Chocolate Peppermint Ice Cream Cake ~

I love making ice cream cakes, they are so easy to make and are always a big hit for any holiday or get together you may have.  Kids especially love these and my grands will ask me to make them one for their birthday, with their favorite ice cream flavor and mix- ins.

These cakes take about 15 minutes to make, but it look like it takes you hours to do.  Each Christmas I make this one, because it's the only time I can find peppermint ice cream at the grocery stores.  And what kid or adult for that matter doesn't love peppermint or candy canes.

I came up with this recipe years ago, after I bought one at the grocery store.  I thought to myself, "how hard can this be? " And how terribly expensive it is to buy them too.  They have been a real favorite of my family and friends and I love knowing that I am giving them something home made.

Ingredients:

1 half gallon of  softened Peppermint Stick Ice Cream (I buy mine at Whole Foods)
1 package of Mint Oreos, crushed in food processor
1 bag of Andes Mints, chopped
1/4 cup of crushed candy canes
1   8" inch spring form pan
1/2 cup chocolate sauce
1 can of Real Whip cream (optional)

Take one cup of crushed oreos and press into the bottom of your springform pan.  By tablespoons, spoon 1/2 of your ice cream to make a layer of ice cream.   Sprinkle 1/4 cup of oreos over ice cream.  Drizzle 1/4 cup chocolate sauce over top.  Next, sprinkle 1/2 of thecrushed candy canes over top.  Then repeat with the ice cream, starting at the center and working outwards.  You don't have to fill in every spot, because on the edges you can add extra crushed oreos.  Nothing needs to be perfect at all!  :)  With the back of your spoon, spread the ice cream layer to smooth out the top a little.  By the spoonful, make an outer edge filled with the oreos and add some crumbs in the center to make a circle. Drizzle chocolate over top (I go easy on this part).  Then sprinkle the top with more crushed candy canes and andes mints.  Cover with plastic wrap and aluminum foil, place in freezer until ready to serve.  Take out of freezer 15 minutes before serving.  Release the spring form pan sides and smooth sides with a knife if needed (I don't bother).  Add crushed candy canes to side if you would like.  Place on cake platter and decorate with the around the edge of cake with canned whip cream if you would like.


They are so easy to do, I made two ~  I have two places to go for the Holidays and thought each house would like one!