Delicious layers of peppermint ice cream and Oreo cookies make up this fun holiday dessert. Kids will have fun adding extra toppings while making this festive treat.
This recipe is for my Alpha Chi sisters from back in our college days. <3
Peppermint Surprise layers an Oreo crust with peppermint ice cream and was, I dare to say, one of the favorite dishes served at our house. On a dinner night with Peppermint Surprise on the menu, you were sure to see the dining room packed!
Every few years, usually in December, we all start thinking about recreating this treasured dessert. We’ve put all our memories together (through lots of back and forth messages on Facebook) and recreated Peppermint Surprise to enjoy and share with our families.
This refreshing dessert is simple to make with Oreo cookies and peppermint ice cream. I’ve seen similar recipes with cool whip as well, and while I’m 90% sure ours did not include this, I’m leaving 10% wiggle room in my memory and including it here as an optional layer (it’s delicious with or without). It’s fun recreating recipes from years ago with so much left to the imagination!
This dish is equally delicious with peppermint ice cream, or mint chocolate chip. Both versions were staples in our dining room, and the green peppermint surprise was often served outside the holiday season. If you can’t find peppermint ice cream, fear not! Just grab some mint chip and you’re good to go!
How to make peppermint surprise
- Start by setting out your ice cream to soften while you make the crust.
- Then, take about half a package of Oreo cookies, and crush these until they are in a fine crumb. Then mix with melted butter and press into a baking dish or pan to make the crust.
- Next, gently spoon over the ice cream and spread to cover the crust.
- If you are adding the cool whip, spread this layer on gently over the ice cream. Finally, top with the remaining Oreos after crumbing them into pieces.
- For extra festive fun, add crushed peppermints or a drizzle of chocolate sauce. Even sprinkles would be fun!
- Finally set the dish back into the freezer for at least an hour to set.
- Once solid, cut into squares and serve!
As you can see, this is a simple dessert that is a lot of fun to make! Kids will have a blast sprinkling the cookies on the top and adding any extra decorations you have on hand – think crushed peppermints, candy canes, and sprinkles! I know Finn loved sprinkling over the Oreos and candy canes here…he was fully encrusted in peppermint pieces by the time we were finished!
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Peppermint Surprise
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings 1x
- Category: dessert
- Method: no bake
- Cuisine: dessert
Description
Delicious layers of peppermint ice cream and Oreo cookies make up this fun holiday dessert. Kids will have fun adding extra toppings while making this festive treat.
Ingredients
1 package Oreos, divided
2 Tbsp unsalted butter, melted
1/4 to 1/2 gallon peppermint ice cream, softened
Optional:
1 1/2 cup cool whip
Crushed candy canes or peppermints
Sprinkles
Candy canes
Chocolate sauce
Instructions
- Start by setting out your ice cream to soften while you make the crust.
- Take about half a package of Oreo cookies (approx 18 cookies), and crush these until they are in a fine crumb.
- In a bowl, mix cookie crumbs with melted butter and press into a 8×10 or 9×12 baking dish or pan to make the crust.
- Next, gently spoon over the softened ice cream and spread to cover the crust. I used about 4-6?? cups of ice cream, a little less than 1/2 gallon because I used a smaller 8×10 pan (and also Dave and I ate some of the ice cream before we decided to use it for this recipe haha), but I imagine a 9×12 could handle about a 1/2 gallon, so it’s up to you how much to use. You’ll want a layer of ice cream about 1 inch thick give or take.
- If you are adding the cool whip, spread this layer on gently over the ice cream.
- Crush the remaining Oreos into rough pieces and place on top.
- Add any additional toppings you like at this step, or when serving.
- Place the dish back into the freezer for at least an hour to set.
- Once solid, cut into 12 squares and serve!
Keywords: dessert, holiday, peppermint, peppermint surprise, oreo, ice cream, no bake, easy dessert
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