How To Thaw An Ice Cream Cake In 3 Steps [Inc. A Dairy Queen Cake]

Everybody loves ice cream cakes! You have your cake and ice cream in one delicious and satisfying dessert. What can be better than that, right? But what if it's frozen solid? It would be hard to cut and eat the cake. How do you thaw it so that everyone can start enjoying eating this sweet treat for a special occasion? We found out from our frozen dessert experts that it's as easy as 1-2-3 and here's how.

There are 3 easy steps to thaw your ice cream cake, whether it's bought from Dairy Queen or homemade:

1. Put it in the fridge for 30 minutes prior to serving, or 15 minutes if on the counter.
2. Use a warm knife for slicing the cake.
3. Serve immediately.

Hang on to learn more thawing tips. We'll also tell you everything you need to know about ice cream cakes from the time you bought them from the store right up to the moment that you serve them on everyone's plates.

Thawing an ice cream cake

Thawing your ice cream cake requires the right timing. As they say, time is of the essence. You don't want your frozen dessert to be too hard or too soft when you serve it. Commercial cakes like those from Dairy Queen will stay frozen longer while homemade frozen confections typically melt faster. It would also depend on the ice cream flavors used as some freeze harder than other flavors.

Here are the steps and tips on how to thaw and serve your favorite ice cream cake:

1. You can choose between thawing in the fridge and the countertop. It will take you around half an hour to partially thaw this frozen delight in the fridge. But if you choose to defrost it on the counter, you should bring it out around 10 to 15 minutes prior to serving. The reason obviously is that the room temperature is higher than that of the refrigerator so your cake will melt faster.
2. Use a long serrated and pointed knife to slice the cake. Here's a tip: Warm your knife by rinsing it with hot water and then dry it off using a paper towel. Repeat after a few slices so that you can cut the frozen dessert smoothly. Cake experts say that you should slice a rectangular cake into small squares and a round cake into triangle wedges.
3. If you wish to add some toppings or put on birthday candles, this is the perfect time to do so. Then serve immediately so that everyone can enjoy their cake in its perfect consistency!

How long does ice cream cake last in the freezer?

A whole ice cream cake has a relatively short life even when you keep it in the freezer and store it properly. It is only good for a maximum of 7 days. Beyond this period, you can expect ice crystals to form on your cake, affecting its overall quality. But then again, there's no reason for you to keep it in storage for a long time when we're talking about something as tasty and delicious as an ice cream cake!

Now if you weren't able to finish your cake and would like to keep it in the freezer, you can do so. Just wrap it tightly and put it in an airtight and freezer-safe container to prevent freezer burn. It'll still be good for a couple of months.

When should I take my ice cream cake out of the freezer?

You should take your ice cream cake out on or before its 7th day in the freezer. But before you serve your ice cream cake, you need to let it thaw a little so that it's more manageable to cut. You should transfer it to the fridge 30 minutes prior to serving time or 15 minutes if you'll let it thaw at the counter. This will soften your ice cream cake and bring it to the right consistency for an enjoyable dessert. This is especially true for store-bought ice cream cakes because they need more time to thaw.

Most homemade cakes defrost more quickly so kindly adjust your thawing time accordingly so that the dessert won't be too soft when it's time to dig in.

Here's a tip when slicing the cake: When serving this star of the occasion, use a long serrated knife that has a pointed tip to make the perfect slices. You can put the knife in a dish of warm water then dry it off so that it will cut through the cake smoothly.

Should I put an ice cream cake in the fridge?

Ice cream cake shops recommend that you transfer your cake to the fridge for 30 minutes to give it enough time to thaw or soften a bit before serving. In the same manner, it isn't recommended for you to store your whole or leftover ice cream cake in the refrigerator. It'll melt and it isn't safe especially with the fluctuating temp in the fridge since users open and close the door repeatedly throughout the day. The ice cream cake's quality will deteriorate and it would be no fun to eat.

How long can ice cream cake sit out?

Obviously, ice cream cake will melt when left at room temperature for too long. You should also avoid putting it near hot food or sources of heat to prevent it from melting quickly. But if you need more time before serving this delectable dessert, you can put it inside a cooler and surround it with ice. Your cake can sit out like this for 1.5 hours.

How do you transport ice cream cake without it melting?

Given that ice cream cakes would melt when exposed to room temperature, there are some things you have to do to ensure they don't melt while you bring them home from the shop or to the party's venue.

If you're the one bringing the cake to the party, be prepared with your cooler chest with ice packs in it. You can also use an insulated bag or container that's big enough for the whole cake with the box on.

Check out these Cooler Shock reusable ice packs on Amazon.

Just make sure that the cake is firm and solid when you transport it. This will help ensure that the cake's decor, shape, and overall integrity are maintained while in transit. Don't put anything on top of the cake box to avoid damaging the decoration. And it would also be a good idea to put a protective layer in between the cake and ice so that the box won't get wet if the ice melts.

For commercial deliveries

Commercial ice cream cake companies use vehicles with mobile freezers or frozen storage. Some rent an ice cream truck for their deliveries. But these options are quite expensive. They can also use dry ice which is cheaper but also effective in transporting these cakes, especially for longer distances.

Can you put candles on ice cream cake?

It is traditional to blow the candles on a birthday cake. Don't worry if you have an ice cream cake; you can still put candles on top of it. Just wait a while until the top softens a bit so that you can insert the candles. Don't wait for too long before you let the celebrant blow the candles so that the cake won't melt too much by the time that you serve it.

Final Thoughts

You need to thaw your ice cream cake just a little before you can start digging in on this well-loved dessert. But it requires the right timing or else you'll be left with a melted and messy cake which will ruin all the fun. Let it stay in the fridge or on the counter at the recommended time so that it would be perfect for serving.