Easiest Ice Cream Cake

This is the easiest ice cream cake you’ll ever make- and I’m so excited to pass this recipe along!

I wish I could take credit for this idea {because I think it’s genius}, but, in fact, I saw it in a magazine a couple months ago. In addition to being a simple last minute dessert, I think this would be a creative way to serve a cake with ice cream- put a slice of ice cream on a slice of cake.

• 1 Half gallon carton of your favorite ice cream {the rectangular cartons}
• 1 Jar of your favorite chocolate sauce, caramel sauce, or butterscotch
• A variety of garnishes: mini peanut butter cups, chocolate chips, Oreos, sprinkles, pretzels, nuts, etc.

1. Make a space in your freezer that will fit the platter you are going to place the cake on. 
2. Place the platter and the ice cream carton in the refrigerator for 30 minutes. This will ensure that the ice cream is very very cold and that the platter is also chilled.
3. Remove carton of ice cream and platter from the freezer.
4. Open up the ice cream carton, then, using scissors or a small knife, cut the carton off of the block of ice cream.
5. Place the ice cream block, upside down, on the platter.
6. Place the entire platter back into the freezer for 10 minutes.
7. Remove the ice cream from the freezer and drizzle your chocolate sauce over the top of the cake.
8. Place the cake back in the freezer for 10 minutes. Repeat steps 7 & 8 until you have the desired amount of chocolate sauce over the ice cream block.
9. Lastly, place the garnishes all over the top and around the bottom of the cake.

For serving, slice the cake into 1/2″ slices.

Make a cake out of Ice Cream Sandwiches

image via Real Simple Magazine

The summer heat has hit Houston and it’s just barely even June. In an effort to stay cool, I started looking for some easy ice cream desserts that would be fun to serve this summer. One dessert that kept coming up in my search was an Ice Cream Sandwich Cake. Here is a recipe from Real Simple that is easy to prepare and will be an instant crowd pleaser. For more variety, try using Neapolitan ice cream sandwiches, butterscotch chips, or crushed oreos- the combinations are endless.

Ingredients
1 cup heavy cream
2 tablespoons confectioners’ sugar
6 ice cream sandwiches (3.5 ounces each)
1/2 cup chocolate chips, chopped

Directions
1. Line an 8½-by-4½-inch loaf pan with a piece of wax paper or parchment, allowing the paper to hang over both long sides.
2. In a large bowl, beat the cream and sugar until stiff peaks form.
3. In the bottom of the pan, arrange 3 of the sandwiches in a single layer, cutting them to fit as necessary. Spread with half the whipped cream. Repeat with the remaining sandwiches and whipped cream.
4. Sprinkle the top of the cake with the chopped chocolate chips. Cover with plastic wrap and freeze until firm, at least 1 hour and up to 1 week.
5. Holding both sides of the paper overhang, lift the cake out of the pan and transfer to a platter. Discard the paper and serve.

By Jenni Hakensen, July 2008 Real Simple Magazine