Ice Cream Cake

Now, don't laugh at this ice cream cake....I made it in a hurry, with melted ice cream, and was making it really tiny for our family of four...but I wanted to show you the process so I swallowed my pride and took pictures for you. This was more like a "tower" ice cream cake. I've made several ice cream cakes in the past (one of my favorite types of cakes to make) and I assure you they are easy and can turn out beautiful!

2 boxes of ice cream

crushed cookies

cool whip or whipped cream frosting

The easiest way to make an ice cream cake is to buy the boxed ice cream that you can completely open and slice in large slices. (In the pics I used ice cream that came in a carton so it was difficult to work with. I've never done it this way but was in a hurry. I wouldn't recommend it.) First let it sit out to soften for a few minutes (but try to avoid allowing it to melt like in my pictures!). For a rectangle cake (NOT pictured) you would cut the slices into about 4 slices long ways and lay them flat to make a rectangle. Then layer a filling on top. Crushed cookies work best for ice cream cakes because they hold the ice cream layers apart better than a cream filling. You can mix other things with the crushed cookies (like whipped cream or sundae toppings) if you want to. In the pictures I used crushed oreos and then poured caramel sauce over top. Then cut your next box of ice cream into four slices and layer on top. Frost with cool whip or whipped cream frosting. Doing this method will give you a pretty tall 9x13 sized cake.

TIPS:

~The best tip I can give you is to freeze it in-between layers as you build it. Do your first layer and then freeze it. Add the filling and freeze it. Add the top layer of ice cream and then freeze it. Then frost it and freeze it.

~Also, use ice cream flavors that are generally liked by most people. Chocolate chip, chocolate, cookies-n-cream - are all good flavors to use. (In the pictures here, I used Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough on top and Moose Tracks on the bottom).

~You can also do a fruit flavored one by using strawberry ice cream, blueberry cheesecake, or types like that. For the filling, layer with sliced berries or something like Keebler Vienna Finger cookies.

~You can also make ice cream cakes in a round shape by using a cheesecake pan. Line it with cling wrap first so that you will be able to easily get the cake out. Let ice cream soften quite a bit and then press it into the pan to shape the first layer. Freeze and remove from pan. Wrap in cling wrap and freeze until ready to assemble. Press into the round shape your final layer of ice cream and freeze. Remove and put on your filling (crushed cookies, etc.). Place your first round of ice cream on the top and freeze the cake as a whole. After freezing it, frost it.

The bug cake in this post is an ice cream cake made by the above described method. It was decorated with crushed graham crackers for sand.....