I've been planning on sharing this post for almost two months! I'm a strange mix of spontaneous whipper upper and careful planner. I made my first ice cream heart cake for my daughter's 4th birthday... 15 minutes before we lit the candles. It was not a plan... it was a rescue mission. Her birthday falls in the middle of the holiday rush, and making a complicated cake is not part of my mental health plan. When she asked for an ice cream cake weeks in advance, I told her the truth...I had never made one before and didn't think I knew how. At any other time of year, I would master an ice cream cake for my daughter in a heart beat. But it's not like she hadn't had a big party with cupcakes, already. For the actual day, she resigned herself to a basic chocolate cake. We decided to make it special by putting it in a heart shaped cake pan. To my dismay, that cake would not come out of it's pan. I had greased it, floured it, etc. It came out in pieces. She watched horrified... "what will we do Mama?" the tears were forming... I was panicking... Dad said, with total confidence, "Mommy has a perfect plan!" I didn't. I froze. Then I remembered the pint of vanilla ice cream waiting in the freezer. " You're having your ice cream cake, after all!" I proclaimed and got to work.
It was a success, and we all decided that another was necessary for Valentine's Day. No one in my family complained about making it a week early so that I could share it with you. We've had heart cake for dessert for the last three nights in a row! The extra batter went into cupcakes.
So here's what I did. I'm sure there are many wonderful recipes for ice cream cake. This is just my
can't fail/ anyone can make this version. A heart pan isn't necessary, but does make it special.
Bake your favorite layer cake in your pan and let cool.
- Invert onto a plate and wash out cake pan. I traced and cut out a heart-shaped piece of parchment paper to bake the cake on this time... no sticking!
- Spread slightly softened ice cream in pan. Use strawberry for the pink effect.
- Layer cake onto ice cream and freeze... we have yet to wait for this step!
- Place pan in dish of warm water for a few seconds.
- Invert onto serving plate and eat immediately. Get those leftovers back into the freezer, quick!
Both times we've served it with homemade hot fudge sauce... this pushes it over the edge into sublime. Here's the
recipe for fudge.
I've been planning on sharing this post for almost two months! I'm a strange mix of spontaneous whipper upper and careful planner. I made my first ice cream heart cake for my daughter's 4th birthday... 15 minutes before we lit the candles. It was not a plan... it was a rescue mission. Her birthday falls in the middle of the holiday rush, and making a complicated cake is not part of my mental health plan. When she asked for an ice cream cake weeks in advance, I told her the truth...I had never made one before and didn't think I knew how. At any other time of year, I would master an ice cream cake for my daughter in a heart beat. But it's not like she hadn't had a big party with cupcakes, already. For the actual day, she resigned herself to a basic chocolate cake. We decided to make it special by putting it in a heart shaped cake pan. To my dismay, that cake would not come out of it's pan. I had greased it, floured it, etc. It came out in pieces. She watched horrified... "what will we do Mama?" the tears were forming... I was panicking... Dad said, with total confidence, "Mommy has a perfect plan!" I didn't. I froze. Then I remembered the pint of vanilla ice cream waiting in the freezer. " You're having your ice cream cake, after all!" I proclaimed and got to work.
It was a success, and we all decided that another was necessary for Valentine's Day. No one in my family complained about making it a week early so that I could share it with you. We've had heart cake for dessert for the last three nights in a row! The extra batter went into cupcakes.
So here's what I did. I'm sure there are many wonderful recipes for ice cream cake. This is just my can't fail/ anyone can make this version. A heart pan isn't necessary, but does make it special.
Both times we've served it with homemade hot fudge sauce... this pushes it over the edge into sublime. Here's the recipe for fudge.
I love it! I have some cake mix in the cupboard and we just made some simple frozen strawberry yogurt...I think I'll give it a try! Beautiful idea! I also love your Can-Do Spirit. :)
ReplyDeletethat's why moms are superheroes
ReplyDelete:)
that is so clever! Love it!
ReplyDeleteThis reminds me of my son's sixth birthday party. It was a space theme and I was making a planet cake using two large metal bowls to bake the two halves of the planet. After baking I had the same problem the cake wouldn't come out of the pan and I tried and tried until it finally came out but looking more like the surface of the moon than what my son thought his ideal planet should look like. Being a star wars fan he had an idea. He mixed up some dark grey icing and turned it into the death star. It was a huge hit with a hungry gang of 6 year olds.
