Igloo Cake Recipes

IGLOO CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter two 12-by-17-inch rimmed baking sheets. Line bottoms with parchment paper; butter parchment. Dust with cocoa powder, and tap out excess; set aside.
• Sift cocoa, flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, and salt into the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Add eggs and yolk, 1 1/4 cups warm water, the buttermilk, oil, and vanilla. Mix on low speed until smooth.
• Divide batter between prepared sheets. Bake until a cake tester comes out clean, about 16 minutes. Let cool on wire racks 30 minutes. Turn out cakes onto racks, and let cool completely.
• Coat an 8 1/2-inch (9-cup) ovenproof bowl with cooking spray. Line with plastic wrap, leaving a 2-inch overhang. Cut one cake layer crosswise into 4-inch-wide strips, and use to line bowl (there should be no gaps). Cut a 9-inch round from remaining cake layer; set aside.
• One at a time, mix ice creams in the bowl of electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment until smooth. Spread 1 cup vanilla ice cream over cake in bowl; spread 1 1/2 cups chocolate ice cream on top. Continue layering ice creams, alternating 1 1/2 cups of each flavor, stopping 1/2 inch from rim. Press cake over ice cream. Wrap in plastic; freeze overnight.
• Turn out cake onto a 9-inch cake board. Freeze 15 minutes. Spread a thin layer of buttercream (about 1/2 cup) over cake, and freeze until firm, about 15 minutes. Transfer remaining buttercream to a pastry bag fitted with a basket-weave tip (such as Ateco #898). With smooth side of tip facing you, and starting at top of cake, pipe 1-inch rectangles all over cake. If cake begins to soften, freeze 15 minutes.
• Using marshmallows, make the outline of the door. Using a smaller basket-weave tip (such as Ateco #895), pipe rectangles over marshmallows. Sprinkle sanding sugar all over cake. Freeze until ready to serve, up to 1 day. Attach marzipan penguins to cake with toothpicks, and garnish with coconut "snow."

SNICKERDOODLE RUM IGLOO CAKE

Steps:

