• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
My Sequined Life logo
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • About
  • Contact
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipe Index
  • About
  • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×
    Home » Recipes » Cake & Pie

    Flag Ice Cream Cake

    Published: Jun 7, 2023 by Alyssa · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe Share via Email
    An American Flag depicted in berries on top of an ice cream sandwich cake.

    Enjoy two summertime favorites in one with a flag ice cream cake! Blueberries and raspberries depict the American flag in classic flag cake decoration, with the easiest layered ice cream sandwich cake underneath. A perfect no-bake Fourth of July dessert.

    An American Flag depicted in berries on top of an ice cream sandwich cake.

    Flag cake is a ubiquitous Fourth of July dessert, but what if its design went atop an ice cream sandwich cake? And how about adding something cookies and cream in there? What about pudding mix? Clearly I let my inner child run wild making this American flag ice cream cake.

    If you're unfamiliar with an ice cream sandwich cake, two layers of ice cream sandwiches are layered with Cool Whip in a 9-by-13-inch pan, often with fun flavor additions like cookie crumbs, chopped candy, chocolate syrup, etc. In our house it's known as "the last name cake" after the last name of our friends who would bring it over for summer get-togethers.

    As usual I doctored a few things up in this patriotic version, firstly: no Cool Whip. Thinking of stabilized whipped cream which uses unflavored gelatin, I substituted in instant pudding mix with similar results. While instant pudding mix doesn't actually have gelatin, its high cornstarch content works in the same way to stabilize homemade whipped cream so it goes the distance. Plus it adds sweetness and flavor.

    What results is a SUPER simple and festive dessert that serves a crowd.

    Why This Recipe Works

    • Whole raspberries release less liquid than sliced strawberries, preventing a messy design.
    • While you can absolutely use frozen whipped topping like Cool Whip, I like to make a homemade substitute using cream, powdered sugar, and instant pudding mix. It doesn't deflate or get watery at all.
    • Most of this cake can be made ahead of time (with some tips below).

    Recipe Ingredients

    This flag ice cream cake is made in a 9-by-13-inch pan. Use one with at least 2-inch tall sides, though a deeper-dish one works, too. Because this cake is stored in the freezer, make sure the kind you use is of a freezer-safe material.

    Flag ice cream cake ingredients in separate containers labeled with their names.
    • Ice Cream Sandwiches: You will need 25 standard rectangular ice cream sandwiches to fill the pan snugly from edge to edge, though you can certainly get away with just using 24 and centering the cake a smidgen. Most packages come in 6- or 12-counts.
    • Cream: Heavy whipping cream has a fat percentage of at least 36% if your supermarket options aren't labeled like this.
    • Powdered Sugar: To sweeten the whipped cream. Sift so it doesn't leave clumps.
    • Instant Pudding: The starches help set up the whipped cream and seriously delay any deflating or weeping. Make sure you use instant pudding and not cook-and-serve as the packaging looks very similar.
    • Oreos: Crushed up, these are mixed into the whipped cream layer between the sandwiches. Try different flavor varieties (mint, chocolate, peanut butter) for a fun twist!
    • Fruit: Blueberries form the blue background for the stars section, while raspberries create the stripes. Use fresh berries and not frozen and thawed ones as they'll bleed color.

    Step-by-Step Instructions

    There are three main components of this flag ice cream cake recipe: making the whipped cream (can be skipped if using Cool Whip), assembling the cake, and decorating the top. Most steps feature a make-ahead option.

    Making the Whipped Cream

    Whip cold cream with powdered sugar and dry instant pudding mix until it reaches the "firm peaks" stage. Remove half to a separate bowl and stir in the chopped Oreo cookies.

    All of the whipped cream in a bowl (left) and half separated and mixed with Oreo cookies (right).

    Assembling the Cake Layers

    1. Arrange 12 (or 12 and a half if you really want a snug fit) ice cream sandwiches in a layer on the bottom of the pan.
    2. Top with the Oreo whipped cream.
    3. Add another layer of ice cream sandwiches. Freeze cake for at least one hour.
    4. When ready to serve, spread the regular whipped cream over top.
    The steps of layering an ice cream sandwich cake in a pan.

