This is one of those cakes that looks more difficult when you serve it that to actually make it – which is the kind of cakes I like.  More importantly it’s so easy and quick to make, that it will be your go to for company coming over, especially as a nice cool down in the summer.  If kids are coming this is almost a must.  It’s also great because not only can you do it ahead of time – you have to in order for it to freeze well.  Once you do it the first time you’ll see how easy and impressive this is, it’s almost criminal.

Time:

30 minutes (Plus another few hours for freezing)

Serves:

12

Good for:

• Kids will love it
• So easy and simple
• Few ingredients
• A cool treat in warmer weather

Ingredients:

• 10 to 12 Swiss cake rolls (the small packaged ones)
• 2 pints of vanilla ice cream, softened
• 2 pints of chocolate ice cream, softened

Not a must:

• 3/4 cup hot fudge ice cream topping as a middle layer
• Syrups and other decorations

Kitchen things you’ll need:

• Medium bowl (easily holds 2 quarts or about 8 cups)
• Saran plastic wrap
• Serrated knife (to cleanly cut the rolls)
• Ice cream scoop

Making it:

• Line the bowl with the plastic wrap. Cut each cake roll into eight slices (about 2 inches thick); line them in the bowl completely covering the bottom and sides. Doesn’t matter that there are some gaps in between.
• Cover with plastic wrap and freeze for at least 20 minutes or until the rolls are firm.
• Spread vanilla ice cream inside the rolls. Cover and freeze for at least 1 hour.
• Spread with fudge topping as a middle layer or go straight to the next step. If you put fudge freeze for at least 1 additional hour.
• Spread with chocolate ice cream. Cover and freeze anywhere between 1 hour up to 2 months!
• Just before serving, remove from the freezer and invert onto a serving plate. Remove bowl and plastic wrap. Cut into wedges.

Tips/notes:

• Of course you can play with the ice cream flavours such as peanut butter ice-cream with chocolate, strawberry with vanilla, mango with lemon, etc.
• You can also use chocolate or white/vanilla rolls with strawberry jams as an alternative (or interchangeably both on the same cake)
• It looks impressive as is, but you can always garnish with ice cream syrups of any kind and sprinkles for a birthday cake!
• Make sure you use freezer friendly bowls such as stainless steel or silicon – most of them are anyway but just check in case so that you don’t ruin your bowl.