• For the cake: Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Spray two 9-inch round cake pans with nonstick cooking spray.
• Whisk the flours, cinnamon, baking powder and salt together in a large bowl and set aside.
• Cream the butter and sugar together in a stand mixer until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time until just combined, then add the vanilla. Combine the milk and rum in a measuring cup, then alternate adding the dry ingredients and milk mixture to the butter mixture in two additions each. Beat until combined.
• Pour the batter into the prepared cake pans and bake until a toothpick inserted in the center of a cake comes out clean, 30 to 35 minutes. Let cool on a wire rack until cool enough to handle, then turn the cakes out onto the wire rack to cool completely.
• For the decoration: Meanwhile, put the white melting candies and coconut oil in a medium heatproof glass or metal bowl that fits over a small saucepan without touching the bottom. Fill the saucepan with a couple of inches of water and place over medium heat. Place the bowl of white melts over the top and melt until smooth.
• Pour a small amount of the white chocolate into a 6- to 7-inch plastic chocolate dome mold and swirl the mold to coat the inside completely in a thin layer. Place in the refrigerator for 1 minute. Remove and spoon 1/4 cup more white chocolate into the mold. Using the back of the spoon, smooth the white chocolate all around the inside to create a thicker layer; refrigerate for 1 to 2 minutes. Repeat this process 2 more times, so that you have a solid white chocolate layer in the mold. Leave in the refrigerator while you finish assembling the cake. Place any leftover melted chocolate in a disposable pastry bag or resealable plastic bag.
• To make the penguins, form a ball of black gum paste about the size of a golf ball. Using the insides of your palms or the tabletop, gently roll one end to form the ball into a egg shape. Orienting the pointier side of the egg up, make a small snip with a sharp pair of scissors on one side of the egg, close to the bottom, and use your finger to lift the snip up to form a wing. Repeat directly across from this snip on the other side to make the second wing. Repeat the making egg shapes and snips 3 times for 3 more penguins.
• Take a small amount of white gum paste and roll it out thinly, dusting with cornstarch so it doesn't stick to your surface. Cut out 4 small teardrops with a cutter or very sharp paring knife. Trim a small V-shaped notch from the tip of each white teardrop. Brush a small amount of vodka on one side of a white shape and adhere to the front of a black penguin body. Repeat with the remaining penguins.
• Split the orange melting candies in half, then gently press the body of the penguin onto 2 of the orange melt halves to position them for feet. Lift the penguin off and brush the foot indents with vodka, then press the penguin gently back on top of the orange melts to adhere. Repeat with the remaining penguins. Cut the sour belts in half lengthwise, then cut into 6-inch strips. Tie one in a loose knot and drape around a penguin's head; tighten as needed, then trim to the desired length. Repeat with the remaining penguins. Press an orange chocolate-covered sunflower seed into each head to create a beak on each penguin. Use edible markers to draw eyes on each.
• Level both cake layers using a serrated knife. Flip one round upside down and secure to a 12-inch round silver cake board set on a cake turntable with a dollop of Frosting. Spread an even layer of Frosting (about 1/2 cup) over the top of the cake layer. Flip the second cake layer upside down and place atop the Frosting. Frost the entire cake with a thin even coat of Frosting. If your Frosting has picked up a lot of crumbs, refrigerate the cake 30 minutes. Generously frost the cake with a second layer of Frosting, using an offset spatula to create swirls and snow drifts.
• Remove the chocolate mold from the refrigerator and invert onto a clean work surface, using the edges of the mold to lift it off. Use a sharp paring knife to cut a broken-looking hole into the front of the igloo. Place the chocolate dome on top of the cake, positioning it close to one edge. Snip a very small bit of the tip off the end of the pastry bag with the white chocolate. Create 'ice bricks' on the igloo by piping horizontal lines at 1-inch intervals around the dome (put the pastry bag back in the microwave for a couple of seconds if it gets too hard to pipe). Then pipe in staggered vertical lines to create the bricks.
• Add more Frosting where you wish to make snow drifts against the igloo and around the bottom of the cake. Place your penguins on top and along the sides of cake.
• Place the sugar and 3/4 cup water in a saucepan and stir until dissolved. Bring to a boil over medium heat.
• Meanwhile, put the egg whites, cream of tartar and salt in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment and beat to stiff peaks. With the mixer on low, stream in the boiled sugar syrup, then add the vanilla and turn the mixer to high. Beat for 7 minutes.

MARSHMALLOW IGLOO CAKE WITH POLAR FRIENDS

Steps:

