Recipe Swappers

Special Occasion Ice Cream Cake

A few years ago, I was on a search for a good ice cream cake recipe for Chris' birthday. The tradition was to go to DQ and get a cake for the special day, but my husband is so much more special than a simple cake from DQ! I found this recipe and have made is several times since. It is a little extra work but is so worth the effort! You can make life much easier by preparing the individual componants ahead of time; then you will only have to assemble the cake. Give this recipe a try. You won't regret it! (Unless you're a crazy person and don't like chocolate or ice cream!)

Cookies:
1 cup + 2 Tbsp. flour
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 egg
1 cup chocolate chips

Combine flour, baking soda and salt in a bowl. Beat butter, brown sugar, granulated sugar and vanilla until creamy. Beat in egg. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in chocolate chips. Bake for 9-11 minutes at 375 degrees. Cool completely; chop into small pieces.

Walnut Mixture:
1 cup chopped walnuts
1 1/2 Tbsp. butter
1 Tbsp. packed brown sugar

Greast 8-inch pan. Combine walnuts, butter and brown sugar. Pour into pan. Bake 8-10 minutes at 375 degrees. Stir well. Cool completely.

Chocolate Sauce:
1 can (12 oz.) evaporated milk
1 cup chocolate chips
1 cup powdered sugar
2 oz. unsweetened chocolate, broken into pieces
2 Tbsp. butter
1 Tbsp. vanilla

Combine evaporated milk, 1 cup chocolate chps, powdered sugar, baking bar and butter in medium pan. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally until chocolate is melted. Reduce heat to low; continue cooking, stirring occasionally for 5-7 minutes, until thickened. Remove from heat. Stir in vanilla and cool completely.

**Don't forget the final and all-important ingredient - VANILLA ICE CREAM! - approximately 1/2 gallon, or more depending on how much you want to use.

ASSEMBLY:

Wrap outside of 9-10 inch springform pan with foil. Spread 1/3 of cookie crumbles on bottom of pan. Top with 1/2 of the icecream and 1/2 of the chocolate sauce. Combine remaining cookies and walnut mixture. Spread half of cookie/walnut mixture over chocolate sauce. Top with remaining ice cream, chocolate sauce (reserving 2 Tbsp.) and cookie/walnut mixture. Place remaining chocolate sauce in a plastic bag. Cut a hole in the corner of the bag and drizzle over top of the dessert. Freeze at least 4 hours or overnight.

To save time, you could buy pre-made cookie dough and chocolate sauce. Results are not guaranteed though! You could also be creative and substitute your favorite cookie and flavor of ice cream. Oreo cookies and mint ice cream have been begging me to use them in this recipe!

posted by Katie @ 4:00 PM