Cookies and Cream Ice Cream Cake
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Earlier in the week, I shared with you the most amazing cookies and cream ice cream I’ve ever had and promised that it would be used for even more amazing things later in the week. Behold, cookies and cream ice cream cake! Ice cream cake has long been one of my absolute favorite desserts. There was a long stint between my pre-teens and early-20′s when I would routinely request a Dairy Queen ice cream cake for my birthday in lieu of traditional cake. I loved the ice cream, the layer of fudge and the crunchies – you just couldn’t beat it! I’ve been wanting to make an ice cream cake for some time now, and given the opportunity to play around with a new dessert for Father’s Day, I thought it was the perfect opportunity. I had already planned on involving Oreos in the dessert given my grandpap’s love for them, and thought this was an excellent way to ramp up plain old ice cream. It was a massive hit, and now my mind is spinning with other ice cream cake combinations to whip up this summer!
The cake does take some forethought and planning ahead, but you can definitely do it in steps and spread the work out over a number of days so it’s not overwhelming at all. In the recipe below, I’ve included timeline indications in bold to help you plan ahead. While it starts two days ahead, you could easily make the ice cream even further in advance, and even the cake could be baked and wrapped in plastic wrap and refrigerated for a day or two, or frozen for up to a week. There’s enough that can be done ahead that the assembly is pretty much a total breeze.
Because the cake and ice cream take up significant space in the pan, an 8×3-inch can pan is recommended because of the higher sides. I prefer using a cheesecake-style pan because it makes removing the sides so much easier; my cake pans of choice are Magic Line and I used their 8×3-inch cheesecake pan for the ice cream cake.
You could decorate this cake however you’d like; I chose to top it with some freshly whipped cream, and put the rest of my hot fudge sauce to good use! I used it chilled to pipe a border around the top and bottom of the cake, and then I warmed it up a little for anyone who wanted to drizzle it over their cake. Who in their right mind says no to more chocolate?! The base cake for this dessert is incredibly rich and moist, which makes it perfect for the freezer. Topped with this fantastic ice cream, whipped cream, fudge and more Oreos, the whole thing is darn near irresistible.
My grandpap thoroughly enjoyed his Father’s Day/birthday dessert, and there was definitely a line behind him for seconds!
One year ago: Portobello Pesto Pizza
Two years ago: Barbecued Beans
Cookies and Cream Ice Cream Cake
Yield: 12 to 16 servings
Prep Time: 2 days
Cook Time: 50 to 55 minutes
Total Time: 2 days
Ingredients:
For the Ice Cream:
2 quarts cookies and cream ice cream (that's a double-batch if using the homemade recipe)For the Cake:
1½ cups granulated sugar
¾ cup all-purpose flour
¾ cup cake flour
½ cup Dutch-processed cocoa powder, sifted
1 teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon kosher salt
1½ cups boiling water
2 eggs
½ cup canola oilFor the Whipped Cream:
1 cup heavy cream
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extractFor the Decorations:
Hot Fudge Sauce
Oreo cookiesDirections:
1. Two Days Before: Make a double batch of the cookies and cream ice cream base and chill.
2. One Day Before: Make the Cake. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease an 8-inch round cake pan and line the bottom with parchment paper.
3. In a mixing bowl, whisk together the sugar, both flours, the cocoa, baking soda and salt. Gradually whisk the boiling water into the flour, adding about ½ cup of the water at a time, until all the water is added and you have a smooth, thick batter. Whisk in the eggs one at a time, blending well after each addition, then whisk in the oil. You should have a very thin but smooth batter.
4. Pour the batter into the cake pan. Bake until the cake springs back to a light touch and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 50 to 55 minutes. Let the cake cool in the pan for 30 minutes, then invert onto a wire rack. Remove the parchment and let cool completely.
