Viennetta Ice Cream Cake

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Serve up this timeless Viennetta ice cream cake for dessert this summer. It includes creamy vanilla ice cream decadently layered with both chocolate and butterscotch magic shell.

viennetta ice cream cake

If you haven’t had Viennetta ice cream cake before, you are missing out. I like to refer to it as an ice cream lasagna. Layers of creamy ice cream and a crunchy magic shell layer. It’s a popular dessert that Breyers made years ago back in the 80s. The original Viennetta looked like a fancy cake log but it was made with ice cream with a crispy chocolate layer all throughout the dessert.

So each bite you get creamy ice cream with crispy sweet chocolate. There is something about that crispy chocolate layer in this layered Viennetta dessert that leaves you wanting one more bite. Bet you want to give it a go now, right?

Here are a few reasons why I think you need to immediately make my homemade Viennetta ice cream cake recipe:

  • It’s so quick and easy to make. Like, it will take you no longer than 5 minutes to assemble.
  • Viennetta is a classic dessert that guests will love.
  • It’s basically fancy ice cream and who can say no to an elevated ice cream dessert?
  • You only need three ingredients: vanilla ice cream, chocolate magic shell, and butterscotch magic shell.

Okay, so now I’ve convinced you to give it a go, let’s get layering!

If you love Ice Cream as much as I do make sure you try out some of these other recipes like Oreo Ice Cream CakeIce Cream GrahamwichesStrawberry Ice Cream PieDeep Fried Ice Cream MilkshakesNo Churn Ice Cream With Fresh Blackberries and Mint Oreo Ice Cream Pie

What You’ll Need to Make Viennetta Ice Cream Cake:

ingredients for viennetta ice cream cake

Recipe Ingredients

  • Some good quality vanilla ice cream
  • Magic shell (one or two flavors, up to you)
  • Waxed paper
  • Brand new (reserved for kitchen use only) hair pick

Helpful Kitchen Tools

How To Make My Homemade Viennetta Ice Cream Cake:

line bread pan

Line a loaf pan with waxed paper. This will help you get your loaf out.

spread 1/3 of ice cream into bottom of loaf pan

Spread 1/3 of your ice cream into the bottom of the loaf pan.

run the pick along the ice cream to make grooves

Run the pick along it to form deep grooves. These will fill in with our yummy magic shell.

add the magic shell to your viennetta ice cream cake

Pour a layer of magic shell over and allow it to harden a minute.

add another 1/3 of the ice cream to the cake

Add another 1/3 of your ice cream and dig grooves into it with your pick again.

pour magic shell

Pour magic shell over that as well.

rest of ice cream and grooves

Now add the rest of our ice cream and dig grooves into it as well.

final layer of magic shell

Top this final layer with a drizzle of the chocolate magic shell.

Immediately cover the ice cream cake with aluminum foil and place it in the freezer until firm.

completed viennetta ice cream cake

When ready to serve, allow it to sit out for about five minutes, and then remove it from the pan using the waxed paper.

slice and serve

Remove the waxed paper and place it on a platter to slice and serve.

slice and serve viennetta ice cream cake

Storage

Your ice cream can store for 3 to 4 months in the freezer. Just make sure to place it in a proper container for the freezer.

I recommend placing your ice cream cake on the back shelf, that way if you open and close the freezer it does not melt the ice cream.

Recipe Notes

  • Using a fork or pick to create ridges into the ice cream helps to create that classic groove look from the ice cream and chocolate layer of the cake.
  • You can make homemade magic shell if you want, but you can also buy it for about a dollar. No sense in making extra work for yourself!
  • You can use any flavor of the magic shell to create a different flavor pairing. The original Viennetta ice cream cake did not have butterscotch so go with 2 bottles of chocolate if you want to be more traditional.
  • Work somewhat fast, as the ice cream will melt pretty quickly once you get started assembling your dessert.
  • For a fancy finish, add frozen whipped topping (like Cool Whip) and a sprinkle of cocoa powder for the iconic look. However, I’d only add this if I was eating it immediately.
  • You can also add fun mix-in items to add flavor. Just add them over the magic shell once it hardens. 
    • Crush up and sprinkle with cookies like Oreo cookies.
    • Add in some chopped candy bars.
    • Add chopped nuts like roasted hazelnuts or almonds.
    • Use a different flavor of magic shell.
    • Swap the vanilla ice cream with chocolate ice cream, coffee ice cream, or any other ice cream flavor. You could also do one layer of vanilla, one layer of chocolate, and one layer of strawberry ice cream to make a Neopolitan Viennetta ice cream cake.

