Did I ever tell you I used to work at an ice cream shop in high school? One of my favorite things to do there was making and decorating ice cream cakes. When you try to buy one at the grocery store or your favorite ice cream shop, they can run anywhere over $25 dollars. What if I told you they are actually really easy to make at home, and just as delicious?
Today is my birthday, and to celebrate I made this homemade chocolate ice cream cake. I made the chocolate cake from scratch, using this chocolate birthday cake recipe, and then filled the middle layer with my favorite Tillamook ice cream flavor, Udderly Chocolate, which has white and milk chocolate swirled together and chunks of chocolate mixed in. It is easiest if you use a springform pan, but if you don’t have one a regular cake pan with parchment paper will work just fine. *NOTE* If you use a 10-inch springform pan, you will need to use the chocolate cake recipe as is, but if you use a regular 8-inch cake pan, you only need to cut the recipe in half and use one cake pan (you will cut the cake into two layers).
- *NOTE: use half of this recipe if using 8-inch cake pan, and full recipe for 10-inch springform pan
- 2 cups all-purpose flour, plus 2 tbsp for cake pan
- ¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1¾ cups sugar
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup milk
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup boiling water
- 4 cups Tillamook Udderly Chocolate ice cream (or your favorite ice cream flavor)
- 2 cups chocolate frosting
- Chocolate sprinkles, for decorating
- Grease one 8-inch cake pan OR one 10-inch springform pan with cooking spray or butter.
- Add 2 tbsp flour to the cake/springform pan, and rotate like a steering wheel over a sink until the flour completely coats the pan. Shake out excess flour into the sink.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Add flour, cocoa powder, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt to a standalone mixer bowl fitted with paddle attachment (you can also use an electric mixer and add ingredients to a large bowl).
- Mix the dry ingredients on low speed for 30 seconds.
- Add eggs, milk, vegetable oil and vanilla to the flour mixture and mix on medium speed about 2 minutes.
- In the meantime, boil the water.
- Turn off the mixer and add the boiling water.
- Beat on medium speed for 1 minute.
- Use a spatula to transfer the batter to the greased and floured pan.
- Bake for 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Cool for 10 minutes, then loosen carefully with a thin spatula or knife and turn over onto a wire cooling rack.
- Once cool, cut into two even halves.
- Wrap the cakes in plastic wrap and freeze for at least 2 hours (this can be done overnight).
- Once hardened, place one layer of cake in a springform pan or if you used a cake pan, line the cake pan with parchment paper with enough edge to be able to pull the entire cake out of the pan once frozen.
- Remove the ice cream from the freezer and thaw for 10 minutes. Once softened, spread the ice cream over the cake layer to desired thickness (I like about 4 cups).
- Place the remaining cake layer over the top of the ice cream, and place plastic wrap over the top to seal.
- Freeze the cake for at least 2 hours.
- Once frozen, remove the cake and QUICKLY frost before the ice cream melts.
- Add the sprinkles if desired, then wrap carefully with plastic wrap (I use 8 toothpicks on top if I don't use candles so it doesn't stick to the frosting as much) and place back in the freezer.
- Remove from freezer about 10-15 minutes before serving to slightly thaw.
Last night, to celebrate my birthday we went out to dinner at a really delicious French restaurant. It was INCREDIBLE. My favorite part was the dessert – this one was a mix of chopped fruit with pastry cream and a really thin tart – it was heavenly!
I realized I did not give anything away during the holidays! My friend over at Foodasmic and I are giving away this heart-shaped spatula and cookie cutter set! Now next year you will be prepared for the crazy baking season!! Isn’t this spatula so cute? It would make a great Valentine’s Day gift.
The giveaway is open to all countries and will close on January 29th. Enter using the Rafflecopter below. Good luck :o)!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY and A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR BEAUTIFUL!!
Hope you had a great celebration.
Definitely one of my favorite kind of cakes. Yum.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY and A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR BEAUTIFUL!!
Hope you had a great celebration.
Definitely one of my favorite kind of cakes.
Happy Birthday!! Your cake looks just amazing! I need to make an ice cream cake! My step-daughters b-day next month and this would be perfect for her. I am bookmarking this recipe! Thank you for sharing and Happy Birthday again!!
Happy Birthday, hope it was a day full of sweet surprises! I have never made an ice cream cake before, guess it is about time!
I wish that 2014 be less difficult for my family and friends.
What a great ice cream cake!
Looks delicious!
and I wish to be happy and for everyone I know to be healthy!!
I hope this is the lucky year I finally get pregnant!
im lactose intolerant but ice cream cake happens to be my favorite of all..sucks but if its delicious like one, its worth it 🙂 happy birthday friend.
aww HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!
This ice cream cake looks craaazy amazing! So chocolatety and delicious!
Happy birthday!!!! This looks like an amazinggg birthday cake, wow! I tried making a jelly roll ice cream cake one year and it…was kind of a failure. But kind of a success! This looks way more successful however. I hope you have an amazing birthday!
I wish for health, wealth, and happiness
what a tempting cake!
My wish is to lose weight. The cake looks very tempting! 🙂
Happy Birthday. My wish for 2014 is that I can learn to bake as well as you. What an incredible cake. 🙂
My wish for 2014 is to incorporate more gluten free dishes into my meals. My mother has developed an allergy to wheat and my brother-in-law just found out he has Celiac’s Disease. I want to make dishes that are safe for them to eat and still taste delicious
My wish for 2014 is for all to be able to provide for their families, good health, safety, and calm. Happy Happy Birhday!
