National Ice Cream Pie Day: Recipes, Tools, and Tips for August 18

National Ice Cream Pie Day falls on August 18 every year, and it's one of the most delightful food holidays on the summer calendar. Whether you prefer a classic chocolate cookie crust loaded with vanilla ice cream or something more adventurous like a s'mores ice cream pie with marshmallows and hot fudge, this day is your excuse to indulge.

Let's walk through ice cream pie recipes, core ingredients, the essential kitchen tools that make prep smooth and safe, and fun ways to celebrate with friends and family.

Key Takeaways

• National Ice Cream Pie Day is celebrated every August 18, making it the perfect reason to create your own ice cream pie at home with minimal effort.
• Most ice cream pie recipes follow a simple no-bake formula: crust, softened ice cream filling, and toppings like caramel sauce, nuts, or sprinkles.
• A sharp Shujin 8" Chef Knife and Shujin 3-piece Paring Knife Set make crushing crusts, slicing fruit, and cutting clean portions of frozen pies significantly easier.
• The 15 Piece Silicone Kitchen Utensil Set handles everything from stirring hot fudge to spreading ice cream and serving each slice without scratching your dishes.
• An Acacia End Grain Cutting Board provides a stable, blade-friendly surface for all your crust prep and garnish work.

What Is National Ice Cream Pie Day? (And When Is It?)

National Ice Cream Pie Day takes place every year on August 18-in 2026, that's a Tuesday. The holiday honors the dessert made by combining ice cream and pie crusts, and people celebrate by eating, baking, or buying ice cream pies.

The origins of National Ice Cream Pie Day are unclear and not officially documented, but the dessert itself likely developed in the mid-20th century in the U.S., once electrical freezers were introduced in 1926, enabling mass ice cream production in home kitchens.

An ice cream pie is exactly what it sounds like: a crust-graham cracker, cookie, or traditional pastry-filled with softened ice cream, frozen solid, then topped with whipped cream, sauces, or crunchy add-ons. Unlike an ice cream cake, which uses cake layers, a cream pie keeps the crust as its foundation.

Ice cream itself has ancient roots: it first appeared in Persia about 2,500 years ago, and Catherine de' Medici brought ice cream to France in 1553. Even the first ice cream cone was introduced at the 1904 World Fair. This cream pie day is one of several national ice cream observances in August, but it focuses specifically on pie à la mode-inspired desserts. Let's get into the practical recipes, ingredients, and tools.

Essential Tools to Make the Perfect Ice Cream Pie

Ice cream pie is simple, but having the right tools makes prep faster and the results cleaner.

• Shujin 8" Chef Knife: The VG-10 Damascus blade with a 12° edge angle crushes cookies and chops nuts for crusts efficiently. When it's time to slice frozen pies, run the blade under warm water and dry it-the razor-sharp edge cuts clean portions without cracking the crust.
• Shujin 3-piece Paring Knife Set: The bird's-beak peeler shapes fruit garnishes, the straight parer slices strawberry and bananas precisely, and the serrated parer handles delicate pastry crust edges without tearing. Each knife features VG-10 steel with 67-layer Damascus cladding and ergonomic G10 handles.
• Acacia End Grain Cutting Board: At 18 × 12 × 1.4 inches, this board gives you room to crush crust ingredients and cut garnishes. The end-grain surface is gentle on blades, naturally resistant to bacteria, and the deep juice groove holds up to 5 ounces-handy when fruit juices or melting ice cream drips.
• 15 Piece Silicone Kitchen Utensil Set: Use the flexible spatula and spreader spatula to spread ice cream smooth into crusts. The egg whisk handles whipped cream. The deep soup ladle pours caramel sauce or fudge topping. The solid turner lifts slices cleanly. Every piece features BPA-free silicone heads rated to 446°F, stainless-steel handles, and non-stick surfaces.

Quick care notes: Hand-wash knives and dry immediately. Wash the acacia board with warm soapy water and air dry. Avoid prolonged direct heat on silicone utensils.

Core Ingredients for Classic and Creative Ice Cream Pies

Most ice cream pie recipes follow the same structure: crust, filling, and toppings. Creative combinations of ice cream and crusts can cater to different tastes and occasions.

Crusts:

• Graham cracker crust: crushed crackers, melted butter, a pinch of brown sugar-best for no-bake
• Chocolate cookie crust or Oreo cookie crust: crushed sandwich cookies with butter-ideal for chocolate or mint chocolate chip fillings
• Baked pastry crust: for apple-pie-style or pumpkin-flavored ice cream pies

Ice cream filling: Ice cream pies can feature any flavor of ice cream. Popular ice cream pie flavors include chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry. Crowd-pleasers like cookies-and-cream or mint chocolate chip work perfectly. Ice cream pies can even mimic traditional pie flavors like pumpkin or lemon meringue by pairing flavored ice cream with matching crusts.

Mix-ins and layers: Fold chopped nuts, cookie pieces, or fruit swirls into softened ice cream using a silicone spatula. Don't over-mix-keeping the texture varied makes each bite interesting.

