake pops is that they are so easy to customize. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

* **Different Ice Cream Sandwich Flavors:** Try using different flavors of ice cream sandwiches, such as cookies and cream, mint chocolate chip, or strawberry.
* **Different Cake Flavors:** Use different flavors of cake, such as chocolate, vanilla, funfetti, or red velvet.
* **Different Coatings:** Experiment with different types of coatings, such as milk chocolate, dark chocolate, white chocolate, candy melts, or even a simple glaze.
* **Different Toppings:** Get creative with your toppings! Try using sprinkles, crushed cookies, chopped nuts, mini chocolate chips, shredded coconut, or even edible glitter.
* **Add Extracts:** Add a few drops of extract (such as vanilla, almond, or peppermint) to the cake or the melted coating to enhance the flavor.
* **Drizzle with Chocolate:** After the coating has set, drizzle the cake pops with a contrasting color of melted chocolate for a decorative touch.
* **Use Different Shapes:** Instead of forming the cake pops into balls, try using cookie cutters to create different shapes, such as hearts, stars, or squares.
* **Add a Filling:** Before dipping the cake pops, create a small hole in the center and fill it with caramel, ganache, or Nutella.

## Serving and Storage

* **Serving:** Ice cream sandwich cake pops are best served chilled. They can be served on a platter, in a cake pop stand, or individually wrapped in cellophane bags.
* **Storage:** Store the cake pops in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. If you want to store them for longer, you can freeze them for up to 2 months. Wrap each cake pop individually in plastic wrap before freezing.

## Troubleshooting

* **Cake pops falling off the sticks:** Make sure the cake pops are thoroughly chilled before dipping them. Also, make sure the lollipop sticks are securely inserted into the cake pops.
* **Coating is too thick:** Add a little vegetable oil or shortening to the melted coating to thin it out.
* **Coating is seizing up:** This can happen if the chocolate or candy melts are overheated. Try adding a tablespoon of vegetable oil or shortening and stirring vigorously. If that doesn’t work, you may need to start over with fresh chocolate or candy melts.
* **Cake pops are too crumbly:** Add a little more frosting or milk to the cake and ice cream mixture to bind it together.
* **Cake pops are too wet:** Add a little more crumbled cake to the cake and ice cream mixture to absorb the excess moisture.

## Conclusion

Ice cream sandwich cake pops are a fun and delicious treat that are perfect for any occasion. With a little creativity and these detailed instructions, you can easily create these delightful desserts at home. So, gather your ingredients, put on your apron, and get ready to impress your friends and family with these unique and irresistible cake pops! They are guaranteed to be a hit, especially during those warm summer months! Enjoy!