    Decorating the Flag

    Arrange 36 blueberries in a square shape in the top left, then lay the raspberries on their sides to form the stripes. Aligning the raspberries all in the same direction makes things look neat.

    Note - The ice cream sandwiches will naturally begin to melt as you unwrap them and assemble the cake. Freezing the cake for an hour or so before adding the top cream and berries allows everything to set up again. This extra frozen ice cream cake allows you time to add the top whipped cream and berries without stress. Plus (IMO) the berries look best when served fresh.

    An American Flag cake design in blueberries and raspberries on ice cream cake.

    Recipe Tips and Tricks

    • Using a metal pan, which retains the cold well, slows down melting when slicing and serving.
    • Lining the bottom of the pan with two layers of parchment paper makes cleaner work of serving and works well to prevent inadvertant scratches.
    • Stirring the crushed Oreo cookies into the whipped cream (versus sprinkling them on top) is recommended to allow the top layer of sandwiches to stick to the rest of the cake.
    • Hold off on adding the top whipped cream until after the one hour freeze as the berries won't stick to it if it's frozen.
    • Be sure to dry the berries off the best you can. Excess moisture can lead to color bleeding onto the white whipped cream.
    • Make room ahead of time in your freezer so you can pop the pan back in there at any point during the process if you're afraid the ice cream sandwiches are getting too melty.
    A side view of the sliced frozen cake showing the layers.

    More Summertime Desserts

    • A forkful of cake laying next to a piece on a plate.
      Cannoli Icebox Cake
    • Ice cream sundaes in small bowls next to a spoon.
      Deconstructed Drumstick Ice Cream Sundae
    • A mound of ice cream in a metal scoop resting in the ice cream container.
      Double Chocolate Mint Chip Ice Cream
    • A bowl with several small scoops of ice cream with a spoon.
      Lemon Coconut Ice Cream with Toasted Macadamia Nuts (Dairy-Free)

    If you’ve enjoyed this recipe, I’d love for you to leave a star rating in the recipe card and/or a comment review below!

    An American Flag depicted in berries on top of an ice cream sandwich cake.

    Flag Ice Cream Cake

    Enjoy two summertime favorites in one with a flag ice cream cake! Blueberries and raspberries depict the American flag in classic flag cake decoration, with the easiest layered ice cream sandwich cake underneath. A perfect no-bake Fourth of July dessert.
    No ratings yet
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Cake
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 40 minutes minutes
    Chill Time: 1 hour hour
    Total Time: 1 hour hour 40 minutes minutes
    Servings: 24 slices
    Calories: 180kcal
    Author: Alyssa

    Ingredients

    • 3 cups heavy whipping cream (see Cool Whip substitution note)
    • ⅓ cup confectioners' sugar sifted
    • 5 Tablespoons dry instant white chocolate or vanilla pudding mix (not cook-and-serve)
    • 1 cup finely-chopped Oreo cookies (about 8 cookies)
    • 25 ice cream sandwiches (can get away with 24)
    • 1 half-pint package fresh blueberries dried very well
    • 2-3 half-pint packages fresh raspberries dried very well
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    To Make Whipped Cream

    • Pour cream into a mixing bowl and add sifted confectioners' sugar and dry instant pudding mix. Beat on medium-high speed for several minutes until fluffed up and firm peaks have formed.
    • Transfer half of the whipped cream to a separate bowl and fold in the chopped Oreo cookie pieces. Cover the plain whipped cream bowl with tight-fitting plastic wrap and refrigerate.

    To Assemble Cake

    • Line the bottom of a 9-by-13 inch pan with two sheets of parchment paper to prevent scratches. Arrange 12 ½ (just 12 if using 24) ice cream sandwiches next to one another on the bottom as the first layer, slicing them as needed to completely cover the bottom.
    • Spread the Oreo whipped cream in an even layer on top of the sandwiches.
    • Arrange the remaining ice cream sandwiches in a layer on top of the Oreo whipped cream. Wrap the top of the pan with plastic wrap and freeze for an hour (or longer if needed).

