My gluten free Raspberry Brownie Ice Cream Cake is a luscious make-ahead summer dessert. Use any gluten free brownie recipe you like, then layer with ice cream and sorbet. It's a simple dessert made in steps, follow the steps and you'll be the rock star when you serve this at your next summer party.
Serve this frozen cake after any summer meal. From burgers to steak to my fancy-ish Farm-To-Table dinner, you can't go wrong with brownies and ice cream. If you're going out follow this advice from many gluten free cooks. Be the person who takes dessert to the party so you have a delicious, and safe, ending to your meal.
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Ingredients
Fudgy brownies, my favourite kind, are made with a small amount of flour. That makes gluten free brownies one of the first recipes to master. I've got my favourite!
- gluten free chocolate brownie (fudgy brownie or cake-like brownie)
- vanilla ice cream
- raspberry sorbet/sherbet - Sorbet is made from fruit juice and sugar. Sherbet is fruit juice, sugar, and a bit of milk.
- Optional Garnishes - whipped cream, raspberries and mint leaves
See recipe card for exact amounts.
Instructions To Cut A Brownie in Half Horizontally
- Use a long knife with a serrated edge and cut with confidence! The blade of the knife should be longer than 8 inches so it cuts right into the entire side of the brownie.
- Use a sawing motion and cut inward about 2 inches on all sides. Once you get that far you'll have the confidence to do the final motion right through the center of the brownie.
- I slide a flexible baking mat between the two layers to easily separate the top and bottom. A cookie sheet or placemat would also work.
- If the top layer cracks a bit, the ice cream will hold it together so just keep going.
Instructions: How To Cut Ice Cream Cake
The secret to making perfect cuts for cheesecake and ice cream cake is using a hot knife and taking your time. It's the kind of effort that makes everyone comment on the amazing desserts from your kitchen.
- Dip a long knife into hot water. This can be in a sink, a tall glass or under a running tap.
- Wipe off the knife with a damp dishcloth after each cut. I rinse and wring out the dishcloth, while my knife is in the sink. Then wipe so it looks clean.
- If you want to eat what's on the knife that's okay with me. Develop a technique so you don't cut your fingers and enjoy! To me this feels like the reward for my effort.
The goal is to show off the layers on every piece. In the finished photo here mine aren't exactly perfect (once again proving you can't rush this process) but on that day I was happy with what I did.
Substitutions
Brownie layer - For this ice cream cake I use the brownie layer only from my Chocolate Cheesecake Brownies. Feel free to substitute with any gluten free brownie recipe you like; a store bought mix or your go-to family favourite.
Ice cream and sorbet layers - Dream up any combination you want by changing the ice cream layer or sorbet layer. Many ideas come to mind as I think of my Aztec chocolate ice cream, strawberry cheesecake ice cream and on and on.
Dairy free version - My dairy free coconut ice cream would be awesome with a mango sorbet.
Variations
Here are three ways to vary this Brownie Ice Cream Cake and make it look completely different.
- Make a single layer of brownie with ice cream on top. Drizzle it with two kinds of chocolate (dark and white) or two sauces like raspberry sauce and caramel sauce.
- Bake the brownie recipe in a round pan. Make a layered dessert as I did here or follow the idea above and make a single layer topped with ice cream.
- Make a large sheet cake by cutting the brownie in half then assembling the two pieces side by side on a large tray. Be sure there is space in your freezer before you decide to make this one.
Equipment
An 8-inch square baking pan is all you need to make this dessert. If you're buying new be sure to buy them in pairs, you'll never regret it!
Top Tip
Freezing the cake completely at each stage will ensure the layers don't melt into each other. That means start a few days in advance of serving. Cutting the pieces takes more than a minute so do that in advance too. These tips are what make this dessert look easy when you serve it.
Gluten Free Raspberry Brownie Ice Cream Cake
Ingredients
- 1 8-inch square cooked, gluten free chocolate brownie (see notes for recipe suggestions)
- 3 cups gluten free vanilla ice cream
- 3 cups gluten free raspberry sorbet or sherbet
GARNISH
- whipped cream
- raspberries
- fresh mint leaves
Instructions
- Cut the brownie in half horizontally.
- Line the original baking pan with parchment and place one half of the brownie into the bottom of the pan.
- Top with scoops of slightly softened vanilla ice cream. Spread evenly over the brownie. If it is quite soupy freeze before doing the next step.
- Top ice cream with the second brownie half, gently pressing into the ice cream. Freeze for at least 2 hours.
- Top with scoops of slightly softened raspberry sorbet. Spread evenly over the brownie. Cover with foil or put in airtight container and freeze overnight.
- Remove from freezer and transfer to a cutting board. Make every cut using a knife dipped in hot water. Lay in a sink or run under the tap then wipe clean after every cut.
- Cut cake in half. Working with one piece at a time cut each half into 8 pieces. Keep the other half in the freezer while doing this.
- Top each pieace with fresh whipped cream and raspberries. Garnish with fresh mint if desired. Serve immediately.
Notes
Nutrition
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Cinde Little
Awesome!
Steshni
Amazing chocolaty brownies that melt in your mouth😍😍
Cinde Little
You can never go wrong with brownies! 😋 I'm glad you liked it.
Sarah Khan
The brownie was rich and the ice cream was full of flavor! Loved it and will definitely try it at home. Thank you Cindy for the lovely dessert.
Cinde Little
Your welcome Sarah, I'm glad you liked it. It's a great summer dessert! If you make some version of this dessert take a picture and tag me on Instagram.
Ayari Zukoshi
Absolutely amazing!! The brownie part of the ice cream was just perfect, not too overwhelming or underwhelming. Honestly prefer this brownie rather than regular gluten brownie. And not to mention the ice cream!!! Just tastes like summer
Cinde Little
Thanks Ayari, I agree it's a perfect summer dessert! The cake you had was with Strawberry Cheesecake Ice Cream, decadent with that fudgy brownie. I'm glad you thought it was amazing!
Muskan Gupta
Awesome!! Loved it so much!
Cinde Little
Thanks Muskan, I'm glad you loved it! I did too. 🙂