Upside Down Swiss Roll Ice Cream Cake

This may be the easiest dessert that I have ever made! But it wasn't my idea.  My aunt made it for dessert years ago and when I passed by the swiss rolls at the grocery store it reminded me of this recipe. Since she didn't remember how she made it, I made up my own steps.

Warning: ANYONE can make this ice cream cake! YES, EVEN YOU!

This recipe only calls for 2 ingredients:

-1 box of Swiss Rolls 

-1 litre of melted ice cream  (I chose Chocolate Ripple.)

The other items  you will need are:

-a large bowl

-plastic wrap

-a bread knife

-a spatula

-non stick spray

Line up 3-4 swiss rolls on a cutting board.

Using a bread knife, cut into half inch slices, about 5 per roll. Continue to cut each roll until all rolls are cut.

Line a bowl with plastic wrap so that it hangs over the edges of the bowl. Spray with non stick spray like Pam.

Line the sliced swiss rolls beginning in the center of the bowl until all slices are used, about half way up the sides of the bowl.

Pour the melted ice cream into the bowl.

Use a spatula to even out the melted ice cream.

Wait!  Don't waste all of the crumbs from the swiss rolls.  Sprinkle them onto the bottom of the cake!

Cover cake with plastic wrap and freeze for 24-48 hours.

Remove from freezer. Place a plate or cake plate over the top of the bowl. Flip plate and bowl of ice cream with frozen cake over. Remove the bowl and the plastic wrap and serve!

Hint: ensure that the plate you are using has a lip around the edges to catch any melted ice cream!

What a simple and delicious treat. 

Enjoy!

Free Birthday "Sweet Treats"

I had a wonderful weekend celebrating my birthday with family and friends.  Who knew that there were so many perks to having a birthday! I have come across a number of "free sweet treats" that you too, can get on your birthday.  All of these freebies will definitely apply to Torontonians (and most Canadians) and I hope that a few will also apply to those of you in the United States and in other countries.

Baskin Robbins - Join the Birthday Club to get a FREE 2.5 oz. scoop or 3oz. soft serve cone. An e-mail will be sent to your account a few days before your birthday to be printed and can be used until the date of expiry on the coupon.

Dairy Queen - Join the Blizzard Fan Club and an e-mail will be sent to your account on the morning of your birthday with a printable coupon for a FREE New Mini, Small or Medium Blizzard Treat when you buy a medium Blizzard Treat.

Lollicakes - This is by far my favourite cupcake shop in Toronto! Join the Birthday Club on their website to get a free cupcake on your birthday. Lollicakes products are not only delicious, but they are nut free, (perfect for me) dairy free, and kosher. This cupcake shop is located at Mount Pleasant and Eglinton.

Orange Julius - Join the Quench Club and an e-mail will be sent to your account on the morning of your birthday with a printable coupon for a FREE Julius Fruit Drink or Premium Fruit Smoothie when you buy one 20 oz. Julius Fruit Drink or Premium Fruit Smoothie.

Second Cup - I was walking home from the gym the other day and noticed a sign on the door of The Second Cup on Eglinton near Dunfield Avenue that said, "Come visit us on your birthday and receive 1 small FREE birthday beverage!" No sign up required. I would imagine that ID would need to be presented. ***Since this is a franchise, this may not apply at other locations.***

Starbucks-Buy and/or register a Starbucks gift card to get a free drink on your birthday.  A post card will be sent to you in the mail during the month of your birthday.  Present the post card at any Starbucks location and redeem it for any sized beverage.

I hope that you will take advantage of some of these fun perks on your special day.  I certainly enjoyed a cold Frappuccino from Starbucks on Saturday!

Happy Birthday those of you who celebrate a summer birthday!

Hedy's Mars Bar Ice Cream Cake

For my dad's birthday last week, I made my friend Hedy's famous, "Mars Bar Ice Cream Cake!"  She has made it many times before, but this was my first attempt to make it as well as she does. 

To make this cake, here is what you will need:

For the crust:

-1 1/4 cups of graham cracker crumbs

-1/4 cup sugar

-1/3 cup butter melted

For the cake:

-2 x 1.55L tubs of your favourite vanilla ice cream softened
-8 Mars bars
-1 jar or squeeze bottle of chocolate fudge sauce

First, make the crust in the bottom of a spring form pan as though you were making a pie crust, using graham cracker crumbs, butter and sugar. Let cool completely. Hedy likes to use Oreo cookie crumbs, but I used my favourite, graham cracker crumbs. Click here for more details on how to make the crust.

Next, freeze Mars bars for at least a half hour.  Break in half and crumble in food processor using the steel blade. Set aside in a bowl.

Let ice cream soften in tubs. Use half of one tub of ice cream.  Place in food processor and blend. Add half a cup of crushed mars and fold in by hand. Pour into a large bowl. Repeat for next three portions of ice cream. Pour half of the ice cream mixture onto the crust. Use a spatula to even out the softened ice cream mixture. Next, add a layer of chocolate fudge sauce.  Then, add the remaining ice cream mixture and top with remaining crumbled Mars bars. Finally, fill a piping bag with the rest of the chocolate fudge.  Drizzle over crumbled Mars bars.
Let set in the freezer for at least 24 hours.

If this is not delicious...

I don't know what is?

Happy Birthday Daddy. 

Enjoy everyone!
A perfect summer treat.