How to Make Ice Cream Cake with a KitchenAid® Ice Cream Maker

Whether it’s for a cake-worthy occasion like Mother's Day or just because, you can combine cake and ice cream into one show-stopping dessert when you learn how to make ice cream cake. Homemade ice cream cake is the perfect make-ahead treat that will please everyone around the table.

Can You Make Homemade Ice Cream Cake with a Stand Mixer?

Yes. Learning how to make ice cream cake at home is simple with a stand mixer. The job is made even easier when using a KitchenAid^® stand mixer with the Ice Cream Maker attachment. First, mix your cake batter using the flat beater, then add the attachment to churn fresh, homemade ice cream right on your countertop. View our full list of attachments as well.

The only thing left to do after that is bake, assemble and savor. Other KitchenAid^® stand mixer attachments can help you further explore new tastes and textures for homemade ice cream. Try the Fruit and Vegetable Strainer attachment to create homemade jams and fruit purees for recipes like raspberry ripple ice cream cake. Or chop up nuts, chocolate chips and more for ice cream cake toppings with the Food Processor with Commercial-Style Dicing Kit attachment. Explore over 10 different stand mixer attachments and discover new ways to satisfy your sweet tooth.

What Stand Mixer Attachment Do You Need to Make a Regular Cake?

Use the flat beater that came with your stand mixer.  The flat beater is made for thoroughly and quickly mixing cake batter without the worry of aerating, so you can avoid unwanted air bubbles in your baked cake.

Just like any other culinary project, when tackling how to make homemade ice cream cake you should consider what kinds of tools you’ll need and the vision for your edible masterpiece before you begin executing. If you want to build a dessert with layers of both freshly-baked cake and ice cream, using a stand mixer will help to streamline your process. You just need the right accessories. Learn more about the different kinds of KitchenAid^® stand mixer accessories and their uses when you read the attachment and accessories buying guide.

How to Make Ice Cream Cake with a Stand Mixer

You can make both the cake batter and the ice cream layer using your stand mixer. In both instances, start by securing your bowl to the stand mixer base, then add ingredients, turn the mixer on and monitor speed and progress according to the recipe instructions.

Keep in mind, when making homemade ice cream cake you’ll want to get the process started at least a day before you plan on serving it so the cake has time to properly freeze. Think about what flavors you want to pair and how many people you’re serving, and that should dictate the size and the amount of ingredients you’ll need. Consider the season or a theme to guide your taste buds, whether you’re celebrating warm weather with a strawberries and cream flavored cake or catering to chocolate-lovers with a Double Chocolate Ice Cream Cake. Depending on the recipe, an ice cream cake doesn’t usually call for many ingredients. If you’re making your own homemade ice cream with a KitchenAid^® stand mixer Ice Cream Maker attachment and baking a cake from scratch, you’ll need to adjust your timeline and grocery list accordingly. Below we'll follow a general outline on how to make ice cream cake that's completely homemade.

• Prep Time: About 15-20 minutes to mix cake batter

• Bake Time: About 40 minutes using a 9-inch cake round

• Total Time: About 10-24 hours, including freezing and assembling

• Serving Size: Around 12-24 party servings, depending on your recipe

Ice Cream Cake Ingredients

The following ingredients are used in most homemade ice cream recipes, but they can easily be adjusted to your preferences or dietary parameters, including vegan varieties.

FOR THE CAKE:

• Unsalted butter

• Sugar

• All-purpose flour

• Cocoa powder or unsweetened melted chocolate

• Baking powder

• Baking soda

• Eggs

• Salt

• Vanilla extract

• Sour cream or buttermilk

   

FOR HOMEMADE ICE CREAM (OPTIONAL):

• 2 parts heavy whipping cream

• 1 part whole milk

• Egg yolks

• 1 part sugar

• Vanilla extract

   

TOPPINGS/ ADD-INS:

• Sprinkles

• Hot fudge
• Toasted coconut

• Whipped cream
• Mango chutney

• Chocolate sandwich cookies

Homemade Ice Cream Cake Recipe Instructions with Stand Mixer

STEP 1: MAKE THE CAKE

Using your stand mixer fitted with a flat beater attachment, make your favorite cake batter, or try this one for Easy Chocolate Cake. Bake in the oven according to directions and allow it to cool completely.

