Simple, Homemade Ice Cream Cake

Over the weekend we had a birthday party for Luaks..he's turning 5 next month! 

I knew I wanted an ice cream cake for his party and figured I could just make one myself.

I cruised around Pinterest for a while getting ideas, until I found this ice cream cake recipe using ice cream sandwiches... genius!

The thing I've always loved most about any ice cream cake is the combo of cake and cream. So I made some modifications to the recipes I found and came up with a pretty simple ice cream cake recipe using both cake mix and ice cream sandwiches. The best part is, there are so many variations and substitutes that can be made to this recipe to make it work for everyone {I'm thinking gluten free options and maybe a little strawberry shortcake action!}

Ingredients:

• 1 box white cake mix and ingredients listed on box {oil, eggs, water}
• 1 box ice cream sandwiches
• 1 pint vanilla ice cream
• 2 containers white frosting 

Directions:

• Pre heat oven at 350 
• Prepare cake batter according to box instructions {I substituted the oil with yogurt}
• Divide cake batter in half 
• Cook cake half in a 9x13 cake pan/dish {if you have 2 pans, cook halves simultaneously, if only 1 pan, cook one and then let sit while other half is cooking in pan}
• Leave one cake in cake pan as the bottom layer 
• Once cake has completely cooled, apply a layer of frosting 
• Next, layer ice cream sandwiches over frosting
• Fill in any gaps with vanilla ice cream
• Now, at this point you can either do a thin layer of ice cream or frosting...I found frosting to be more sweet but better at holding the cake together
• Place the top cake layer on and cover with frosting
• Clean up the sides and with a butter knife or spoon and place in the freezer for at least an hour
• Serve and Enjoy!!