Gluten Free Ice Cream Bundt Cake (only 3 ingredients!)

3 Ingredient Ice Cream Bundt Cake. It doesn't get much easier than this! I love this recipe because you can take any flavor of cake mix (including gluten free cake mix!) and any flavor of ice cream, sherbet, frozen yogurt or gelato (I use a gluten free flavor) so you can customize it for your special occasion. If you don't have a bundt pan then you can just bake it in cupcake pans or two loaf pans. I love chocolate hazelnut anything....but you NEVER find a chocolate hazelnut cake.....until now! I like to take a gluten free chocolate cake mix (you can use regular cake mix if you don't have a gluten allergy) and use chocolate hazelnut gelato. It is absolutely divine! The recipe goes together quickly with minimal mess in the kitchen which is great for the holidays! I like to buy glass or ceramic plates at the dollar stores and bake one of these to take to a party. That way it looks festive and I can just leave the cake & plate without worrying about getting my good dishes back. This recipe is great for dessert or for a brunch. You can add vanilla ice cream to a vanilla cake mix + a handful of blueberries = blueberry brunch cake or muffins. Yes, it's that easy! During the different holidays you will find special cake and ice cream flavors so you can be really creative. (Just be sure to read labels if you have a gluten allergy! Some of the ice creams that have candy and cake pieces contain wheat/gluten! You can substitute a dairy free alternative ice cream if you have a dairy allergy).

I like to make most of my stuff from scratch but I do like to have a couple of cake mixes on hand for a quick dessert for busy times. You can "doctor" them up and customize them to make them extra special. This is also a great way to use up the ice cream in the freezer. I know most of you are thinking "are you serious? What leftover ice cream?" At our house....we like ice cream but don't eat it regularly so this recipe is a great way to use it up instead of tossing it out, especially if we had a party and have a couple of flavors taking up "valuable real estate" in the freezer!

3 ingredient Ice Cream Bundt Cake Recipe:

• 1 box of cake mix, dry (I used Betty Crocker Gluten Free Chocolate flavor today)
• 2 cups of slightly melted ice cream, frozen yogurt, sherbet or gelato, any flavor (I used a gluten free Chocolate Chunk ice cream for today's recipe. I did not use a reduced fat version)
• 3 large eggs

Combine the slightly melted ice cream with the dry cake mix and eggs. (You need to use the DRY cake mix, do not prepare it according to the box instructions!) Beat by hand or with a mixer until smooth. Poor into a greased bundt pan (I used a small size bundt pan since I used the Betty Crocker GF mix which contains less cake mix than a "regular" cake mix) and bake in pre-heated 350 degree oven for about 35-40 minutes or until it springs back when gently touched or toothpick inserted comes out clean. You can bake in cupcake pans for 18-22 minutes or in two loaf pans (1 loaf pan if you are using a Betty Crocker GF cake mix) for about 30 minutes. (Every oven is different and altitude can vary cooking times). When the cake is cool, you can dust it with powdered sugar if desired. I like to take about 1/2 can of Betty Crocker Frosting and melt it in the microwave or stove top until smooth and slightly runny and then drizzle over the cake. This is a gluten free (not to mention quick & lazy) way to add a little pizazz to an ordinary bundt cake. You can also drop some colored sprinkles or chopped nuts or candies on top if you really want to dress it up. Be creative! (NOTE: Betty Crocker Gluten Free Cake mix only makes 12 cupcakes instead of 24 like a "regular" cake mix but you still need to add the full 2 cups of ice cream & 3 eggs so it turns out moist and rises properly!) 

I saw a recipe on the internet recently that called for just 1.5 quarts of ice cream + 3 cups of self rising flour. Mix & bake in a regular sized bundt pan (or two loaf pans). I tried it and personally thought it wasn't very good. It was very dry and pretty bland even though I used a fancy ice cream. I tried tweaking the recipe again by using 3 cups of GF flour (I used Betty Crocker GF flour blend) + 2 tbs. baking powder + 1/4 tsp. salt + 1/2 cup sugar as the base mix and THEN added the 1.5 quarts slightly melted ice cream & 3 large eggs & 1/4 cup oil. I baked it in a regular sized bundt pan (or two loaf pans). It turned out just fine. It was more like a moist bundt cake rather than a dry bread. I tried it several ways and we all thought this particular recipe needed the oil for moisture. GF flour can be a little finicky to work worth. (This is a store bought cake mix alternative. Although, I really really like my Gluten Free Vanilla Cupcake Recipe. You can find that recipe on my blog).

Oh....and did I mention that taking a cake mix out of the box and putting it into an oven mit, adding a spatula or wooden spoon along with the directions makes a great last minute stocking stuffer or hostess gift?! Yep, my little gift giving secret is now out there. You all know what a resourceful gift giver I am now!  :) Having 3 kids....I ALWAYS had to have a few last minute simple gifts. Our life was hectic (to say the least!) and they always needed a small token gift for a Sunday school teacher, Girl Scout leader, bus driver, etc. Money was on a tight budget when I was going to nursing school so these little thoughtful cake mix/oven mit gifts always came in handy. I always dressed them up with pretty ribbons, a spatula or wooden spoon and added some sprinkles or something fun (I attached the recipe to the ribbon or to the cake mix pouch). I always got a comment back from the recipient that they really enjoyed the gift. Although I thought it was just a simple gift....they told me it came in handy for a last minute party or potluck or snow day fun with their kids. We did those simple gifts for a few years and then I thought I would get "real gifts" when money wasn't so tight. Most of the recipients said they were disappointed that they didn't get their cake mix oven mit kit. They actually looked forward to them! I guess they didn't figure out that it was just a box cake mix! :) My kids also like getting these little cake mix mit kits in their holiday stockings now that they are adults! :)  Just be sure if you are gift-giving a GF cake mix (like Betty Crocker GF mix that makes only 12 cupcakes or 1 8x8 cake pan) that you put instructions to bake in cupcake pan or 1 loaf pan. It will not make a full size bundt cake! If you are using a traditional "regular" cake mix then the instructions will need to say regular size bundt pan OR 2 loaf pans or cupcakes.  You want the recipient to be delighted in their gift...not frustrated!)

Ice Cream Bundt Cake Mit Kit ready for gift giving!

You can also use your own homemade gluten free cake mix recipe. I just wanted to try out the Betty Crocker Gluten Free Chocolate flavor and since I snagged them on sale cheaper than I could make them from scratch....well....enough said. Betty Crocker knows her stuff in the kitchen and the cake mix turned out just fine. I have also tried my own gluten free vanilla cake recipe (see recipe on the blog) and it works out great too. (You just need the dry cake mix so don't prepare it).

I hope you enjoyed my quick & easy dessert. It is flexible and you can easily customize it to your family's preference. If you don't have a gluten allergy then you can certainly just use a regular size cake mix (like Betty Crocker) and your favorite ice cream. You can even add a handful of colored sprinkles or chocolate chips. It is a quick & easy cake to make. It is even great with fresh berries or to use as a shortcake for summer time fun!

Tanja
Gluten Free Casually