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Ice cream cake

post #1 of 6
6/18/12 at 9:19am
Thread Starter 
My sister-in-law asked my to make a birthday cake for her twins. After I said yes she then proceeded to tell me that she will need 2 cakes so that they each have their own. SoandSo wants a cake with chocolate filling. SoandSo2 wants an ice cream cake. I have never made nor have an interest in ice cream cake. So my first reaction was like .........(insert blank stare.) In my 2nd reaction the snark came out and I thought to myself, do I flippflapping look like Dairy Queen? My third reaction was oh, a new challenge for me!

I have to say, as much as I love baking for my friends and family, I am a bit irked at her request. It was one thing to ask for A cake, but then tell me she wants 2 cakes after I agreed. I'm not a business. I have 4 kids, 2 of which are in diapers. 2 cakes is twice the work. An ice cream cake seems like a PIA, but maybe it would be good for me to know how to make.

What is your opinion? Any experience with ice cream cakes? How would I even frost one?

Thanks,
D.
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post #2 of 6
6/18/12 at 9:56am
Ice cream cakes are readily available in most supermarkets and ice cream shops. You are a baker not an ice cream maker. Tell her that you are happy to make the one cake as promised, but you do not have the time, equipment, etc to do a cake in ice cream. Two different things really. You could soften ice cream, mold it in a pan, attempt to unmold it and decorate/write on it before it gets all melty...but why?
Just say no.
Life is unpredictable so let's eat dessert first!
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Life is unpredictable so let's eat dessert first!
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post #3 of 6
6/18/12 at 11:58am
Of course twins each need their own cake! I would've automatically assumed I was doing two cakes, but since you didn't, I say be gracious and be truthful. If you can't or won't do an ice cream cake, tell her in time for her to purchase one elsewhere.

The one time I made an ice cream cake, it was pretty time consuming and messy, but was for my grandchild so was worth the effort.

I torted an ice cream cone shaped cake and filled it with softened but not melted ice cream. I covered it with Cool Whip, colored appropriately for the top and the cone. You do have to keep putting it back into the freezer, so you'll have to have quite a bit of free time at once.

Also, if the cakes are for the immediate family and not a huge crowd, you could do 2 small cakes. Good luck.
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post #4 of 6
6/18/12 at 12:18pm
I have baked an ice cream cake on several occasions. The method *I* use is pretty simple. I just bake my usual cake, two layers, in 9 inch rounds. Let cool. I soften my ice cream slightly, and spread it into the same size round (lined with saran wrap). Freeze until hard. Stack the two cakes with the ice cream layer in the middle, working quickly as it WILL start to melt. Give it a good crumb coat. Re-freeze for a a couple of hours. Have your buttercream ready, pop out of freezer and ice like mad!

I have used standard American buttercream or just Cool Whip. I never really decorated them super fancy, basically just iced. Maybe a simple border. But you can add sprinkles, chocolate shavings, or some piping/flowers. Pop back in the freezer until ready to serve. HTH. icon_smile.gif
Friends don't let friends buy grocery store cakes.
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Friends don't let friends buy grocery store cakes.
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post #5 of 6
6/18/12 at 12:43pm
Thread Starter 
Thanks for the tips! I understand that twins each deserve their own cake. She asked for A cake, not cakes. That's the part that irked me. I kind of felt a little duped. I think I would have responded better had she been straight from the get go. I hate to be pissy about it but sometimes family can get so entitled when it comes getting cakes from me. I love baking, but I love baking much more when I'm not being taken advantage of and when the amount of work I put into a cake is appreciated.

I still haven't decided if I'm going to do it or not.

Thanks for the help. If I do the cake I will try lining a cake pan with the plastic wrap and filling it with the soft ice cream the freezing.

D
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post #6 of 6
6/18/12 at 2:25pm
Here's the sensible way to swing it: Bake smaller cakes--best if you have 7" or 8" pans. Two layers for one twin and one layer for the other twin. Total of one cake recipe/mix.

Get a cake board large enough to hold both cakes side by side. Decorate the normal layer cake simply with "name" and number of years.

Split the third layer and make other cake with a thick layer of ice cream. Freeze, then coat with a layer of poured ganache. and freeze again. Add the same inscription "name2" and number.

At the party, assemble the two cakes side by side--that saves face for you and them. Birrthday kids have to sit side by side to blow out the candles at the same time.

In future years you will be forewarned to make two small cakes. If you only bake once then assembly is not that much more time. And in future, offer simple cakes with printed edible designs and simple borders for family gift cakes. They should PAY if they want anything more elaborate.
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