5. Prepare the Cake Pan: Spray an 8x3-inch round cake pan (or springform/cheesecake pan) with nonstick cooking spray. Line the bottom of the pan with a round of parchment. Then cut two strips of parchment that are 3 inches wide by 14 inches long. Line the sides of the pan with the parchment strips, overlapping them slightly. spray a bit of nonstick spray where the ends overlap to help them adhere.
6. Prepare the Cake Base: If your cooled cake has a domed top, trim off the domed portion with a long serrated knife to achieve a level surface. Place the cake in the bottom of the prepared cake pan for the base of your ice cream cake.
7. Churn the Ice Cream: Churn the ice cream base according to your machine's instructions and transfer it directly from the machine into the cake pan. If your ice cream has been stored in the freezer (or if you're using store-bought), allow it to soften in the refrigerator for 20 to 30 minutes, until it's slightly softened and spreadable. Use an offset spatula to nudge the ice cream all the way to the sides of the pan, filling any gaps or holes, including any space between the cake and the pan. Rap the filled cake pan sharply on the counter a few times to encourage any air bubbles to rise to the surface and smooth the top. Put the assembled cake in the freezer as soon as it's filled and freeze overnight.
8. The Morning Of: At least 1 hour (and no more than 12 hours) before serving, unmold the cake. To release the cake from the pan, invert the cake onto a plate or cardboard round the same size and wrap a hot kitchen towel around the cake pan, keeping it there for 30 seconds, or until the cake loosens and slide the pan off. Remove the parchment (and bottom of pan if using a springform). Top with a serving plate and turn the cake right side up. Return to the freezer for at least 10 minutes.
9. While the cake is in the freezer, make the whipped cream. Combine the heavy cream, sugar and vanilla extract in the bowl of a stand mixer. Using the whisk attachment, whip on medium-high speed until the cream is light and fluffy and holds a medium to firm peak, 2 to 3 minutes.
10. Spread the whipped cream on the cake, working quickly so that the ice cream doesn't melt. (If it gets soft, just pop it back into the freezer for 5 minutes.) Use the Hot Fudge Sauce to pipe borders, if desired. Pipe some extra whipped cream on top and decorate with extra Oreo cookies. Covered with foil, the cake will keep in the freezer for 2 days.
11. 5 Minutes Before: Remove the cake from the freezer 5 minutes before serving to soften it slightly. A hot, dry knife will yield the cleanest cuts. Dip your knife in a glass of hot water, wipe it clean with a towel, and cut a slice. Repeat between every slice.
(Recipe adapted from Sweet Cream and Sugar Cones)
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OK this is way too tempting for me right now that I can’t even take it. Looks super delicious! I’m in love with ice cream cake
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Ananya on June 22nd, 2012 at 10:40 am
This is amazing! Your website is awesome! I can’t wait to persuade my mom to let me make this!
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What a gorgeous cake! I have been in the mood to make chocolate cake lately and this may be pushing me over the edge to make one!
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After the cookies and cream ice cream, I was already on Amazon considering purchasing an ice cream machine, and now this?
I’m not sure I’m going to be able to resist the temptation.
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Oh, wow!!! That’s all I can say.
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Wow.. Worried that if i made this i’d eat it all in one sitting!
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I LOVE ice cream cakes and this looks absolutely fabulous!!
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OH MY GOSH!!! Gorgeous!!! Love it! I think my Husband should make this for my birthday!!
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Wow! This is such a pretty cake. I bet it was a big hit!
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That looks like a professional cake. Kudos to your cake making skills! Also, I WAAANNTTT THAATTT!
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Amazing! That is the prettiest icecream cake I have ever seen. You are really talented!
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The cake looks gorgeous! I would love to serve this. I think I’ll try it for my Mother’s birthday dinner. Thanks for the post.
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Um, wow. Homemade ice cream cake. Need to clear a spot in my freezer for this baby! Especially since I just found your post on how to make ice cream without an ice cream maker!
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Beautiful looking cake. I’ve got to expand my horizons and make some icecream other than just vanilla.
