This Christmas ice cream cake is a no-bake festive dessert made with ice cream, Maltesers, and white chocolate. Easy, impressive, and perfect for hot Aussie holidays!
This Christmas ice cream cake is pure festive magic — no oven, no complicated steps, just a fun and fuss-free dessert that looks impressive and tastes like summer holidays.
Made with your favourite ice cream, a mountain of Maltesers, a drizzle of white chocolate and a few cheeky Jaffas on top, it’s the perfect centrepiece for your Christmas table (especially if it’s a hot Aussie day and you want to skip the baking!).
It’s a recipe even the kids can help with, and it comes together in no time. The hardest part? Waiting for it to set.
Why you’ll love this Christmas dessert
- Only 4 ingredients – no baking, no stress
- Perfect for an Aussie Christmas – cool, refreshing, and festive
- Totally customisable – choose any ice cream flavour you love
- Show-stopping looks – it’s a holiday table hero
- Make ahead friendly – prep the day before and serve straight from the freezer
How to make Christmas ice cream cake
1. Soften the ice cream
Take 3L of your favourite ice cream out of the freezer and leave it on the bench for about 15 minutes, until soft but not melted.
Tip: While it softens, go check the mail or hang out some washing — multitasking magic.
2. Shape the cake
Scoop the softened ice cream into a bowl that’s slightly smaller than your cake stand (so it turns out in a nice dome shape).
Smooth out the top and tap the bowl gently on the bench to remove air bubbles.
Place in the freezer for at least 1 hour, or until set solid.
3. Turn out the cake
Wet a tea towel with boiling water, then wrap or rub it around the outside of the bowl to loosen the ice cream.
Carefully turn the ice cream dome onto your cake stand or serving plate.
If it starts to melt too quickly, pop it back into the freezer between steps.
4. Decorate
Cover the entire cake in Maltesers (press them in gently so they stick).
Drizzle with 200g melted white chocolate.
Top with 3 Jaffas and a few paper/cardboard leaves for that festive holly look.
5. Serve or freeze
Serve immediately, or return to the freezer until you’re ready to impress your guests.
Slice and enjoy the oohs and aahs at the table!
Christmas Ice Cream Cake
Description
This Christmas ice cream cake is a no-bake festive dessert made with ice cream, Maltesers, and white chocolate. Easy, impressive, and perfect for hot Aussie holidays!
Ingredients
3L of ice cream (your favourite flavour, I used mint choc-chip)
2 large packets of Maltesers
200g white chocolate, melted
3 jaffa chocolate balls (I use Darrell Lea)
Instructions
- Leave your ice cream out on the kitchen bench for 15 minutes so it goes soft. Put a load of washing on, or go and check the mail.
- Place the soft ice cream into a small bowl. It’s a good idea to measure your cake stand, to make sure the cake is going to fit. I used mint choc-chip ice cream because I liked the green for Christmas, but choose your favourite flavour. Or try a few different flavours.
- Place in the fridge for at least an hour to set.
- Wet a tea towel with boiling hot water, and rub over the outside of the bowl {to release the ice cream from the sides of the bowl}. Turn your ice cream out onto your cake stand. Cover in Maltesers. If you’re working on a hot day, you might need to return the cake to the freezer so it doesn’t melt.
- Once completely covered, drizzle with the melted white chocolate and top with the three Jaffas and some cardboard leaves.
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Looks gorgeous but I’d vote spearmint leaves instead of cardboard ones.
I have Qantas points which I am yet to cash in. Doesn’t seem worthwhile to use it to buy an everyday item particular when it seems like you need a million points just for a hamper or case of wine.
They don’t make them anymore. 🙁
I know they were considering bringing them back for a limited edition run. Let me know if you see them anywhere.
I guess points work when you’re going to buy that item anyway – like groceries, petrol etc… and then the points seem like a bonus. ?
Will check out my local supermarket and get back to you. They were there last time I got some but admittedly that was awhile ago now.
I do use the woolies points that convert to dollars off your shop which is nice.
My local IGA at Gumdale has spearmint leaves in the Black & Gold brand.
IGA for the win! Thank you!
This is awesome! Love this idea! Thanks so much!
I’m pretty sure you can still get mint leaves in black & gold or homebrand (you can in some SA stores anyway) They would just top it off perfectly!
Thanks for this!
Now that’s my kind of cake!
So. Much. Yum.
nice, nice nice, thanks for sharing this. And if you can get them, mint leaves lollies (Woolworths do still sell them, I bought some yesterday) instead of the cardboard ones may be nice too. Did you know Coles don’t sell Jaffas anymore either, I was not impressed. Not sure where you’d get them. You could use red skittles I spose or those wild rasberry jelly lollies. Hmmm mint ice cream, with maltesers, delish!
Found the spearmint leaves at woolies. It was there own brand. On special for $1.50