• For the cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray an 8-inch round cake pan and 8-inch half-sphere cake pan with cooking spray and dust with flour, tapping out the excess (see Cook's Note).
• Prepare the cake batter according to the package directions. Pour a little more than half the batter into the half-sphere pan and pour the remaining batter into the round pan. Bake until the cake round is baked through and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 22 to 25 minutes. Remove to a rack to cool. Reduce the oven temperature to 325 degrees F and continue baking the half-sphere until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 10 to 15 minutes more. Remove to a rack to cool. Remove the cakes from the pans while still warm and let cool completely on the rack.
• For the igloo and polar bears: If the top of either cake domed while baking, shave it flat with a serrated knife before proceeding. Place the cake round bottom-side down on a large rimmed serving tray. Spread the top of the cake with the marshmallow creme almost to the edge (a wet offset spatula is helpful when spreading the creme). Place the half-sphere cake flat-side down on top of the cake round.
• Cut the doughnut in half to make 2 half circles, trimming the insides of the pieces if necessary to make 2 arched doorways for the igloo. Frost the 2 pieces, stick them together so you have a short tunnel and attach it to the igloo with more frosting. Spread the remaining frosting all over the cake and doorway.
• Set aside 8 regular marshmallows, then snip the remaining regular marshmallows in half from top to bottom (lengthwise) with sharp kitchen shears. Starting at the base of the cake and continuing in a circle, press the cut side of the marshmallows into the frosting to adhere to the igloo, packing the pieces as close as possible so almost no frosting shows through. Continue adding snipped marshmallows in rows until you reach the top. Add more snipped marshmallows to finish the doorway, quartering some lengthwise if necessary to make a tight fit. Cut 1 of the remaining whole regular marshmallows in half crosswise and put one piece on the very top of the igloo. Spread the granulated sugar around the cake on the tray to make drifts of snow.
• To make 3 polar bear heads: Snip a thin piece from one of the flat ends of 3 regular marshmallows to make them sticky. Flip the marshmallows over onto a plate so the untrimmed flat sides are face up. Snip a thin piece from the top and bottom of 3 mini marshmallows, then adhere a marshmallow to the center of each of the heads (these are the bases of the noses). Press a brown chocolate candy onto each mini marshmallow. To make eyes, use a toothpick to hollow out 2 sticky patches on each head, then apply a set of candy eyes to each. Cut 3 mini marshmallow in half crosswise and attach 2 pieces to the top of each head for ears.
• To make the floating polar bear: Clear a space in the sugar snow with your fingers for a pool. Add the rock candy. Place one of the polar bear heads on the rock candy so it looks like it is peeking out of the water. Snip 2 regular marshmallows in half diagonally to make 4 triangular pieces. Arrange the pieces in the pool for paws.
• To make the sitting polar bears: Snip a disc from both the top and bottom flat ends of the remaining 2 regular marshmallows, then cut each disc into half-moons. Arrange 4 of the half-moon pieces cut-side up in a square to form front and back paws; arrange the other 4 in another square. Snip the jumbo marshmallow in half diagonally, then place one piece on each set of paws cut-side up, with the round end at the front set of paws. Attach a polar bear head to the upper third of the round end of each jumbo marshmallow piece. Snip an end from the remaining 2 mini marshmallows and attach one to each jumbo marshmallow piece for a tail. Sit the polar bears on the sugar.
• For the campfire and fish: Sprinkle the chopped chocolate pieces in a circle to resemble dirt for a fire pit. Pile the red, orange, pink and yellow snipped gummy bears in the center to resemble a campfire and embers.
• To make a fish over the fire: Cut an 8-inch piece of black licorice lace. Cut a small slit near the tail of 1 fish with the tip of a paring knife, making sure not to cut all the way through the tail. Thread the licorice lace through the slit and tie a knot on one end. Slide the fish down so it is secured by the knot. Lay the fish down on a work surface and lay 3 of licorice twist pieces on top of the fish so the tail of the fish and the end of the twisted licorice candies line up (eat or discard the fourth piece of licorice twist). Wrap the black licorice lace around the top of the licorice twists to keep them in a bundle, then tuck in the lace so it stays put. Stand the bundle upright and separate the licorice twists to form a tripod. Place it over the fire with the fish hanging in the middle.
• For the fish on the line: Make a small slit near the tails of the 3 remaining fish with the tip of a paring knife, making sure not to cut all the way through the tails. Thread the remaining piece of black licorice lace through the slits. Tuck the ends of the licorice lace into the side of the igloo near the fire and arrange the fish so they hang down. Sprinkle the cake and bears with the confectioners' sugar for a snow effect, if desired.

IGLOO CAKE

Steps:

• Make cake: Preheat oven to 350° and grease an 8" cake pan and an 8" oven-safe bowl (with a completely rounded bottom) with cooking spray. Dust with flour, tapping out the excess. Prepare batter according to package instructions.
• Pour a little more than half of the batter into the bowl, then pour the remaining batter into the round pan. Bake until the cake in the cake pan is cooked through and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 25 minutes. Continue baking the cake in the bowl until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 10 minutes more. Invert cakes onto a cooling rack to cool completely.
• Dye the frosting blue with the blue food coloring. Using a serrated knife, level the cakes. Spread frosting over the entire surface of the round cake from the cake pan and place the cake from the bowl on top, larger side on the bottom. Cover the entire cake with frosting.
• Glue the cake donut halves together with frosting then press it onto the front bottom of the cake to make the entry way. Cover with frosting.
• Using kitchen shears, snip large marshmallows in half. Starting at the bottom of the cake, press the cut sides of the marshmallows into the frosting, packing them closely together in even rows. Continue until you reach the top.
• Snip mini marshmallows in half and press them into the doorway.
• Sift powdered sugar on top. Decorate with blue rock candy as desired.