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YUM! I can almost taste that last picture!!
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Beautifully done!
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We are in winter in this side of the planet, but who cares? I can eat ice cream the entire year!!!
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Ice cream cake is the best kind of cake. This looks amazing!
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Deliciousness!! I love ice cream cake and would request DQ for my birthday growing up! That last picture left me drooling. . .
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Holy decadent! I am going to have to make this for sure!
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Ummm, do you deliver?? Nothing would make me happier than this cake in my freezer to kick off the weekend!
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I am making this tonight for birthday bbq tomorrow!
I hope I am able to pipe all the topings as pretty as you.
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This is like my dream cake! I love everything about it. Wish I wasn’t trying to lose a couple pounds, or i would be making this today!
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Cake looks absolutely delicious, and I don’t even like ice cream! I can only imagine how all the ice cream lovers are drooling over it…
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Beautiful. I could eat this for breakfast right now.
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that is such a gorgeous cake! wow — totally beats the pants off a dairy queen blizzard cake!! yummm! love the photos too:)
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It looks like a lot of work but it also looks like it paid off in the end.
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It only makes sense to turn ice cream into cake! Love it.
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Oh, wow!! This looks absolutely incredible. I love ice cream cake!
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I love that your chocolate sauce can be cooled down and piped! It looks great!
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This is incredible! So yummy!
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The more I read your posts, the more I am convinced I need to buy myself an ice cream machine! Or go to Dairy Queen…
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Michelle on June 23rd, 2012 at 8:37 pm
Yes, ice cream maker! Do it!
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This looks SOOOO Delicious!!!
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Ohmygosh, this looks like the most delicious thing ever.
http://just-another-day1.blogspot.ca
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Holy cow, I am so making this sometime! I once made a chocolate mousse cake in a similar fashion, so this looks completely doable.
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Women, you blow my mind every all the time!!!:D Gimme! *drool*
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Wow, you make a stellar ice cream cake. BEAUTIFUL.
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Awesome looking, though it looks sooooooooo sweet, makes my teeth hurt and my dentist happy. lol
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This is seriously my dream! Awesome idea!
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Beautiful cake! Thanks for including how to neatly cut it, your slice looks awesome!
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My husband loves ice cream cakes and oreos are his favorite cookie… maybe I’ll do this for his birthday cake in July!
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That is gorgeous.
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This ice cream cake is beautifully done! I love that you used chilled hot fudge sauce for the piped edges. I’ll have to remember that tip.
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It is amazing that you posted this, because I have actually been craving this exact kind of ice-cream cake since I saw an ad for it in a magazine awhile back–I believe it was for Baskin Robbins, though. But I have been scouring the web for at least a year and a half looking for a recipe for it to make at home, and voila! A gift from you drops into my lap. As if I needed another one after all the yumminess your website has brought into our home…
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hi. i love your blog. i just made red velvet cupcake n it is to die for. anyway, i’m trying to make cookies n cream ice cream cake for my mom’s bday. but i dont have the cake flour and corn syrup.can i substitute cake flour for all purpose flour? how about the measurement? or can i use your blackforest cake recipe instead? n can i omit the corn syrup for the sauce? thx…
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Michelle on September 27th, 2012 at 1:07 pm
Hi Inggrid, You can find a cake flour substitution formula on the FAQ page: http://www.browneyedbaker.com/baking-faq/. I would not omit the corn syrup from the hot fudge sauce, as it will not thicken properly.
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this looks super yummy but i was just wondering isn’t the cake going to be hard when serving does that still taste good ? and do you also keep storing the cake in the freezer or can you put it in the fridge after with the left overs?
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Michelle on September 25th, 2012 at 8:09 pm
The cake part is frozen, as is customary for any type of ice cream cake – everything is frozen!
You need to keep any leftover cake in the freezer; if left in the refrigerator it will eventually melt.
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This looks fantastic! I have been searching fora good ice cream cake that is not so expensive! Thanks for sharing
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