Recipe FAQs

What ice cream should I choose?

Quality ice cream is key in this Viennetta cake. The reason being is the ice cream is going to be a stand-out flavor. So reach for a creamy and delicious vanilla ice cream for this dessert.

I suggest Blue Bunny (this is the best I have tasted in a while) or something from Bluebell if you have that where you are. Edy’s also makes some very good ice cream and a lot of people swear by Purity. However, I haven’t had a chance to taste any of theirs yet so I’m just sticking to the ones I know as recommendations. Just go for the absolute best in your area.

You may also like these ice cream recipes:

Oreo Ice Cream Cake

Walnuts in Syrup For Ice Cream Sundaes

No Churn Ice Cream With Fresh Blackberries

Deep Fried Ice Cream Milkshakes

Ice Cream Grahamwiches

Strawberry Ice Cream Pie

viennetta ice cream cake

Homemade Viennetta Ice Cream Cake

Serve up this timeless Viennetta ice cream cake (vanilla ice cream layered with both chocolate and butterscotch magic shell) for dessert this summer.
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: cake, ice cream, viennetta
Servings: 4
Calories: 834kcal

Ingredients

  • 1.5 - 1.75 quarts good quality vanilla ice cream
  • 1 bottle chocolate magic shell
  • 1 bottle butterscotch magic shell*

Instructions

  • Soften ice cream slightly by allowing it to sit out for 5-10 minutes but no longer.
    1.5 - 1.75 quarts good quality vanilla ice cream
  • Line the loaf pan with waxed paper pieces that are long enough to hang over the sides.
  • Spread 1/3 of the ice cream in the bottom of the loaf pan. Make grooves in it with the pick. Squirt chocolate magic shell over top, just enough to cover. Allow it to sit for one minute to harden.
    1 bottle chocolate magic shell
  • Repeat the process using the butterscotch magic shell as topping on the second layer and then repeat once more, ending with just a drizzling of chocolate magic shell on top.
    1 bottle butterscotch magic shell*
  • Immediately cover with aluminum foil and place in the freezer until frozen solid.
  • To serve, remove the loaf pan and allow it to sit for five minutes. Grab both sides of waxed paper and pull the loaf out of the pan. Discard the waxed paper and place the loaf on a platter. Carefully cut and then serve.

Nutrition

Calories: 834kcal
Tried this recipe?Mention @southernplate or tag #southernplate!

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119 Comments

  1. It’s seven years in the future, flying cars are not a thing, but social media has become more aggravating than ever, and you will not BELIEVE who is president!

    Thank you, Christy, for posting this recipe! It was certainly a childhood classic in my house, along with the weekly visits to Blockbuster and Dunkin’ Donuts.

    Btw, it isn’t just you nor your imagination: When Breyers was sold to Unilever, they changed the recipe to cut costs, going from the internationally-famous “just 4 ingredients” recipe to one packed with so many preservatives it makes me ill to think about it. Their Wikipedia article explains it more in-depth: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breyers#Ice_Cream

    Thanks again!

  2. My husband and I always enjoy reading your articles and making your recipes! On our way to Huntsville today, I read him this article just because I knew he would get a kick out of the memories you shared. He and I are both children of the 80’s. I definitely would like to try this and see what my kids think about it. I may blow their mind since they aren’t familiar with it! Lol Thanks for sharing!

  3. I Just ran across this article and could so feel myself giving u several Hi FIVES! Being born in 81, I have so much love and admiration for the 80s, no era was better in my mind, especially when you add THIS RECIPE! You are the official BOMB! God Bless you Woman!! All the the Queen LOL!

  4. I’ve been searching all over this country for a good box of vienetta. I even asked some English grocers if they were able to ship it all the way to Texas… None were willing! Thank you so very much for this simple and quick “recipe”. I shall use it to feed my brood on the first night (and maybe all the other nights) of Chanuka! Cheers!

  5. A lot of comments so this might have been mentioned already.

    If you live on the West Coast, the best ice cream is Tillamook. It’s made out of Tillamook, Oregon and the best.

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