When it’s hot enough to fry an egg on my sidewalk, I don’t want to bake—I want to build. These festive, ridiculously easy ice cream sandwiches come together in minutes and disappear even faster. I’m talking chewy, crispy rice treats hugging a thick scoop of vanilla ice cream, edged with patriotic sprinkles like they’re ready to party. No oven, no stress and just three ingredients—just sweet, chilly satisfaction with a side of red, white, and oooh.
Tools & Equipment
- Parchment paper (these pull-out sheets are so helpful)
- Baking sheet or platter
- Ice cream scoop or sturdy spoon
- Offset spatula or sturdy bowl scraper
- Cellophane or baggies for storing in the freezer
- I like the quality and natural flavors of FANCY sprinkles (Amazon aff) but any red, white & blue variety will work.
Tips for Success
- You can use any flavor ice cream, but vanilla-based kinds work the best, just because of the vanilla flavor combo with the Rice Krispy Treats.
- For less mess and waste, start out with 1/3 cup of sprinkles. Add more to your tray as you use them.
- Buying premade treats will help with making sure both sides of the “sandwich” are the same size. A ruler may help you get the squares close in size if you are making them from scratch.
- Let them sit out on the counter for five or six minutes before chomping in, since you’ll want that crisp texture and chew without too much jaw breaking.
Steps for making July 4th Ice Cream Sandwiches with Rice Krispy Treats
Step 1: Gather your ingredients and set out your ice cream to soften. Prepare a high-sided baking sheet with parchment paper. This will become your work surface and your freezing tray.
Step 2: If you are using store-bought treats, perfect. You’re set. If not, use our recipe here to make your own homemade crisp rice treats.
Step 3: Scoop 1 c of soft ice cream onto one of the treats and evenly spread with a spatula.
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Step 4: Gently press another treat down onto the layer of ice cream and smooth the edges with a spatula or spoon.
Step 5: Working quickly, press and roll each side of the formed sandwich into the sprinkles, then set each sandwich aside. If the ice cream and sprinkles start to slide, re-roll and add to the freezer immediately.
Step 6: Transfer the tray with all of the built sandwiches to the freezer so they can chill and harden, about three hours.
Step 7: Wrap each in cellophane or slide into zipper baggies or enjoy immediately. When ready to eat, leave out for a couple of minutes so the crispy rice treat returns to the nice, chewy texture we all know and love.
4th of July Ice Cream Sandwiches
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Ingredients
- 6 pre-made Rice Krispies treats store-bought or homemade
- 3 cups vanilla ice cream slightly softened
- 1/3 cup FANCY brand patriotic sprinkles red, white & blue or your favorite festive mix
Instructions
- Soften & Scoop: Let the vanilla ice cream sit out for 5–10 minutes to soften slightly. This makes scooping and spreading a breeze. Don’t let it get too soft, or it will be too runny to work with.
- Ready the Work Surface: Place a sheet of parchment onto your small baking tray. Add ½ c sprinkles to the tray and set aside. (You can always add more sprinkles as you go.)
- Build the Sandwich: Place one Rice Krispies treat on a surface prepared with parchment or a baking sheet with high sides. Scoop about 1 cup of vanilla ice cream onto it, then gently press another treat on top to form a sandwich. Don’t squish too hard—just enough to secure it.
- Check Your Work: The ice cream needs to fully come to the edges of the treats; this is where you may need to add more to the edges with your spatula, or even things up as if you were a bricklayer, scraping off extra on one side and adding it where some ice cream might be missing.
- Roll in Sprinkles: Roll the edges of each sandwich in the sprinkles until coated on all sides. Press gently so they stick.
- Freeze to Set: Place the finished sandwiches on a parchment-lined tray. Freeze for at least 3 hours, or until the ice cream is fully firm.
- Serve Cold: Enjoy straight from the freezer if you like a challenge, but a minute or two unwrapped on the counter will help bring back the chewy texture of the treats before diving right in.
- Storage Tips: Wrap them individually in plastic wrap for easy grab-and-go snacking and to keep them fresh. Store in the freezer for a month, or double-seal in zipper bags to help keep air out and they should be good for three months.
The bottom line
When the temps rise, my dessert game chills out. These ice cream sandwiches are my lazy genius of summer sweets—no baking, minimal mess, and maximum crowd-pleasing power. Stock your freezer, then watch your guests melt. Want more no-bake treats? I’ve got you covered!
- 4th of July Dessert Ideas: Simple and Festive
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Beat the heat with these refreshing no-bake dessert recipes, including creamy pies and frozen treats. (Cooking Chew) - Oreo Rice Krispy Treats – Gooey, No-Bake Dessert Bars
A twist on the classic treat, these bars are packed with cookie chunks and drizzled with white chocolate. (Cooking Chew) - Lemon Sherbet No-Bake Pie! Refreshing, sweet and full of no-oven, no fuss goodness. (Cooking Chew)
