Last Updated on April 24, 2022
Today, we’re going to be answering the question: are ice cream cakes gluten free? And taking a look at how to make your own ice cream cake at home. Cake and ice cream are two of the best choices when it comes to desserts – so what’s better than combining the two when it comes to ice cream cakes? But are ice cream cakes typically gluten-free? Let’s take a closer look.
What Is An Ice Cream Cake?
An ice cream is exactly how it sounds! It’s essentially a cake with ice cream for the filling. It can be in the shape of a swiss roll, or a layer cake – but the only difference is that the filling is ice cream.
Learn more about: Is There Gluten In Ice Cream? (Gluten-Free Ice Cream List)
Are Ice Cream Cakes Gluten Free?
Unfortunately, ice cream cakes are not typically gluten-free. While ice cream is usually gluten-free (depending on the flavor), the “cake” part of the dessert itself is not gluten-free. The cake in ice cream cake is made in the same way as you’d make a traditional cake – using wheat flour. While ice cream cakes can be made gluten-free, it’s highly unlikely that ice cream cakes you find in grocery stores will be naturally gluten-free.
Ice Cream Desserts Gluten Free
My favorite ice cream dessert (okay, it doesn’t have cake but it’s shaped like one!) is Viennetta from Walls. They make the following gluten-free flavors:
- Vanilla
- Birthday Cake
- Mint
- Chocolate Yule Log
Gluten Free Ice Cream Cake Recipe
I’ll admit, gluten-free ice cream isn’t the easiest food to find gluten-free, but you can make your own; and nothing beats homemade food, especially cake. Today, we’re going to look at this delicious Gluten Free Ice Cream Cake recipe from Mama Knows Gluten Free.
Ingredients
The ingredients you’ll need for this recipe are:
for the cake:
- 1 tablespoon of white vinegar
- 1 cup of milk
- 2 cups of all-purpose gluten-free flour
- 1 teaspoon of baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon of baking powder (ensure it’s gluten-free)
- 1 teaspoon of salt
- 1/2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
- 3/4 cup of cocoa powder
- 1/2 cup of unsalted butter (plus an extra tablespoon)
- 2 cups of granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
- 2 large eggs
- 3/4 cup of boiling water
- 1 packet of gluten-free cookies (GF Oreos are perfect)
for the frosting:
- 2 cups of heavy whipping cream
- 1 tablespoon of vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup of powdered sugar
- 1/4 cup of corn starch
(you can skip this and use Cool Whip if you’d prefer)
for the ice cream:
- one tub of gluten-free ice cream
Recipe
Now all you need to do is:
Step 1: Prepare the Cake Mix
Preheat your oven to 350F and line 2 cake pans with water and spray lightly with cooking spray. Add the vinegar to your milk (this will make buttermilk). Now grab a bowl and add the flour, salt, baking powder and soda, cinnamon, and cocoa powder. Mix well.
Step 2: Cream the Butter
In a separate bowl, add the sugar and butter, and cream until you have a light mixture. Add the eggs and vanilla and stir well. Now put both mixtures together until well combined. Pour in the buttermilk and stir once more. Once combined, add the boiling water and combine.
Step 3: Bake the Cake
Now distribute the batter evenly between your two prepared cake tins and bake in the center of the oven for 30 minutes. You can check whether your cake is cooked by placing a skewer into the center of the cake. If ready, the skewer should come out clean. Leave to cool on a wire rack and then place the cakes in the freezer for at least 6 hours.
Step 4: Make the Ice Cream Layer
Remove your ice cream from the freezer and leave for a few minutes. Place some foil on the bottom of a cake pan and place the container of ice cream into it. You may need to smooth it with a knife or spatula. Cover with foil and leave in the freezer for at least 6 hours.
Step 5: Make the Frosting
Use a cold mixing bowl and whip the cream until foamy. Add the sugar, cornstarch, and vanilla and mix until you reach stiff peaks. Leave in the fridge until needed.
Step 6: Assembling
Step 7: Decorate
Conclusion
I hope this article has helped to answer the question: are ice cream cakes gluten-free? Do you know of any premade gluten-free ice cream cakes? If so, please feel free to let me know in the comments below. Sharing is caring!
FAQs
What is Ice Cream Cake Made of?
The ingredients in ice cream cake can vary massively depending on the flavor and style of your cake. However, the main two ingredients will always be ice cream and cake. So you can expect typical ingredients to include: milk, sugar, eggs, flour and butter. These are the base ingredients and depending on the flavor, additional ingredients may be used.
How Do I Know if Ice Cream is Gluten-Free?
Plain ice cream is usually always gluten free. If you choose a standard chocolate, vanilla or strawberry with no additional toppings - it's more often than not, gluten free. However, if you're going for a slightly more adventurous flavor, there's a chance it may contain gluten. Flavors to watch out for that usually contain gluten are: birthday cake, rocky road, cookie dough, Oreo and fudge. If you're unsure, check the ingredients for any gluten, or ask your server. Your server will likely always be happy to help with any queries you have.
Hi, my name’s Zoë. I’m 28 years old and live in London, UK. I work full time as a freelance writer and critic for West End theatre. Writing has been a passion of mine for as long as I can remember. I spend most of my free time at the theatre, or at conventions. I’m married to the love of my life, and live in a small apartment with my fur baby, Lillie. I run two of my own blogs: No Safer Place and Stage to Page: both of which have won awards. I also have a YouTube channel where I talk about all things stagey.
