As someone who loves celebrations, this Birthday Cake Ice Cream recipe feels like a party in a bowl. It combines the nostalgic flavors of birthday cake with the creaminess of homemade vanilla ice cream, without needing an ice cream machine.

If you like easy desserts, try these valentine's day cake pops, pink champagne cake, red velvet cake mix cookies, white chocolate christmas crack, or these holiday cookie boxes.

As someone who loves any and every reason for a celebration, making recipes that capture "festivity" is my passion! The shared moments, laughter, and indulgence that comes with this birthday cake ice cream is irreplaceable. Plus, it's super easy to make!

three scoops of birthday cake ice cream in a waffle cone being held by a hand

Why I love this birthday cake ice cream

It's versatile: Whether you're serving this cake in a sugar cone or along side a slice of birthday cake, it makes a great addition to any birthday celebration.
Crowd pleaser: Similar to this easy christmas popcorn, kids and adults can't get enough of this easy dessert.
Freezer friendly: Since ice cream is freezer friendly, you can make this recipe ahead of time and store until you're ready to serve.
Perfect flavors: The rich and creamy homemade vanilla ice cream pairs effortlessly with the rainbow sprinkles. You can even serve with this birthday charcuterie board.

What you need to make homemade birthday cake cream

Heavy cream: Whipped to stiff peaks, heavy cream gives this ice cream its creamy, smooth texture.
Condensed milk: The secret to this no-churn homemade ice cream. If you'd like a less sweetened version, use half sweetened condensed milk and half evaporated milk.
Vanilla extract: For the classic birthday cake flavor. You can also use cake batter extract for an extra boost of cake flavor.
Cake: I like to use crumbled pieces of champagne cupcakes or champagne cake for a contrast of texture.
Sprinkles: What kind of cake batter ice cream would this be without rainbow sprinkles?

What type of sprinkles work best?

Opt for “jimmies” sprinkles—those are the long, soft sprinkles that will hold their shape and color when mixed into the ice cream. Try to stay away from the tiny, round nonpareils sprinkles because they normally bleed into the ice cream, which makes the base look less vibrant.

How to make birthday cake ice cream

Prepare the Ice Cream Base: In a large, chilled bowl, mix the sweetened condensed milk and vanilla extract.

Heavy cream: In a separate chilled bowl, whip the heavy cream until stiff peaks form, then fold it into the condensed milk mixture to keep it light and airy.

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Add Cake and Sprinkles: Carefully fold in crumbled cupcake pieces and sprinkles, evenly distributing them.

Freeze: Pour the mixture into a loaf pan or freezer-safe container. Cover with plastic wrap and freeze for 4 hours or until firm.

Serve: Scoop into bowls or cones and add extra sprinkles on top.

Make ahead, storage, and freezing instructions

To make ahead: You can make this easy recipe ahead of time by preparing and freezing until you're ready to serve.

To store: Store leftover ice cream by following freezing instructions.

To freeze: Like normal ice cream, you can freeze in a freezer safe container for up to 4 months. I like to let the ice cream sit at room temperature for a few minutes before trying to scoop and serve.

many scoops of birthday cake ice cream with rainbow sprinkles in a tall, glass dish

Recipe variations

Chocolate twist: Add a swirl of chocolate fudge or chocolate ganache to this homemade ice cream for a decadent twist.
Cookie dough: I love adding chunks of edible cookie dough for an extra flavor and texture boost.
Berry sweet: If you like fruit, consider adding in frozen or fresh berries. Strawberries, blueberries, or raspberries work great and they add an extra pop of color.

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