Let’s get a few things straight:
1. I’m not a big fan of Cool Whip or any packaged, ready-to-eat foods.
2. I don’t normally take the easy way out when putting together desserts.
3. I’ve come to realize that sometimes taking the easy way out works out really, really well.
With that in mind, I’ll present to you my favorite new recipe (of the 30+ recipes that I prepared on my vacation): Frozen Caramel-Toffee Ice Cream Sandwich Dessert. I happened upon this recipe while blog-hopping one day… and snatched it from the gals at San Diego Cooks. It was the perfect sort of recipe for the 4th of July, which was a day filled with a zillion relatives coming in and out of our beach house. It feeds a TON… a good 24 to 36 servings to be exact, depending on how big you make your slices. This is the perhaps the easiest, most-decadent dessert you’ll ever make.
Here’s the How-To:
Buy one of those extra-deep 13×9-inch disposable foil pans (it’s easiest, and it’s the perfect depth). Place a layer of ice cream sandwiches in the bottom. Cover them with Cool Whip. Drizzle with caramel and chocolate syrup. Sprinkle with toffee bits. Freeze for a bit… then repeat: Another layer of ice cream sandwiches, Cool Whip, and syrups.
Top with crushed Heath or Skor bars. Freeze several hours until firm enough to slice.
We sliced this up and put it into plastic cups for easy serving… put all of the cups on a large tray and passed them around to guests, who snatched them up eagerly.
This simple, simple frozen dessert was a huge hit. It was delicious, decadent and impressive enough to serve up at a party. Guests asked about how to make it it… and you should have seen the looks of amazement on their faces when I explained the process of putting it together. People like the easy stuff.
Additional notes:
*Cut this recipe in half for a smaller gathering.
*There aren’t a whole lot of ways to make this lowfat, but you can use light Cool Whip 
*The depth of the pan is important… it’s a pretty ‘tall’ dessert (4″ or so).
*You’re sure to enjoy this dessert, but a small piece is plenty. Schedule some extra walking into your week to squeeze in room for extra calories. It’s worth it!
This recipe can be found HERE.
——————————————————-
Other delicious frozen summer desserts on the blogs:
RecipeGirl.com: Buster Bars
One Perfect Bite: Ice Cream Crunch Cake
Alice Q Foodie: Lemon Semifreddo Pie with Gingersnap Crust
Mike’s Table: A Round-Up of a Whole Bunch of Frozen Desserts
La Cuisine d’Helene: Frozen Peanut Butter Pie
51 Comments
Oh yum! Our home has been so dessert deprived lately! This looks awesome!
[Reply]
…a decadent treat and so super easy!! Is the Cool Whip that you buy over there already sweetened?
[Reply]
This would be great for an upcoming church party!
[Reply]
OMG! I love how simple this is, yet it looks impressive! Printing it out RIGHT NOW!
[Reply]
I saw this somewhere a while ago too, but forgot to bookmark it. So happy you’ve reminded me! And it looks just wonderful…. tall and cold and gooey all at once. Yum.
~Michelle
[Reply]
MMMMMM,…This is truly a sublime dessert!!
A real keeper!
[Reply]
Wow, that looks good! I am with you, not a fan of cool whip or pre-packaged items, but this one looks perfect for a crowd!
[Reply]
Yeah I saw a recipe just like that when I used to get Kraft Magazine. It looks so spectacular, and it’s easy with the sandwiches. It’s impossible to not love this
[Reply]
For a quick simple dessert you can’t go wrong with this. Love it especially since I prefer the simple quick easy desserts. Although the more I bake the more I am starting to realize it is not witchcraft and black magic voodoo
It is 9:30 and question of the day is it to early to grabbing a vending machine ice cream sandwich???
[Reply]
Love this dish! Now I just need a big group or party to make it for. Gotta sometimes love the easy way. Stumbled.
[Reply]
This is bookmarked for my next summer party!
[Reply]
I love ice cream sandwiches!
[Reply]
I would have been happy with just the ice cream sandwiches
Now there is a store bought treat that I could make myself sick on way too easily 
[Reply]
Oh my, that looks delicious! It’s only 10 am and I am now craving dessert!
I am a first time viewer and can’t wait to explore the rest of your blog!
[Reply]
OMG!!! I cannot believe how good this dessert looks. Great pictures! My grocery list is made & the store will be my first stop after work for the ingredients. Yeah!! What a treat for my family!
[Reply]
WOW! So decadent and has all things I love. I’ll have to give this one a try if I can find ice cream sandwiches that aren’t processed with peanuts (my 4 yr old is allergic).
[Reply]
Wow! So decadent, and I’m a sucker for ice cream sandwiches.
