Ice cream cakes are the perfect cake for any celebration, but especially so in summer. Popular as Birthday and wedding cakes in the US and Australia, ice cream cakes are less well known in Europe. Their popularity is growing in China, with many ice cream stores now selling cakes and offering a custom made cake service. An ice cream cake can be just ice cream, layered with sponge, and some are wrapped in a thick coating of chocolate. Whipped cream is good as a topping, unlike buttercream it adheres well to frozen cake. Toppings can be sprinkles, cookies, chocolates, fruit, nuts, anything goes. Just be sure to eat it fast before it melts. Here are a few suggestions on where to pick up a cool ice cream cake.
Coldstone Creamery has signature cakes, birthday cakes, and custom made cakes that are thick, moist, layered with their rich and creamy ice cream, plus all your favorite mix-ins. You can choose from fluffy white frosting or rich fudge ganache to finish the cake. Flavors include strawberry passion, cake batter confetti, cookies and creamery, and double chocolate deception. Standard cake sizes come as small which feeds eight, or the larger size is enough for 14 servings. Custom made cakes can be made to size.
Baskin Robbins ice cream cakes are perfect for a birthday, graduation, baby shower, or any celebration. From small cakes that serve 8-12, to huge sheet cakes with 32-48 servings. Cake flavor includes vanilla or chocolate sponge, layered with ice cream flavors including Oreo, cookie dough, very berry strawberry, and peanut butter. Topped off with whipped cream and decorated with cookies, fruit, or chocolate.
Dairy Queen ice cream cakes come as sheet cakes, a rolled log, or round. Their most popular cakes incorporate fudge and crunch chocolate center, which is then surrounded by their soft serve ice cream, and decorated in your chosen design.
Häagen-Dazs offer ice cream cakes at the higher end of the price and indeed taste spectrum. You can choose a cake that incorporates your favorite ice cream flavor finished with a whipped topping, or your favorite ice cream covered in a rich chocolate coating. Toppings include chocolate curls, swirls and shards, or fresh fruit decoration.
VAI Milano is an artisanal Italian ice cream parlor which offers gelatos, sundaes, milkshakes, pastries, and coffee. Their gelato is made from natural ingredients, without artificial colors or preservatives. Their stores can also make personalized gelato cakes for birthdays, anniversaries, and other special occasions.
beijingkids Shunyi Correspondent Sally Wilson moved to Beijing in 2010 from the UK with her husband and son. Her daughter was born here in 2011 and both her kids keep her happily busy. In her spare time, Sally loves to stroll through Beijing’s hutongs and parks. She is a (most of the time) keen runner and loves reading: books, magazines, news, and celeb websites – anything really. Sally is also a bit of a foodie and loves trying out new restaurants.
Photos: Lynac, Food Recipe, Peiyu Wu (Flickr)
