Place the platter that you'll be building the cake on in the freezer before you begin.
Be sure to have all your ingredients prepped, ready, and warmed before you begin. Time is of the essence when working with ice cream!
It's best to use stabilized whipped cream for this recipe, such as Cool Whip or homemade stabilized whipped cream. That way, the whipped cream holds its structure inbetween layers.
If your house is warm, you can place the cake in the freezer for 15-20 minutes after you build each layer. This way, when you spread the hot fudge onto the next layer, it doesn't smush down the first layer.
We used regular sized vanilla ice cream sandwiches. You can mix and match the flavors of your sandwiches if preferred. It's also just as good when using the jumbo sandwiches!