Trying to make an ice cream cake for young niece's birthday. She doesn't

[japple]

really like cake and wanted a cake made from ice cream. Since we are celebrating an adult birthday as well, there will be a traditional cake--yellow cake with strawberries and whipped cream, so I thought I would make the ice cream cake using a medium sized bowl as a mold.

Does anyone have tips or recipes to share.

[utopian]

1. As a matter of fact, I can

Pack softened ice cream into a metal cake pan and freeze till solid. You can do two layers if you want, and put goodies in the center.

Once the ice cream is frozen, hold it upside down on one hand and run cold water on the bottom of the pan till the puck slides out.

Shake off any water, and put the puck on a cardboard circle or plate and freeze again till fully solid. Meanwhile prep the frosting and toppings.

Quickly put a layer of frosting over the entire puck, smooth it out, and put the cake back in the freezer for an hour or so.

Add borders and final decorations.

Remember, time is of the essence, so have your prep done before taking ice cream out.

[japple]

3. Thanks! That sounds easy enough. Do you take the cake out of the freezer

and put it in the refrigerator for awhile to get a bit softer before serving?

[utopian]

9. Yes

[janterry]

2. Do you have a springform pan?

I think that would be easiest (rather than a bowl). Or a silicone mold?

[japple]

4. I do have a springform pan, but it is very large. Maybe I'll just buy a small one

to use for the kids' parties. They really prefer ice cream to cake.

[Saviolo]

5. We do have an ice cream recipe!

I will urge caution, though: This recipe is incredibly rich. We use cream and egg yolks, so it's more of a frozen custard, but it's incredibly delicious.

[Ohiogal]

6. There are people who don't like cake? ? ?

[dem in texas]

7. watermelon Cake - if you want to play

Use large pyrex bowl, freeze it empty. Soften lime sherbet or add some green coloring to vanilla ice cream. Spread inside of frozen bowl so it is like the rind, put bowl in freezer and freeze until green "rind" is frozen solid. Soften some strawberry ice cream, can add a little red color to make it look more like watermelon. Add some chocolate chips, raisins or chopped chocolate candy bar. something to represent seeds. Put into bowl, freeze again, Best make this a day ahead. TAKES MORE ICE CREAM THAN YOU THINK. When ready to unmold, invert bowl on large platter. wipe outside with hot cloth that has all the water squeezed out. May take two or three wipes of the hot cloth.

This cake is easy and is a real kid pleaser. Many years ago, I lived in North Pole, Alaska and one winter, I made all kinds of ice cream cakes and ice cream bombes, so easy, I used the snow bank by my backdoor to bury my ice cream treats. My grown kids still talk about them. I had one neighbor who always made baked Alaska. that would be another type of cake,

[japple]

8. I love this! Will save for summertime. Really enjoyed your story about living in

Alaska and using snow as your freezer. Our family also did that with beer, soda, etc. Rule #1: Don't leave it in your car!!

[japple]

10. Well the ice cream cake was a huge hit with the kids, though I thought it was rather

bland. I used Breyers vanilla and homemade lemon ice cream for the layers and whipped cream for the filling & topping. Made it in a 9" springform pan. Came out very easily. Next time, I'd like to use different flavors and maybe crushed chocolate wafers and make it more interesting.

Thanks for the many suggestions and hints.