Ice Cream Cake With So Many Sprinkles

Far too often summer birthdays fly under the radar, forgotten in the frenzy of beach vacations and park picnics. That’s why we created this ice cream birthday cake—to finally give all the Cancers, Leos, and Virgos their due. With two layers of confetti cake, vanilla and strawberry ice cream, whipped cream, and a showering of sprinkles, this dessert is the best way to celebrate someone’s special day. (If you think an ice cream cake should never include cake, check out this cookie-packed recipe, then read our editors’ heated debate.) 

This make-ahead ice cream cake requires a bit of time (the constructed cake needs to freeze overnight) but relatively little effort. The confetti cake recipe is adapted from our Easiest Vanilla Birthday Cake. Dividing the cake batter between two pans creates thin layers, ideal for stacking with ice cream. If you only have one cake pan, just bake the cake in a single layer; once it’s cooled, use a serrated knife to slice it in half horizontally (this technique is called torting). Baking the cake ahead of time and stashing it in the freezer makes the cake easier to build—the frozen layers won’t crumble or compress under the weight of the ice cream. And about the ice cream: This recipe calls for strawberry and vanilla, but feel free to swap out these flavors for your favorite pints. Cake batter or chocolate ice cream would be more than welcome here.

A springform pan makes the unmolding process smooth as can be, but if you don’t have one, don’t fret: A regular 9"-diameter cake pan will do. (Try to use one with a 3" height—the tall sides give the layers structure in the freezer.) After unmolding the cake, you might notice that the plastic wrap has imprinted crinkles onto the sides. For the smoothest finish, use a hot offset spatula or bench scraper to smooth the sides of the cake, removing any excess ice cream in the process.

The beauty of an ice cream cake is that it can be made ahead of time and stashed in the freezer. You can make the whipped cream just before serving or put the entire cake together and freeze up to a day before; the frozen whip gives the cake an ultra-nostalgic Carvel vibe. Finish with sprinkles, of course.