This Easy Summer Beach Cake has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and I Love Ice Cream Cakes. All opinions are mine alone. #IceCreamCakeBreak #CollectiveBias
Dive into the ultimate summer delight with this incredibly simple and fun Easy Summer Beach Cake! Crafted quickly with a readily available Carvel® ice cream cake and a few creative candy decorations, it’s the perfect showstopper for any warm-weather gathering. Forget hours in the kitchen – this cake brings smiles and deliciousness with minimal effort, making your summer celebrations truly unforgettable.
Summer is a season of pure joy, sunshine, and endless possibilities, and this year, we’re embracing every single moment. The long, lazy days, the warm evenings, and the laughter of children echoing through the backyard truly make this time of year special. For our family, summer means one thing above all else: pool time! We recently upgraded to a fantastic new pool, and it has quickly become the heart of our home. Both the kids and adults can’t get enough of splashing around, soaking up the sun, and simply enjoying the refreshing water.
Our children love nothing more than inviting their friends over for impromptu swimming sessions. It’s wonderful to see them create lasting memories, playing games, and just being kids. Sometimes, getting them out of the water can be quite a challenge – that is, until a tempting treat like this Easy Summer Beach Cake makes an appearance! The promise of a cool, delicious dessert is often the only thing powerful enough to lure them from the refreshing depths of the pool.
Just a few weeks ago, my kids proposed a spontaneous “pool party” with their buddies. Of course, I was all for it – who can say no to more summer fun? However, an epic pool party requires epic snacks and, most importantly, an epic dessert to cap off the afternoon. A quick trip to the grocery store was in order to stock up on all our favorites.
As we navigated the aisles of Walmart, the freezer section in the bakery department called our name. And there they were: the iconic Carvel® Ice Cream Cakes. Their vibrant packaging and the promise of creamy, dreamy layers instantly caught our attention. We opted for the family-size sheet cake, knowing it would be perfect for a hungry crowd. As we placed it in our cart, an idea sparked – why not transform this classic treat into something truly special? That’s how the vision for our Easy Summer Beach Cake was born.
Effortless Elegance: Crafting Your Own Summer Beach Cake
The beauty of a Carvel ice cream cake lies in its delicious foundation. Each cake features delightful layers of rich vanilla and chocolate ice cream, separated by signature chocolate crunchies, all enveloped in fresh whipped icing. It’s a nostalgic flavor that transports you back to childhood summers, making it the perfect canvas for our beach-themed masterpiece.
Our family are immense fans of ice cream cakes in general. As a busy parent, I’m particularly fond of the sheer convenience they offer. They’re my go-to for a quick, impressive dessert, whether we’re celebrating a birthday, a successful school year, or just the joy of a sunny afternoon. The best part? They’re readily available at your local grocery store, meaning a delightful dessert is just minutes away from bringing smiles to everyone’s faces. No need to stress over baking; simply pick one up and let your creativity flow!
The decorating process itself was a highlight of our day. We used teddy bear crackers, which became our adorable “beachgoers,” carefully placing them into colorful peach rings to mimic little inner tubes floating on the water. This was my daughter’s absolute favorite part, as it reminded her of her own beloved donut floatie. Her eyes lit up with excitement as she arranged the tiny bears, imagining them having their own miniature pool party.
Not only did my kids adore helping with the decoration, but they also got an enormous kick out of how charming the final cake looked. And the taste? Absolutely divine! The combination of the classic Carvel ice cream and our playful candy additions made it a hit with everyone, proving that a little creativity can go a long way in turning a simple dessert into a memorable experience.
Your Guide to an Easy Summer Beach Cake: Simple Steps, Maximum Fun!
This Easy Summer Beach Cake is not only super easy and fun to create, but it also comes together in a flash, all thanks to the convenience of a store-bought ice cream cake. It’s the ideal dessert for busy summer days when you want to impress without the stress. Below, you’ll find everything you need to recreate this delightful treat, ensuring your next gathering is filled with sunshine and smiles.
Easy Summer Beach Cake
Prep
Total
Author Megan | Strawberry Blondie Kitchen
Yield 18 servings
This Easy Summer Beach Cake comes together quickly with a store bought Carvel® ice cream cake and fun candy decorations. A perfect no-bake dessert for any summer gathering or pool party.
