How to Make Ice Cream Cake

DO YOU NEED A STAND MIXER TO MAKE AN ICE CREAM CAKE?

Yes, a stand mixer is essential to making a homemade ice cream cake. It also makes the job a lot easier.

And you can make it even easier with a KitchenAid^® Stand Mixer plus the Ice Cream Maker Attachment. The first step is to mix the cake batter with the flat beater. Next, add the attachment to churn the mixture into ice cream right on your countertop. 

Browse our full list of attachments.

All you have left to do is bake, assemble and enjoy. Other KitchenAid^® Stand Mixer Attachments can help you discover new flavours and textures for your hand-crafted ice cream. Give the fruit and vegetable strainer attachment a try to whip up homemade jams and fruit purees to make a raspberry ripple ice cream cake. You can chop nuts and chocolate chips to use as ice cream toppings with the food processor with commercial-style dicing kit attachment. Or you can explore over 10 different stand mixer attachments and find new methods to satisfy your sweet cravings.

WHAT STAND MIXER ATTACHMENT DO YOU NEED TO MAKE A TRADITIONAL CAKE?

You should use the flat beater that was included with your stand mixer. The flat beater is designed for thorough and quick mixing of cake batter without any concern of aerating, helping you avoid unwanted air bubbles.

When figuring out how to make ice cream cake, you should give thought to what tools you’ll need. If you want to make a layered dessert with both freshly-baked cake and ice cream, you should put your trusty stand mixer to use. You want to make sure you have the right cake-making accessories. Learn about the different types of stand mixer accessories from KitchenAid^® and how to use them by reading the attachment and accessories buying guide.

HOW TO MAKE A STAND MIXER ICE CREAM CAKE

You can use your stand mixer to conveniently make both the cake batter and the ice cream for a delicious and refreshing ice cream cake. 

To make either component, start by securing your bowl to the base of the stand mixer. Next, you need to add the ingredients and turn on the mixer. Make sure you monitor the speed and progress per the recipe you’re using.

Remember, when making an ice cream cake, it’s a good idea to start the process at least one day before you intend to serve the cake so that it has time to freeze. Give thought to what flavour pairings you want to explore and the number of people you’re serving. These should dictate the size of the cake and the number of ingredients you will need so that everyone gets a slice. 

And you can use the season or your guests’ tastes to create a theme for your cake. You can celebrate the summer with a strawberries and cream flavoured cake or if chocolate-lovers are coming over, you can go with a double chocolate ice cream cake. Most ice cream cakes don’t need a ton of ingredients but it does depend on what recipe you’re using. If you’re making your ice cream with a KitchenAid _® Stand Mixer and the Ice Cream Maker Attachment and baking a cake from scratch, you’ll have to adjust both your grocery list and timeline accordingly. 

Here is a general outline of how to make ice cream cake:

• You will need about 15-20 minutes of prep time to mix cake batter.
• You will need about 40 minutes to bake using a 9-inch cake round.
• The total time is about 10-24 hours, including freezing and assembly.
• To serve, you’ll need roughly 12-24 party servings, depending on your recipe.

INGREDIENTS FOR ICE CREAM CAKE 

Here are the ingredients for most homemade ice cream recipes. Feel free to adjust this list to your preferences or dietary restrictions. You can even make it vegan if you want. 

FOR THE CAKE:

• Unsalted butter
• All-purpose flour
• Sugar
• Cocoa powder or unsweetened melted chocolate
• Baking soda
• Baking powder
• Salt
• Eggs
• Vanilla extract
• Buttermilk or sour cream 

INGREDIENTS FOR HOMEMADE ICE CREAM (OPTIONAL):

• 2 parts heavy whipping cream
• 1 part whole milk
• 1 part sugar
• Egg yolks
• Vanilla extract

TOPPINGS OR ADD-INS:

• Hot fudge
• Sprinkles
• Chocolate sandwich cookies
• Whipped cream
• Toasted coconut
• Mango chutney

HOMEMADE ICE CREAM CAKE INSTRUCTIONS WITH STAND MIXER

STEP 1: PREPARE THE CAKE
Fit your stand mixer with the flat beater attachment and make your favourite cake batter. Follow these directions to bake the cake so that the result is what you are expecting.

