Cereal-Bowl Cake Recipe

This Cereal-Bowl Cake Recipe is a fun and easy recipe, which is made with chocolate cake mix and vanilla ice cream. It’s the perfect birthday cake, ready in about 4.5 hours (including baking, cooling, and freezing).

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Cereal-Bowl Cake Ingredients

• 1 (16-to-18-ounce) box chocolate cake mix
• Ingredients as called for on the cake mix box (typically water, oil, and eggs)
• 1 (16-ounce) tub vanilla frosting
• 1 pint vanilla ice cream
• 1 cup Froot Loops or other colorful cereal
• Cooking spray
• Special Equipment: 2.5-quart ovenproof bowl

How To Make a Cereal-Bowl Cake

1. Prep Oven and Bake Cake: Preheat the oven to 325°F. Generously coat a 2.5-quart ovenproof bowl with cooking spray.
2. Mix and Bake: Prepare the cake mix as directed on the box and pour the batter into the prepared bowl. Bake for about 1 hour, or until a long skewer inserted into the center comes out clean. Let the cake cool completely in the bowl.
3. Sculpt the Bowl: Unmold the cooled cake from the bowl and position it rounded-side down on a work surface. Use a long serrated knife to trim the domed top (which is now the bottom) to make the cake level.
4. Hollow the Cake: Use a small knife to cut a circle into the top of the cake, about 3/4 inch from the edge and 1 1/2 inches deep. Use a fork or your fingers to hollow out the cake in the middle, creating a bowl shape.
5. Frost and Chill: Flip the cake over so the hollowed-out side is up. Place it on a cardboard circle or a freezer-safe plate. Cover the entire cake (the rounded “bowl” side and the hollowed-out inside) with a thick layer of frosting. Transfer the cake to the freezer for at least 30 minutes to allow the frosting to set and become firm.
6. Fill with “Milk”: Microwave the vanilla ice cream in 15-second bursts until it is softened but not completely melted, like a very thick milkshake. Scoop the softened ice cream into the cavity of the frozen, frosted cake and smooth the top.
7. Garnish and Freeze: Sprinkle the cereal over the top of the ice cream and gently press it in. Place the entire cake back in the freezer until the ice cream is completely firm, for at least 2 hours.
8. Serve: Add a spoon to the “bowl” before serving for the full effect!

Recipe Tips

• How do I get the cake out of the bowl cleanly? You must grease the ovenproof bowl very generously. Use a baking spray that contains flour, or grease it with shortening and then dust it with flour. Let the cake cool completely before trying to flip it out.
• Why do I have to freeze the cake? Chilling the cake (Step 5) until the frosting is rock-hard is essential. If you pour the softened ice cream into a room-temperature cake, the cake will become soggy and the ice cream will melt.
• Can I use a different kind of cake or ice cream? Absolutely! A yellow or funfetti cake mix would be great. You could pair it with strawberry ice cream and fruit-flavored cereal, or chocolate ice cream and a chocolate-based cereal.
• What’s the best way to hollow out the cake? After you cut the initial circle, use a small serrated knife (like a grapefruit knife) to cut the inside in a cross-hatch pattern, being careful not to go too deep. Then, the pieces are easy to scoop out with a spoon.

What To Serve With Cereal-Bowl Cake

This is a very fun, all-in-one dessert! It needs nothing else, but it’s fun to serve with:

• A cold glass of milk
• A drizzle of chocolate or strawberry sauce over the top
• Extra cereal on the side

How To Store Cereal-Bowl Cake

• Freeze: This cake must be stored in the freezer because of the ice cream center. Once the ice cream is frozen solid (Step 7), cover the entire cake tightly with plastic wrap. It can be stored in the freezer for up to a week. Let it sit at room temperature for 5-10 minutes before slicing.

Cereal-Bowl Cake Nutrition Facts

Nutrition information is highly variable and depends entirely on the specific brands of cake mix, frosting, ice cream, and cereal used. This is a celebratory treat meant for sharing.

Nutrition information is estimated and may vary based on ingredients and cooking methods used.

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