    To Decorate and Serve

    • When ready to decorate and serve, pat berries dry with a paper towel. Get them all prepped and ready to go before taking the cake out of the freezer to decorate efficiently.
    • Spread the remaining reserved whipped cream in an even layer on top of the ice cream sandwiches. Arrange the blueberries in a square formation at the top left of the cake, then lay raspberries on their sides to form the stripes. Serve right away.

    Notes

    Cool Whip Substitution - As cream doubles in volume when whipped, look to use around 6 cups of Cool Whip if substituting. A 16-ounce container should do it. Omit the confectioners' sugar and pudding mix.
    Pudding Mix - To really nitpick, white chocolate will likely be the whitest pudding mix, followed by regular vanilla. I have used french vanilla by accident before and while it's totally fine and no one noticed, it has an ever-so-slight warmer hue.
    Making the Cake Ahead - You can assemble and decorate the cake, wrap in plastic wrap, and freeze. The cake will get very firm and will need to sit for a brief period of time before slicing and serving. The berries will take on a frosty appearance as they thaw.
    Leftovers: Wrap leftover slices of cake tightly in plastic wrap and freeze in an air-tight container or freezer bag.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1slice | Calories: 180kcal | Carbohydrates: 21.9g | Protein: 1.8g | Fat: 9.6g | Saturated Fat: 5.2g | Cholesterol: 29mg | Sodium: 115mg | Potassium: 36mg | Fiber: 0.9g | Sugar: 12.9g | Calcium: 24mg
    Tried this Recipe?Tag @mysequinedlife - I love to see what you're making!

    Nutritional information is provided as an estimate. As it can vary due to many factors (brands used, quantities, etc.), we cannot guarantee its accuracy.

    Food Safety and Nutrition Disclaimer
    « Lemon Bars with Graham Cracker Crust
    Shrimp and Corn Chowder »
    • Facebook
    • Email

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    A picture of a woman smiling with a text overlay reading well, hey there.

    Hi! I’m Alyssa and welcome to my food blog. Here you can find a variety of food and drink recipes, running the gamut from better-for-you main dishes to holiday fare, and from lighter bites to some serious desserts. All with the occasional cocktail recipe thrown in for good measure, too. ♥ Learn more →

    As Featured In...

    A collage of publication logos.

    Simple, Tested Basics

    • All of the taco seasoning ingredients poured into a bowl before mixing together.
      The Best Homemade Taco Seasoning
    • Well-roasted sweet potato cubes on a sheet pan.
      Oven Roasted Sweet Potatoes
    • Roasted broccoli on a sheet pan.
      Oven Roasted Frozen Broccoli
    • A wooden spoon scooping caramelized onions in a saucepan.
      How to Caramelize Onions
    • Baked croutons on a rimmed baking sheet.
      How to Make Croutons
    • A ball of pizza dough on a wooden cutting board.
      Easy Homemade Pizza Dough
    • A close-up of an air fryer baked potato served with a pat of butter and chives.
      Air Fryer Baked Potato
    • Three whole roasted garlic heads on a plate.
      How to Roast Garlic

    Popular Recipes

    • Shredded buffalo chicken in the Instant Pot with a serving spoon.
      Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken
    • Peanut butter cookies on a sheet of parchment paper.
      Healthy Peanut Butter Cookies
    • A plate of Italian turkey meatballs with marinara dipping sauce.
      Italian Baked Turkey Meatballs
    • A serving bowl of collard greens.
      Southern Instant Pot Collard Greens
    • Iced anise cookies lined up on a wire rack.
      Italian Anise Cookies
    • Shredded cooked chicken in buffalo sauce in a slow cooker.
      Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • About Me
    • Contact

    Policies

    • Privacy Policy & Disclosure
    • Accessibility Statement

    More

    • Recipe Index
    • Dinner Hall of Fame
    • Instant Pot Recipes
    • Air Fryer Favorites

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2013 - 2023 My Sequined Life