STEP 2: FREEZE AND STORE
Save enough room in your freezer so you can store your ice cream cake. Tightly wrap your cake in plastic wrap and place it in the freezer for four hours or, if possible, overnight.

STEP 3: MAKE THE ICE CREAM LAYER
Use the KitchenAid^® Ice Cream Maker Attachment to make whatever flavour you want. Start by freezing your attachment bowl for at least 15 hours before starting. After your ice cream is churned, scoop some of it into a plastic-wrap-lined springform pan or a 9-inch round cake pan lined with plastic wrap. Use a spatula to smooth the layer. Now you can add your mix-ins like cookie crumbles or fruit and distribute them by using swirling motions with the tip of a knife. Then, add the remaining ice cream and smooth the top once again. Lastly, freeze for four hours or until it develops a firm texture.

STEP 4: DECORATE AND ENJOY
Take the cake out of the freezer along with the ice cream. Carefully remove the ice cream layer from the pan and gently place it onto the cake. You should immediately spread some whipped cream or another icing on top. 

Freeze it for a quick 30 minutes. Take the cake out of the freezer and top it with sprinkles, cookie crumbles, or nuts. 

Don’t forget to slice, serve and enjoy!

TIPS TO BAKE THE CAKE LAYER

To get the result you want for your ice cream cake, use these tips to make the base layer cake. 

• Follow the recipe’s instructions for measuring dry ingredients vs. wet ingredients. Add them to the stand mixer according to the recipe.
• Make sure your ingredients are all at room temperature before starting. This should help reduce overmixing or prevent the cake from being too dense.
• Use parchment paper rounds as these will help you remove the cake from the pan with more ease. 
• Let the cake cool completely and then wrap it in plastic wrap and freeze it.

TIPS FOR MAKING THE ICE CREAM LAYER

Properly layering an ice cream cake can be challenging, so try using these tips.

• Line a springform or 9-inch round cake pan with plastic wrap prior to adding the ice cream. This will make the removal process easier and less messy.
• To spread store-bought ice cream more easily, let it thaw until it reaches the consistency of a soft serve ice cream.

If you’re making homemade ice cream in your KitchenAid ^® Stand Mixer with the Ice Cream Maker Attachment, you should scoop the ice cream directly from the bowl into your pan. 

If you enjoy flavour swirls, you need to let the ice cream freeze for longer before adding and swirling caramel, fruit puree or hot fudge.

HOW TO ASSEMBLE AN ICE CREAM CAKE

These tips can help build a frozen masterpiece that looks as good as it tastes.

• To remove the hard ice cream from the springform pan, we recommend using a hot towel to wipe the pan’s exterior. This will also help you easily loosen the frozen layer.
• If you're making a two-layer cake, layer the ice cream on top of the cake not the other way around. When it’s ready to serve, the ice cream will melt slightly and deliciously rehydrate the frozen cake.
• You can add whipped cream around the entire ice cream cake. This is a nice touch as it holds up in the freezer and shouldn’t crack when sliced into.

HOW LONG CAN AN ICE CREAM CAKE SIT OUT & HOW LONG WILL IT LAST IN THE FREEZER?

When dealing with ice cream, this is an important question to ask. Ice cream cake at room temperature can usually last up to one hour. However, that time should vary based on where you are and the time of year. 

You can store an ice cream cake in the freezer for 1-2 months if it’s in an airtight container.

ACHIEVE THE BEST ICE CREAM CAKE WITH YOUR OWN HANDS

Now that you got the basics on how to make ice cream cake down, start inviting the ice cream lovers in your life over for dessert. 

With a KitchenAid^® Stand Mixer, the possibilities and flavour combinations you can explore are limitless. Go with a classic Mint Chocolate Ice Cream Cake or a Salted Caramel Ice Cream Cake—you can’t go wrong. Ensure your kitchen is ready for any culinary creation you want to tackle with a collection of stand mixer attachments. There’s the KitchenAid Ice Cream Maker Attachment and easy-to-store add-ons like a dough hook for making bread and a pasta roller for crafting silky and beautiful spaghetti, fettuccine or other favourites