Happy Birthday!!! I love ice cream cake, especially chocolate!
my wish is that my husband will have better luck finding work in 2014
I wish for an amazing year!!! Healthy and active living and a successful year for my husband and his buisness!!!
Oh my heavens! Ice cream cake is my favorite cake evaaaaah! This looks so incred! And happy belated birthday too! 😀
Happy Birthday! My wish for 2014 is for good health since I have been struggling with that for a few years!
Gorgeous cake!. Happy birthday 🙂
Happy Birthday! I haven’t had an ice cream cake for ages. Now you have me craving one! 😉 Good stuff – thanks.
Happy Birthday and Happy New Year. Definitely would like to learn how to make more desserts.
<3 the cake!
Happy Birthday! My wish is that I become a better cook this year!
Happy Birthday! Looks Yummy! I love ice cream cake.
Happy Birthday! Sounds like a great evening and this cake looks amazing!
Happy Birthday! Wishing you joy in 2014.
For myself, I am hoping for a significant location change (I need to leave this frigid weather and snow behind.) and a fresh perspective.
My wish for the new year is that my family and friends have better health and less financial stress. Awesome recipe and giveaway! Thank you and belated Happy Birthday!
Happy birthday! You shouldn’t have to make your own cake on your birthday, but this does look amazing. Ice cream cakes should really make a comeback,I feel nobody makes them anymore! Hope your day was fabulous!
I wish that my family remains happy and healthy.
I wish for good health and success in 2014.
Happy Birthday, I hope that your year would be full of happiness 🙂
Debora Ferri
debby_f@hotmail.it
I wish that 2014 will bring good luck and happiness for everyone.
By the way, Happy Birthday! The ice cream cake looks so delicious, I’m drooling right now. Hahaha! Hope everything’s great for you.
I wish I pass all of my classes this semester, they are expensive
I pray for my hubby’s healing in 2014.
My wish is that we don’t struggle this year with money and my husband’s law suit is over and he finds a good job.
I wish for my kids to be a bit more peaceful this year, they fight too much.
Happy Birthday!!! I wish to have a child)))))
for this year to be a great year for everybody!
i hope this year would be so nice to us! 🙂
I wish there were jobs for the people who really need one but can’t find one!!
Happy birthday ! This cake looks amazing!
That looks so delicious! Belated Happy Birthday to you 🙂
My wish for 2014 – Live healthy, eat healthy & bake healthy 😉
I wish for you and all of us everything best and delicious in the new year.
Happy Happy Birthday
Happy New Year to you! My wish for 2014 is that my 2 1/2 year old nephew Christopher is told he is cancer free and can finally go on being a little boy. He was diagnosed just short of a year ago, with stage 4 Neuroblastoma, and has fought like a little warrior! He’s almost done with treatment. This news would be an incredible triumph!
to get a great new job
I wish that whoever wins will make lots of wonderful things and enjoy the things they make with the prize every time!!!^_^ For those who don’t win I wish all the best, even to the giver, and to enjoy whatever attempted to make with other tools!!!^_^
I wish everyone to have a great year!!!^_^
I wish to learn how to cook and bake! Happy Birthday!
My wish is to cook more and eat out less!
I wish to find a great job for me!! Feliz Cumpleaños!!!
I wish to learn how to quilt and ice skate.
Happy (belated) Birthday! Hope you had a fantastic day! And thank you for alerting me to the fact that Tillamook makes ice cream! I’ve only ever had their cheese, which I love, but I’ve obviously been missing out on so much.
I wanted to say thank you. I live overseas and my wife wanted an Ice cream cake for her birthday. I was able to make it a great birthday for her because of your recipe.
Thanks for your comment, Aaron! I am happy to hear you enjoyed the recipe! 🙂
For 2014 I wish to get a good job. I wish you happy late birthday.
I’m so glad I found your page. All you food looks so delicious. yum!
I am wishing me and my husband move and buy our own house this year and it all works out well. 🙂
I don’t know to cook. So my wish for 2014 is to learn cooking from my mother. 🙂
I love chocolate, and that cake looks absolutely divine! I hope you had a wonderful birthday 🙂
Hi Happy Birthday & thanks for lovely giveaway!
My 2014 wish is to get good job & to be a noble girl 🙂
Chocolate is my favorite & what a yummy cake 🙂
Cake looks divine! Definitely going to give it a try 🙂 My wish for 2014 is to have a certain someone tell me they care about me – basically admit it 🙂
I wish for health, wealth, and happiness
I know what my next birthday cake is going to look like. Yum!
i wish i learn baking …
find a serious JOB! *_*
mail cogitoergosum8587@yahoo.it
Happy birthday! the cake must be delicious :p
I wish to open my cake shop.. i know is just a dream, but i really want it became true… 🙂
I wish to find a new job!
Let the best of the old year is the worst in the new!
feliz aniversario, esse bolo deve ter ficado divino
my wish for 2014 is to be happy!
FB: Jane Tempest
My wish is to chance the house.
I would really like to get a promotion at work!
I hope I can be more fit!
Nyummi
Happy B’day 🙂
I wish i’ll have cute baby this year, good job, and new boutique 🙂