ReplyDeleteGoodness goodness goodness Maya ... you saved the day that day ! The idea is darling & the cake looked fantabulous ! Yum !!! And the photos are to die for, thanks so much for sharing !! Big hugs your way ! xoxox
ReplyDeleteThat's brilliant!
ReplyDeleteI tried to make an ice cream cake for my daughter's fourth birthday this summer, and it was such a ridiculous amount of fail that it's a good thing that a big mess of completely melted ice cream saturating chunks of soggy cake is utterly delicious.
That looks sooo yummy. That Mommy! She did have a perfect plan!
ReplyDeleteHere is a mom's review of Coraline that I read this morning.
www.blueyonder.typepad.com/my_weblog
those cakes look delicious!!
ReplyDeleteThe cake is beautiful, Maya! And your husband was sweet to have complete confidence in you. You do make magic! Happy Valentine's Day!
ReplyDeleteWe've also used broken up cake as part of a trifle - you know layered with whipped cream and maybe fruit. It would be great with ice cream.
ReplyDeleteI envy that plate you have the cake on!
i've been following your blog on my reader, so i don't leave comments. i love your blog and what you make. this is a good idea for my son's bd party this weekend, thanks!
ReplyDeleteWhy do you talk about the leftovers? I don't get it. What leftovers???
ReplyDelete(Great cake idea!)
That looks great. I might have to get a heart shaped pan today...
ReplyDeleteNice... way more organized than I. I have been thinking about taking my own crafting to Etsy when I quit my second job.
ReplyDeleteDid you need to get a business license or anything else? Did you incorporate into a business? Just curious if it is complicated to do a little something on the side and make a bit of money from my hobbies.
so so so pretty!!! what a wonderful mom you are!
ReplyDeleteI think you make the world a better place with your creativity and generous nature. Thanks so much for sharing both!
ReplyDeleteI just knew you had some kind of supernatural powers! Great idea.
ReplyDeleteHappy Heart Day!
Jody
That looks so pretty! And what a perfect way to do it. Love it!
ReplyDeleteHmmm, look delicious! I like your blog and your ideas, so come to my blog to take your blog award called "I LOVE YOUR BLOG".
ReplyDeletefabulous! that looks so easy! what a sweet daddy ~ the good ones really do believe mommy has the answer, don't they?
ReplyDeleteWow, super sumptuous! I love it!
ReplyDeleteYummy! I LOVE ice cream cake, and now I can enjoy the treat without paying a fortune for a huge cake -- thanks to you Maya!
ReplyDeleteYou certainly saved the birth(day) and the impromptu cake looked delicious and beautiful too.
Happy Valentine's Day to you Maya!
Yum! Some of the greatest things we create stem from "ooops!" I think you were wearing your "super-Maya" cape again. Great rescue and great hubby to have such faith in you to save the day!
ReplyDeleteHello! I found your blog through ohdeedoh.com, and wanted to compliment your ice cream cake technique. I used to run a Ben & Jerry's (and love and totally respect super-moms, as I had one myself), and wanted to offer some future ice cream cake tips/ideas.
ReplyDeleteAt B&J we/they would smush icecream into the pan first, and then gently press (broken up brownie, cookie, graham crackers) in a layer on the bottom. Into the freezer for at least 24 hours, and then "flipping" which was about as messy "professionally" as yours sounds. We iced the cakes there, with fresh made whipped cream (heavy cream + 1T powdered sugar), and then stuck it back in the freezer to get extra firm.
What a cool birthday your daughter must have had! Whether she knows it now or not, it will be a very nice thing to remember for always.
we just had to run out and get a heart shaped pan. We had some friends over Friday night, it was a huge hit. I made some berry sauce from frozen berries we had left in the freezer, whipped up some cream and poof! Oh so easy, thank you so much for sharing! Your blog is full of generosity, you can feel the love. I never feel overwhelmed about trying out the things you create, they all come from your heart. Maybe that's why you don't want to stop making heart stuff, you've got such a big one yourself.
ReplyDelete-Lauren
Man that looks good!!
ReplyDeleteI just love it! It is so pretty, and it looks delicious!
ReplyDeletethanks for share your recipe.
ReplyDelete