Whimsical Animal Cracker Ice Cream Dream Cake
Delight your friends and family with this creamy and colorful Whimsical Animal Cracker Ice Cream Dream Cake! This dessert combines the nostalgia of animal crackers with a decadent ice cream filling and a fluffy buttercream frosting. Perfect for birthdays, celebrations, or just because—this cake is a visual stunner and a delicious treat that will excite both kids and adults alike. This layered masterpiece features marbled cake, soft ice cream, and plenty of crushed animal crackers for added crunch! Serve it at gatherings, and watch it disappear before your very eyes.
12
Servings
300
Calories
11
Ingredients
Ingredients
white cake mix
1 (18 ounce) box (Follow package instructions for preparation.)
pink food coloring
as needed (Add to the batter until desired shade is achieved.)
softened ice cream
3 cups (Allow ice cream to soften at room temperature.)
room temperature butter
1 lb (Let butter sit out until it reaches room temperature.)
confectioners' sugar
2 lbs (Sift before using, if desired.)
heavy cream
2 tablespoons (Use as is.)
vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon (Use as is.)
frosted pink and white animal crackers
1 cup, crushed (Crush into small pieces, plus reserve whole for garnish.)
pink candy melts
1 cup (Melt as instructed.)
vegetable oil
as needed (To thin the candy melts.)
rainbow candy sprinkles
as desired (Use as a decorative topping.)
Instructions
1
Preheat the oven according to the cake mix package instructions.
2
Prepare the white cake mix according to the package directions. Divide the batter into two bowls, adding pink food coloring to one bowl until reaching your desired pink hue.
3
Grease and line two 8-inch round cake pans with parchment paper. Pour the white batter into both pans, then drop spoonfuls of the pink batter into the white batter, using a skewer or a butter knife to swirl them together for a marbled effect.
4
Bake the cakes until a toothpick comes out clean, about 25-30 minutes. Once baked, allow them to cool in the pans for 10 minutes before inverting onto a wire rack to cool completely.
5
Once cooled, level the tops of both cakes using a serrated knife. Place one of the cakes back into its pan, leaving the parchment paper on the bottom, and spread the softened ice cream evenly over the top. Invert the second cake on top of the ice cream layer. Cover and freeze for 4-6 hours, until the ice cream is firm.
6
For the buttercream, beat the room temperature butter in a large mixing bowl until light and fluffy. Gradually add the sifted confectioners' sugar, followed by the heavy cream and vanilla extract, and beat until smooth and creamy.
7
Gently remove the cake from the freezer and use a knife or spatula to run around the edges, then invert onto a cake board. Apply a thin layer of buttercream around the cake to create a crumb coat, and place it back in the freezer for 15 minutes.
8
After the crumb coat has set, use the remaining buttercream to frost the cake more generously. Don't fret about perfection—rustic is charming!
9
To make the drip, melt the pink candy melts in a microwave-safe bowl, heating in 15-second intervals until smooth. Thin the melted candy with vegetable oil, adding just enough for a drippable consistency. Use a squeeze bottle to apply the drip around the edge of the cake, letting some drizzle down the sides.
10
Pour any remaining melted candy over the top of the cake and use a spatula to spread it to the edges. While the candy drip is still soft, stand whole animal crackers upright on top and sprinkle generously with rainbow sprinkles and half the crushed animal crackers.
11
Pipe the remaining buttercream along the bottom edge of the cake and decorate with additional sprinkles and crumbs. Return the cake to the freezer until you're ready to serve.
Nutrition Information
13g
Fat
45g
Carbs
3g
Protein
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Whimsical Animal Cracker Ice Cream Dream Cake?
It is a nostalgic and colorful dessert that features layers of marbled white and pink cake, a softened ice cream center, and a rich buttercream frosting decorated with animal crackers and sprinkles.
How many servings does this ice cream cake recipe provide?
This recipe yields approximately 12 servings.
What size cake pans are required for this recipe?
You will need two 8-inch round cake pans for the cake layers.
How do I create the marbled cake effect?
Divide your white cake batter and color one half pink. Drop spoonfuls of pink batter into the white batter in the pans and use a skewer or butter knife to swirl them together.
What is the bake time for the cake layers?
The cakes should be baked for 25 to 30 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
How long should the cake be frozen after adding the ice cream layer?
The cake needs to be covered and frozen for 4 to 6 hours until the ice cream layer is completely firm.
What ingredients are needed for the buttercream frosting?
The buttercream is made from 1 lb of room temperature butter, 2 lbs of sifted confectioners' sugar, 2 tablespoons of heavy cream, and 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract.
How do I prepare the ice cream for the filling?
Allow the ice cream to sit at room temperature until it is softened and easy to spread over the cake layer.
What is the purpose of a crumb coat?
A crumb coat is a thin layer of buttercream applied to the cake and frozen for 15 minutes to trap crumbs and create a smooth surface for the final frosting layer.
How do I make the pink candy drip?
Melt 1 cup of pink candy melts in the microwave in 15-second intervals and thin with vegetable oil until you reach a drippable consistency.
Why is vegetable oil added to the candy melts?
Vegetable oil is added to thin the melted candy, making it smooth enough to drizzle down the sides of the cake.
How many calories are in a single serving?
One serving of this cake contains approximately 300 calories.
What is the fat content per serving?
There are 13 grams of fat per serving.
How many carbohydrates are in a serving?
Each serving contains 45 grams of carbohydrates.
Is there any protein in the cake?
Yes, there are 3 grams of protein per serving.
How should I decorate the top of the cake?
Decorate the top by standing whole animal crackers upright in the soft candy drip and adding rainbow sprinkles and crushed animal crackers.
How should I store the finished cake?
The cake should be stored in the freezer until you are ready to serve it to prevent the ice cream from melting.
Do I need to level the cakes before assembly?
Yes, once cooled, you should use a serrated knife to level the tops of both cakes for an even assembly.
What type of animal crackers should I use?
The recipe calls for 1 cup of crushed frosted pink and white animal crackers, plus whole ones for garnish.
Can I use a different color for the drip?
While the recipe suggests pink candy melts, you can use any color candy melt that fits your celebration theme.
How do I apply the candy drip evenly?
It is best to use a squeeze bottle to apply the drip around the edges of the cake, letting it naturally drizzle down the sides.
What tool is best for swirling the batter?
A skewer or a simple butter knife works perfectly for creating the marbled swirl.
How long should the cake cool in the pans?
Allow the cakes to cool in their pans for 10 minutes before moving them to a wire rack.
Is the buttercream frosting supposed to be perfect?
The recipe notes that a rustic look is charming, so do not worry about making the frosting perfectly smooth.
Can I add extra decorations to the bottom of the cake?
Yes, you can pipe the remaining buttercream along the bottom edge and add more sprinkles and cracker crumbs.
What flavor is the cake base?
The base is a white cake mix, with part of it tinted pink for a visual contrast.
Do I need to sift the confectioners' sugar?
Sifting is recommended if you want a particularly smooth and creamy buttercream frosting.
Is this cake suitable for birthdays?
Yes, its whimsical design and ice cream filling make it perfect for birthdays and celebrations.
How do I remove the cake from the pan after freezing?
Run a knife or spatula around the edges of the pan to loosen it, then invert the cake onto a cake board.
What kind of sprinkles are used?
The recipe recommends using rainbow candy sprinkles for a festive look.