Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Candy Cane Ice Cream Cake for New Year's

This morning we have visitors coming: my brother from California with his five children, my mother and father in law from New York, my sister-in-law from Arizona with her three kids, and later my niece from Nevada with her four children. (Post Edit: I just found out another niece with her three is on her way also. It's a good thing my mom and I live just 100 footsteps from each other so we can keep all of our company housed and fed. Plus, we don't miss out on any of the fun!) But there is one more visitor on the list. This top-secret visitor is coming especially to see West, but we are sworn to secrecy until after New Year's. I'm bursting with his good news, but I must tape my mouth shut for the remainder of 2009 and hold it in.
But let's talk about the good news that I can share with you: this beautiful ice cream cake for New Year's Eve. I love making ice cream cakes for New Year's because I can make it today and it will sit happily in the freezer until I'm ready to serve it-at midnight or otherwise. An ice cream cake in the winter is so unexpected; I love the suprise value of a frozen dessert in the cold and snow. Just be sure to sit in front of the fire for this one. And you know, ice cream cakes are so delicious and easy to make, but ridiculously expensive to buy. I mean really really ridiculously expensive, don't you think? I'm glad you agree.
I start off with a Texas sheet cake baked in two rounds, which will yield two ice cream cakes. You can use a cake mix if you're rushed, but never ever use a brownie for the base. Trust me when I tell you that they freeze rock tooth-breaking solid. Choose any flavor ice cream, but this peppermint candy cane Dreyer's flavor is F-U-N for the holidays. Press softened ice cream into the same size cake pan and freeze both parts separately. Stack them together and run a knife around the ice cream to smooth the edges. Make a quick batch of ganache and cool it down in the fridge for an hour or two. It's basically spreadable hot fudge and it will make you go weak in the knees. Frost the entire cake and refreeze until serving time. Give it a little squirt of whipped cream just before serving, and if you're more organized than I am, you could even sprinkle some crushed candy canes on top. Imagine them here, please. I'll be back tomorrow with one more dessert for New Year's.
Candy Cane Ice Cream Cake
Estimated Cost: $6.00 for 10 servings
2 cups sugar
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup water
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2 large eggs
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 gallon favorite ice cream flavor or Peppermint Dreyers
Ganache:
1 cup cream
1 and 1/2 cups semi sweet chocolate chips
Grease two 8 or 9 inch rounds. Heat oven to 375 degrees. In a large bowl, combine sugar, flour, soda and salt. In a saucepan bring the water, oil, butter and cocoa to a butter and whisk until smooth. Pour over flour mixture and stir until smooth. Let cool slightly. In a separate bowl, combine eggs, buttermilk, and vanilla. Pour into chocolate cake mixture an dstir until smooth. Scape into pan and bake for 18-25 minutes, or until toothpick comes out clean. Remove cake from pan and place on plate. Freeze for at least two hours.
Line same cake pan with saran wrap. Place softened ice cream into pan. Freeze for at least two hours. Remove ice cream from pan and place atop cake. Run knife along side to smooth edges. Freeze again.
Make ganache by placing cream in large microwaveable bowl and microwaving on high just until cream simmers. Stir in chocolate chips until smooth. Place ganache in fridge and chill until cold, at least one hour. Frost cake with knife and refreeze until serving time. Serve with whipped cream.
Up Next:
One more make ahead dessert: Raspberry White Chocolate Cheesecake Tart

21 comments:

Jen said...

Oh yum! I will be trying this one out!!

Jen

Nickki said...

this looks like my kind of new year's dessert! YUM!

Julie Harward said...

WHAT A GOOD IDEA...I WILL BE MAKING THIS..SO EASY..SO GOOD, MY KIND OF RECIPE! THANKS SWEET LADY! Com say hi :D

The JR said...

Looks so good.

Wow, that's a house full of folks. Have fun!

Marjie said...

I found a recipe for Candy Cane Ice Cream last year. It is wonderful. Crushing the candy canes was a real nightmare until I figured out that the food processor would do it. It would be divine with chocolate cake!

jennifer rogers said...

oh my gosh that looks wonderful!

Patsyk said...

What a fabulous indulgence for NYE!

Katrina said...

Holy Cow-that does look delish!
Have a wonderful time with all your family and Happy New Year!

dining furniture said...

This is different from the usual ice cream cakes that I buy in stores and I make. I will be trying this one out! Thanks!

MK and Co. said...

I think this cake looks divine. Thanks Prudy!

Catherine said...

That cake really was so delicious! I wish I was with you si I could help devour another one! Happy New Year Prudy!

TeaLady said...

OH!! That looks too good to eat. So pretty. And festive.

Seth and Julie said...

I want that cake right this minute!

And I want to hear about West's mystery guest, right this minute.

You are teasing me today!

Coby said...

I love the combination of your imagination and creativity combined with efficiency:) You know when to cut corners and when you go from scratch Pru:D YUM.

Happy New Year, and 'if only' there was such a thing as candy cane ice cream in Aus!

gigi said...

YUM!!
Happy New ear my friend :)

Becky said...

Been there done that with the Brownie mix
! So glad someone else made that mistake. The peppermint looks so good thanks for sharing.

The Blonde Duck said...

I never knew you could make an ice cream cake! Wow! Happy New Year!

Allie said...

Great idea for a quick dessert love it and I'm sure the candy cane flavor is to die for with the chocolate!!

Michal said...

i wish i was westy's surprise guest, even if a visit from me probably wouldn't impress him:)

Christine M said...

I made this for my book group tonight and it was a huge hit. Everyone wants the recipe, so I'm sending them to your blog. I used cookies and cream ice cream, with crushed cookies on top of the whipped cream. So yummy! Thanks Prudy for making me look good!

Michal said...

making this today for my husband's birthday. we used rocky road ice cream and i'm going to put some toasted marshmallows on top of the cake at serving time. i can't wait to eat it.:)