IGLOO CAKE

Steps:

• Make the Igloo:
• Butter and flour an 8-inch-round cake pan and a 1.5-quart ovenproof bowl. Make the cake batter; divide between the pan and the bowl. Bake at 350 degrees F until a toothpick comes out clean, about 35 minutes for the pan, 40 to 45 minutes for the bowl. Let cool, then unmold the cakes onto a rack.
• Microwave the white chocolate at 50% power in 15-second intervals, stirring, until melted, about 2 minutes. Pour onto a parchment paper-lined baking sheet and spread to 1/4 inch thick with an offset spatula. Sprinkle with the sanding sugar. Chill until set, about 10 minutes.
• Remove the chocolate from the refrigerator. Break most of it into rough 1/2-to-1-inch pieces to form the ice that covers the igloo.
• Use a paring knife to cut a few even 1/2-inch tiles from the remaining chocolate (these are for the tunnel entrance).
• Assemble the igloo: Mix 2 1/2 cups frosting with the blue food coloring. Spread some blue frosting on the flat cake, then cover with the bowl-shaped cake.
• Spread some frosting on the cake where you want the tunnel to go, then attach a doughnut half, cut-side down. Attach the other half with frosting to extend the tunnel.
• Cover the entire cake with a thin layer of blue frosting (this is called a "crumb coat," which is like a primer; it doesn't have to be perfect). Chill, uncovered, until the frosting sets, about 15 minutes.
• Spread the remaining blue frosting evenly over the cake and doughnuts. Arrange the white-chocolate pieces on the igloo in a mosaic pattern. Place the even white- chocolate tiles around the tunnel entrance.
• For the trees, mix 3/4 cup vanilla frosting with the green food coloring. Spread on the cones, flicking the frosting with the tip of an offset spatula to form branches. Arrange the trees around the igloo and dust with confectioners' sugar.

IGLOO SPREAD WITH CREAM CHEESE PENGUINS

Steps:

• Line 1-quart bowl with plastic wrap. In food processor, place Cheddar cheese, blue cheese, 1 package softened cream cheese, the bacon bits, onions and pepper sauce. Cover and process, using quick on-and-off motions, until thoroughly mixed. Press cheese mixture into bowl. Cover and refrigerate at least 4 hours but no longer than 48 hours.
• Invert cheese mixture onto upside-down glass plate or pie plate, forming igloo shape. Remove about 2 tablespoons cheese mixture from one side to make 2x2 1/2-inch arched doorway.
• Cut two 3/8-inch slices from end of block of firm cream cheese; reserve. Beat remaining cream cheese and the milk with electric mixer on medium speed until blended and smooth. Frost glass plate and igloo with cream cheese mixture; smooth with spatula. Draw lines across igloo, using toothpick, to look like ice blocks. Cut each reserved cream cheese slice into 4 rectangles. Use 6 to 8 rectangles to form door canopy. Cover loosely and refrigerate until ready to serve.
• To make penguins, cut a slit from top to bottom on each jumbo olive on one side only. Insert about 1 teaspoon cream cheese into olive to fill cavity. Cut carrot into 1/4-inch slices; cut small notch out of each carrot slice to form feet. Press cutout notch piece into center of small olive to form beak (if necessary, pierce olive with small paring knife or toothpick to make a hole). Using a frilled toothpick, stack head (small olive), body (jumbo olive) and feet (carrot slice), adjusting so that beak, cream cheese breast and notch in carrot slice line up. (Penguins will stand better if olives are stacked with larger holes facing downward.)
• To serve, cut flag shape from carrot curl and secure on toothpick; insert into top of igloo. Garnish igloo with rosemary, bell pepper and cream cheese penguins. Serve with crackers.

IGLOO CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Prepare and bake cake mix according to package directions for cupcakes. Cool completely. Remove cupcakes from liners., Place one cupcake on a serving plate, top side down. Cover completely with 1/4 cup whipped topping. Cut a large marshmallow crosswise in half. Cut each half with an apple corer to make an igloo entrance; press against cupcake., Starting at the bottom, cover entire cupcake with rows of miniature marshmallows, forming an igloo. Repeat with remaining cupcakes. If desired, decorate with coarse sugar and icing decorations.