Toppings: Toppings for ice cream pies can include fudge, nuts, and sprinkles, plus hot fudge or caramel sauce (cool slightly before pouring), whipped cream, toasted coconut, or an espresso drizzle for coffee-flavored pies. For a boozy twist, fold a tablespoon of coffee liqueur or bourbon into the filling-just freeze a bit longer since alcohol softens the texture.

Step-by-Step: How to Make a No-Bake Ice Cream Pie at Home

This method works with almost any ice cream flavor and takes under 30 minutes to assemble. A simple ice cream pie requires a cookie or graham cracker crust, and homemade ice cream pies can be made by using a ready-made crust with ice cream.

1. Prep the crust: Crush graham crackers or cookies on the Acacia cutting board using the flat side of the chef knife. Mix crumbs with melted butter in a bowl, then press firmly into a pie dish using a silicone spoontula. Chill for 15 minutes.
2. Soften the ice cream: Leave your carton on the counter 10–15 minutes until scoopable but not melted. Use the straight parer from the paring knife set to slice any fruit mix-ins. Fold mix-ins into the softened ice cream with a flexible spatula.
3. Assemble layers: Spread the ice cream evenly into the chilled crust. Optionally add a mid-layer of fudge or caramel, then smooth the top with the spreader spatula.
4. Freeze: Cover loosely with plastic wrap or a silicone lid and freeze at least 4 hours-overnight is best. This prevents ice crystals and freezer odors.
5. Serve: Remove from the freezer about 10 minutes before slicing. Run the Shujin chef knife under warm water, wipe dry, and cut with smooth strokes. Use the solid turner to lift each slice onto chilled plates. Garnish with more toppings, fruit, or syrups.

You can celebrate by making an ice cream pie at home-this is the easiest delicious dessert you'll bake (or rather, not bake) all summer.

Fun Ways to Celebrate National Ice Cream Pie Day on August 18

Turn August 18 into a mini ice cream festival for family and friends.

• DIY ice cream pie bar: Chill several crusts ahead of time, set out tubs of different ice cream flavors, and arrange toppings in bowls, each with a utensil from the silicone set for scooping and drizzling. Let everyone build their own favorite ice cream pie.
• Theme stations: Try a pie à la mode station where guests layer warm fruit pie with thin slices of ice cream pie. A kids' station with sprinkles, candy, and a strawberry ice cream pie is always a hit. For adults, a coffee-shop theme pairs coffee ice cream pie with espresso.
• Share online: People often share their ice cream pie creations on social media using the hashtag #IceCreamPieDay. Photograph neat slices on the Acacia cutting board to highlight clean cuts and colorful layers.
• Involve local businesses: Dairy Queen often offers discounts on ice cream cakes around food holidays. Cold Stone Creamery may feature limited-time flavors on this day. Baskin-Robbins is likely to have BOGO deals on ice cream treats. Grocery stores may offer sales on ice cream ingredients for home bakers. Confirmed deals will be updated as August 18 approaches-pick up specialty ice cream from a neighborhood creamery and build your delicious ice cream pie at home with your own crust and toppings.
• Start a tradition: Make each cream pie day a new experiment. Keep notes on what crust, ice cream, and toppings worked best so your recipes evolve year after year.

FAQ: National Ice Cream Pie Day

Here are answers to common questions not fully covered above.

When is National Ice Cream Pie Day this year?

National Ice Cream Pie Day falls on August 18 every year, including August 18, 2026, regardless of the weekday. Mark it on your calendar or set a phone reminder a few days before so you have time to buy ice cream, crust ingredients, and any tools you need to create your ideal frozen treat.

How far in advance can I make an ice cream pie?

Most homemade frozen pies keep well in the freezer for about 5–7 days when tightly wrapped, making it easy to prep ahead of August 18. Store the pie on a flat surface, covered to prevent freezer burn. When ready to serve, slice with a sharp, warmed chef knife to preserve neat edges even after several days.

Can I make a dairy-free or vegan ice cream pie?

Dairy-free and vegan versions work very well using plant-based ice cream varieties (coconut milk, almond milk, or oat milk) and crusts made with vegan butter or coconut oil. The texture may be slightly softer, so freeze for extra time and slice quickly with a sharp knife on a stable cutting board to keep each slice clean.

Do I need special equipment to make an ice cream pie?

No ice cream machine is required-just a pie dish, a freezer, and basic kitchen tools. That said, high-quality knives, a stable cutting board, and silicone utensils make the process smoother and safer. A Shujin 8" Chef Knife, the Shujin Paring Knife Set, the Acacia End Grain Cutting Board, and the 15 Piece Silicone Kitchen Utensil Set cover every task from crust prep to serving.

What's the best way to cut and serve frozen ice cream pie?

Remove the pie from the freezer about 5–10 minutes before serving. Run your chef knife under warm water, dry the blade, and cut with smooth, confident strokes rather than sawing. Transfer each slice with a solid silicone turner to keep the crust intact. Plate on chilled dishes so the ice cream holds its form and doesn't melt too quickly.