Ingredients
- 1 Carvel® Ice Cream Cake – Family Size
- 1 sleeve graham crackers, crushed (for the “sand”)
- 1 tub vanilla frosting (as a base for coloring)
- Gel food coloring (blue and yellow)
- Teddy Bear crackers (our adorable “beachgoers”)
- Candy stripes, cut into “beach towels” (a little larger than the teddy bear size)
- Peach rings (for the teddy bear “inner tubes”)
- Yellow licorice, cut into small pieces (for sun rays)
- Fish and/or other small candies (for “underwater” details)
Instructions
- Prepare the yellow frosting: Place 1 tablespoon of vanilla frosting into a small bowl. Add 1/4 teaspoon of yellow food gel coloring and stir thoroughly until the color is vibrant and evenly combined. This will be your sunny yellow frosting.
- Prepare the light blue frosting: In a separate bowl, place 3 tablespoons of vanilla frosting. Add 1/4 teaspoon of blue food gel coloring and stir until combined, achieving a lovely, pale shade of blue, perfect for gentle waves.
- Prepare the dark blue frosting: Take the remaining vanilla frosting and place it into a third bowl. Add 1 teaspoon of blue food gel and stir well until the frosting transforms into a richer, darker blue – this will represent the deeper ocean waters.
- Create the beach scene: Carefully outline a diagonal line across the top of your ice cream cake, dividing it into two main sections. In the top-left corner of the cake, use the yellow frosting to form a cheerful sun. Arrange small pieces of yellow licorice around the base of the sun to resemble bright, radiating sun rays.
- Design the ocean: Apply the dark blue frosting to the bottom half of the diagonal, spreading it evenly to cover that entire section of the cake. Next, dollop spoonfuls of the light blue frosting all over the dark blue area. Using a knife or a spoon, gently swirl the two blues together to create a beautiful, dynamic wave effect. Scatter your fish and other small candies into this “water” to complete the underwater illusion.
- Add the swimmers: Place your teddy bear crackers into the peach rings, creating miniature inner tube scenes. Carefully arrange these adorable swimmers into the blue “water” on your cake.
- Complete the beach: Sprinkle the crushed graham crackers along the other half of the diagonal, creating a sandy beach. Place additional teddy bears onto the candy stripe “beach towels” and position them on the graham cracker sand. For a final touch, add small candy umbrellas over the sunbathing bears, completing your idyllic beach scene.
Courses Dessert
Cuisine American
Life truly is a beach when you have delicious ice cream cake! So, embrace the carefree spirit of summer and act like one of these adorable teddy bears – relax, enjoy the sun, and indulge in a sweet treat.
Cooks Tip: To ensure your decorating process is as smooth and quick as possible, it’s crucial to prepare all your components before you even take the ice cream cake out of the freezer. This means crushing your graham crackers to the perfect sandy consistency, dividing and mixing your vanilla frosting with the food gel colorings, and carefully cutting your candy stripes into “beach towels” and your yellow licorice into “sun rays.” By having everything prepped and ready to go, you can decorate the cake swiftly while it’s still firm, then pop it back into the freezer immediately to prevent melting. This thoughtful preparation guarantees a beautiful, perfectly chilled Easy Summer Beach Cake every time.
Remember, the world of “I Love Ice Cream Cakes” offers an incredible variety of styles and sizes to suit any occasion. Whether you prefer the classic appeal of original Carvel®, the delightful flavors of Jon Donaire®, or the universally loved taste of OREO®, there’s an ice cream cake perfect for your next celebration. These cakes are not just for summer; they’re ideal for birthdays, holidays, or simply making any day feel special. Don’t wait – check out this store locator to find an “I Love Ice Cream Cakes” product near you and start planning your next sweet moment.
We’d love to hear from you! Sound off in the comments below and let us know how you’re soaking up summer. What are your favorite summer activities, and how do you plan to incorporate the convenience and deliciousness of “I Love Ice Cream Cakes” into your upcoming warm-weather occasions? Share your ideas and inspire others!
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