This 3-Ingredient Ice Cream Cake Tastes Like Nostalgic Ice Cream

If you ever enjoyed an Orange Creamsicle on a hot summer day as a kid, you’re probably familiar with this easy ice cream cake that will instantly make you feel nostalgic for your childhood. There are plenty of Orange Creamsicle-inspired recipes out there, like our No-Bake Dessert Bars or our Ice Cream Cake , both of which cater to that nostalgic craving. But this one only requires three ingredients: orange cake mix, vanilla ice cream, and whipped topping. Technically, you’ll also need all the other ingredients that the boxed orange mix calls for, since you’ll be following those instructions to make the cake. The box will likely call for eggs and oil, but those extra ingredients are probably already in your kitchen.

Bake the cake and let it cool, then take a serrated knife and carefully cut off the top of the cake to get an even surface. Cut the cake in half evenly, straight down the middle of the longest side of the cake. Take a flat baking sheet and cover it with plastic wrap; place half of the cake on the sheet, top side down, then add the vanilla ice cream and spread it as evenly as possible over the top of the cake. Add the other half of the cake on top of the ice cream and press it down. Add the whipped topping evenly over the top of the cake. Finally, place the entire cake in the freezer for at least four hours.

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How to Customize and Serve Orange Ice Cream Cake

If you want to customize this ice cream cake, one easy way to do it is to change the flavor of the ice cream. If you want this cake to be very orange, swap out the vanilla ice cream for orange sorbet. Or, as a compromise, add vanilla ice cream and orange sorbet to the middle layer for a mix of both flavors—that way you get the extra burst of orange without sacrificing the essential vanilla flavor of a traditional Orange Creamsicle. Or, you can switch it up completely and swap out the vanilla for chocolate, since orange and chocolate pair so well in desserts (as evidenced by a Chocolate Orange Pie or Chocolate Orange Truffles )—think of it as a chocolate lover’s version of an Orange Creamsicle.

Regardless of the type of ice cream you choose, you can add additional toppings to the cake, such as chocolate chips or chocolate sprinkles. To keep with the theme, candied oranges would be a delicious and aesthetically pleasing topping choice.

When serving, you’ll want to trim the edges of the frozen cake to give it a neater look, especially if you’re serving it for a party or gathering. If you’re serving the cake at a party, you can have the slices pre-cut and include a different topping on each slice for guests to choose from: sprinkles on some, orange slices on others, etc.

Read the original article on Tasting Table.