Chocolate Mint Ice Cream Cake

What flavor combination most comes to mind when you think about St. Patrick’s Day? Chocolate and mint, of course!  It also happens to be one of my favorites, and I absolutely adore this Chocolate Mint Ice Cream Cake.  As did my husband and children, who literally inhaled it.  This cake is super easy to make, and will pretty much knock your socks off, as well as anyone else who you serve it to! It’s a St. Patrick’s Day dessert, but it’s darn good anytime!

Oh my goodness, it is SO yummy!  Layers of dark chocolate cake and mint chocolate chip ice cream, with chocolate ganache poured over the top makes for an absolutely divine cake.  Now you can have your ice cream and your cake too, all in one package!

The best part? It’s SO easy! It looks like you slaved away for hours, and will impress anyone you serve it to.  It doesn’t take long at all to put it together, and the rest of the time is either freezer or oven time, so you can be doing other things while the magic is happening.

You can also change this up and use and kind of ice cream flavor you want to!  Peanut butter cup would be fabulous!

It’s kind of perfection.

CHOCOLATE MINT ICE CREAM CAKE

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Chocolate Mint Ice Cream Cake

Course Dessert

Author Simply Kierste

Ingredients

• 1 box dark fudge chocolate cake mix prepared according to package directions
• 1/2 gallon mint chocolate chip ice cream
• 12 oz. package chocolate chips
• 2/3 c. heavy cream

Instructions

1. Bake the chocolate cake according to package directions in two 8x8 or 9x9 cake pans. Cool completely.
2. When the cakes are cool, and you're ready to compile the first layers, soften the ice cream in the microwave. You want it soft enough to spread, but not so much it's runny. Trim the first chocolate cake layer as needed (I always slice the top off to get an even surface) and place it on a cake stand. I put the side I just trimmed face down, so the smooth side is on top. Using a spatula, cover the first layer with the softened ice cream, going not quite to the edges. If you go all the way to the edges, it will squish over when you add the top layer. I like to put a thick layer of ice cream, but you can put as much or as little as you like!
3. Trim the top of the second layer so it's flat, then place that side down on top of the ice cream layer. Place in the freezer until the ice cream is solid, and you're ready for the ganache layer.
4. When you're ready to add the ganache, melt the chocolate chips and heavy cream in a glass bowl in the microwave, just until the chocolate chips are starting to melt--about a minute. (You can also use a double boiler if you prefer.) Stir with a spoon until it's glossy. Use a large spoon to add it to the top of the cake, bringing it all the way to the edges. It's okay if it spills over the sides a little--it looks yummy that way! :)
5. Freeze until about 15 minutes before you're ready to serve--take it out of the freezer and let it soften enough to slice into pieces.