Food Preparation Techniques

How to Prepare

Ice Cream Cakes

If you use a loaf or square pan, spray the inside with nonstick cooking spray and line the pan with plastic wrap. Let the plastic hang over the edge by a couple of inches and be sure to press it into the corners.

Springform pans also work well, and there's no need to line them. To unmold, just run a knife along the inside edge and release the latch.

Bake the cake in the same pan in which you'll assemble the ice-cream cake, so the cake won't require trimming. Freeze all pans at least 15 minutes before filling them to help keep the ice cream from melting.

Choose a recipe for a cake that won't get too hard when frozen. Many cakes freeze solid, but an ice-cream cake should succumb easily to a fork or a bite.

Beat the ice cream before smoothing it onto the cake so it will spread evenly. This can be done in a bowl with a wooden spoon or a potato masher or in a standing mixer with the paddle attachment.

Whichever method you use, first place the bowl in the freezer for 15 minutes. Let the ice cream stand at room temperature for five minutes (fewer if your kitchen is very warm), then place it in the cold bowl and beat until smooth. This will take only a few seconds.

With a rubber or thin metal spatula, evenly spread the ice cream in the pan. If your cake has several layers of ice cream, let each layer freeze for about 30 minutes before adding the next flavor to keep the flavors from mixing together.

Freezing ice-cream cakes can take anywhere from six hours to overnight, depending on the temperature of your freezer. They'll keep at least a week in the freezer, so you can make them well in advance.

When it's time to unmold the cake, invert it on a cutting board or platter and remove the pan by gently pulling the plastic wrap away from the pan.

Cut ice-cream cake with a sharp knife. If the cake is very hard, use a hot, dry knife (between each slice, run a knife under hot water and dry it with a towel) or let the cake stand at room temperature for a few minutes to soften.

Garnishes for ice cream cake are abundant but optional. Depending on the ice cream flavor selected, use caramel and chocolate sauces, toasted chopped almonds or pecans, or fresh berries or sliced peaches.