[Reply]
Holy YUM Lori! These look incredible. I am not showing these to my boys, they’ll want them right now! Great post.
[Reply]
First if you DID like coolwhip or semi-homemade shortcuts I would still come visit you!
Anyone who says that they can’t abide by them doesn’t have a full time job, three kids, and all that goes along with them! I wholeheartedly agree with #3 sometimes #1 & #2 are okay and especially yummy.
I actually make something similar that I found a couple of years ago on the Kraft website. Your toffee version looks even better!
~ingrid
[Reply]
well. this is just brilliant. although i love those store-bought ice cream sammies, i hate the gunk they leave on your fingers. this concoction solves that AND adds so much more. bravo, and bravo.
[Reply]
This looks wonderful. It’s hard to beat simple and delicious. Thanks so much for the link to my blog. It’s appreciated.
[Reply]
There are no words for this. OMG sums it up though.
[Reply]
OMG! Ha! Beyond the beyonds. A sugar rush indeed, but it’d be worth it.
[Reply]
I’m with you on your three points (esp. the cool whip one! gross!) but I’ve also had this dessert before… at first skeptical but then completely won over! Delicious!
[Reply]
We got this recipe at a family camp this summer but modified wit to suit our peanut butter and chocolate desires! We did a layer of ice cream sandwiches, followed by Reese’s Peanut Butter cup Ice Cream, Ice Cream sandwiches, then Coolwhip and crushed Peanut Butter cups. It was might tasty. WE thought we could also do Mint Chip sandwiches/Ice Cream topped with Crushed Andes Mints!
[Reply]
That looks so good right now! It is not really that hot, but for some reason I am craving something frozen
[Reply]
My Word. I’m speechless. That is incredibly awesome!!!
[Reply]
Ahahaha. I am so with you for all three of those statements
[Reply]
whoa, that’s very impressive looking. You should definitely check out the Hillcrest farmer’s market. So many great veggies and good company!
[Reply]
Oh my, another recipe I have to try. That must be the best summer dessert. Looks sooo good.
Thanks for the link to my recipe!
[Reply]
yum!! this will be great for a bbq we’re throwing later this month!!
[Reply]
Holy smokes! That looks amazing.
[Reply]
YES, YES, YES, PLEASE!!!
[Reply]
This looks so scrumptious! I’ve seen lots of cakes like this, but this one looks the best!
[Reply]
Ooh, yum! This definitely looks like a once in a very long while kind of treat!
[Reply]
I’m with you, most things I make from scratch but sometimes I need to take the easy way out. We love this ice cream cake and have been making it for a while, mom just made one with orange sherbet as the center layer and topped it with whipped cream for a not so heavy version.
[Reply]
I’m one of them.
Like. Easy. Desserts.
LL
[Reply]
There goes my diet – this is just way too good to pass up.
[Reply]
Easy looks darn good to me!! My family would devour this!!
[Reply]
I am right there with ya on the Cool Whip thing… but you’ve convinced me! I will be making this one, thanks!
[Reply]
We don’t have Cool Whip in Britain but I’m damned if that’s gonna stop me when it comes to a frozen caramel ice cream sandwich creation. I’ll think of something!
[Reply]
I’ve heard of this dessert, but never made it. Yours looks amazing! And, you’re right, sometimes the easy desserts really are the biggest hits!
[Reply]
Wow look at those gorgeous layers!! yum yum!
[Reply]
This looks quick and easy AND delicious! I know it would be a huge hit at BBQ!
[Reply]
I made this for my friends last night and they loved it! Thanks for the great idea.
[Reply]
Wow, just wow. This looks absolutely delicious… When I saw the picture at foodgawker I was already drooling…
We don’t have cool whip in my country, do you think replacing the cool whip with whipped cream or mousse would work?
[Reply]
RecipeGirl Reply:
August 3rd, 2009 at 10:00 AM
Emma: Yes, whipped cream would probably be an appropriate replacement for the Cool Whip (as long it it freezes ok!)
[Reply]
I will have to hide this one from my wife!! Could be trouble
[Reply]
This looks like a fun dessert! I’m not a fan of Cool Whip either because of the ingredients its made with. I have started using TruWhip. I get it at Whole Foods. Same taste, minus the bad ingredients.
[Reply]
I made this dessert for my family last night. WOW!!! It was so good. I did change it a bit – I used kitkat bars & snickers bars cut up and did half of one kind & half of the other. YUMMMMM!! Thanks so much for sharing! My family thinks a ROCK!
[Reply]
I have to try this one out! I have heard of it but have yet to try this!
[Reply]
I made this and blogged about it today…it was delicious!!!
[Reply]