STEP 2: FREEZE AND STORE

Make sure you save room in your freezer to store your homemade ice cream cake. Securely wrap your chocolate cake in plastic wrap and place the cake in the freezer for four hours or overnight.

STEP 3: PREPARE THE ICE CREAM LAYER

You can use the KitchenAid^® Ice Cream Maker attachment for stand mixers to create whatever flavor you choose. Begin by freezing your attachment bowl at least 15 hours to freeze before using. Turn your stand mixer to stir, add your ice cream and churn. Once you’ve churned your ice cream, scoop a portion of it into a plastic-wrap-lined springform pan, or a 9-inch round cake pan lined with plastic wrap. Smooth out the layer with a spatula. Add in any cookie crumbles, hot fudge, fruit preserves or other mix-ins and distribute in swirling motions with the end of a knife. Next, add the rest of the ice cream and smooth it over the top. Freeze for four hours or until firm.

STEP 4: DECORATE AND SERVE

Remove the cake from the freezer along with the pan of ice cream. Carefully remove the ice cream layer from the pan, stack onto the cake and immediately spread with whipped cream or another icing of your choice. Place it in the freezer for a quick 30 minutes. Remove the cake from the freezer and decorate it with sprinkles, cookie crumbles, or nuts. Slice, serve and enjoy!

Tips for Baking the Cake Layer

To get an ideal outcome for your ice cream cake recipe, start with these tips for baking your base layer cake. 

• Make sure you follow instructions for measuring dry ingredients vs wet ingredients and add them into the stand mixer as outlined in your recipe.

• It’s also a general rule of thumb to make sure your ingredients are all room temperature before you begin. This can help reduce overmixing or making a cake that’s too dense.

• You can also use parchment paper rounds to help with removing the cake from the pan without incident. 

• To properly store the cake, let it cool completely before wrapping it in plastic wrap and freezing.

Tips for Preparing the Ice Cream Layer

Layering a homemade ice cream cake can be tricky, but we’ve got some ideas to help you master this frozen dessert.

• Line a springform or 9-inch round cake pan with plastic wrap before adding the ice cream for easy, less messy removal.

• To better spread store-bought ice cream, allow it to thaw to a soft serve consistency. 

From classic vanilla to decadent chocolate, if you’re making homemade ice cream in your KitchenAid^® stand mixer Ice Cream Maker attachment, you can scoop the soft ice cream right from the bowl into your pan. You may not want to add swirls to it yet, as they may become muted in a thinner ice cream. If you’re looking to incorporate mix-ins, let the ice cream freeze a bit more before adding any flavor swirls like caramel, fruit puree or hot fudge.

How to Assemble the Ice Cream Cake

These tips can help you when it comes to building your masterpiece so it can look as good as it tastes.

• To remove the hardened ice cream from the springform pan, use a hot towel to wipe the outside of the pan and easily loosen the frozen layer.

• If you're creating a two-layer cake, layer the ice cream on top of the cake. That way when it’s ready to serve, the ice cream will melt slightly to rehydrate the frozen cake.

• Add a whipped cream “frosting” immediately around the entire ice cream cake. Whipped cream is the ideal finishing touch because it holds up in the freezer and it’s elastic enough not to crack when sliced into for serving.

How Long Can an Ice Cream Cake Sit Out & How Long Will it Last in the Freezer?

Ice cream cake can typically last up to one hour at room temperature, although that time can vary based on your location and the time of year. You can also seal it in an airtight container and store it in the freezer for 1-2 months.

Successfully Achieve the Best Ice Cream Cake in Your Kitchen

Now that you know the basics on how to make ice cream cake, start party planning for the ice cream lovers in your life. With a KitchenAid^® stand mixer, the possibilities and flavor combinations are nearly endless. From a cool and classic, Mint Chocolate Ice Cream Cake to a gooey Salted Caramel Ice Cream Cake, it’s hard to go wrong with any ice cream cake recipe you choose. Equip your kitchen for even more culinary creations with a collection of stand mixer accessories. KitchenAid brand offers accessories like the Ice Cream Maker attachment as well as easily storable add-ons like a dough hook for making bread or pie crust and a Pasta Roller attachment for crafting homemade pasta and a shave ice attachment for making piraguas, kakigori and more.