Sea Turtle Ice Cream Cake

Name: Sea Turtle Ice Cream Cake
Yield: Makes one 10-inch cake
Ingredients: 3 1/2 quarts mint-chocolate-chip ice cream; Vanilla Bowl Cake; 1 large scoop chocolate ice cream; 2 small round white candies such as Mentos and M&Ms, for decorating; Black licorice laces, for decorating; 4 chocolate-mint wafer cookies (1 1/2-inch round), for decorating; 1 tablespoon chocolate chips, melted and cooled, for decorating

Recipe photo courtesy of Kirsten Strecker

Scoops of mint-chocolate-chip ice cream form the shell of this cool sea turtle. Peeking out through white candy eyes (with chocolate pupils) and flashing a black-licorice grin, this is one turtle who is not too shy to come to the party. For the decorating technique, see our step-by-step photos.

Source: Martha Stewart Kids, Summer 2005

Makes one 10-inch cake

Yield

Ingredients

3 1/2 quarts mint-chocolate-chip ice cream
Vanilla Bowl Cake
1 large scoop chocolate ice cream
2 small round white candies such as Mentos and M&Ms, for decorating
Black licorice laces, for decorating
4 chocolate-mint wafer cookies (1 1/2-inch round), for decorating
1 tablespoon chocolate chips, melted and cooled, for decorating

Directions

1. Line a rimmed baking sheet with plastic wrap. Scoop out 2 1/2 quarts mint-chocolate-chip ice cream (about thirty-five 1 1/2-ounce scoops), and place on prepared baking sheet; refreeze for at least 45 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, soften remaining 1 quart mint-chocolate-chip ice cream; set aside. Line a 12-cup bowl with plastic wrap; freeze briefly, then fill with the scoops of ice cream, rounded side down, to extend beyond rim (fill in gaps with extra).
3. Place cake, flat-side up, over ice cream scoops, then spread softened mint-chocolate-chip ice cream on top using an offset spatula. Cover with plastic wrap, and refreeze for at least 4 hours.
4. Unmold ice cream cake onto a serving platter. Using a 2 1/2-ounce ice cream scoop, carve a niche into the edge of the turtle shell; nestle a scoop of chocolate ice cream into niche for the head. Decorate head using black licorice for the mouth and nose and white candy for the eyes (using the blunt end of a skewer, dot melted chocolate onto the white candies for pupils). Tuck chocolate-mint wafers under cake for feet. Serve immediately.

Cook's Notes

To make a baby sea turtle, use a single large scoop of mint-chip ice cream for a shell. Use a smaller ice-cream scoop for his chocolate ice-cream head (use the scoop to carve a niche to set it in). Tuck brown candy-coated chocolates underneath for feet and a tail, and add candy features like Dad's.