Death by chocolate made easy: We use a boxed cake mix and good-quality, store-bought ice cream as the base for these build-your-own sundaes. The homemade chocolate sauce is super easy to make.
- Level: Intermediate
- Total: 6 hr 15 min
- Prep: 5 min
- Inactive: 5 hr 35 min
- Cook: 35 min
- Yield: 12 to 16 servings
Ingredients
Cake:
Cooking spray, for coating aluminum foil
1 box chocolate cake mix for two 9-inch rounds (or your favorite flavor)
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 large egg
5 cups chocolate ice cream, softened
1 1/2 cups cold heavy cream
1 tablespoon sugar
Chocolate Sauce:
4 ounces semisweet chocolate, broken into large chunks
3/4 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup corn syrup
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
Suggested toppings: chocolate sprinkles, chocolate chips, crushed chocolate wafer cookies, maraschino cherries and chocolate-covered raisins, nuts and pretzels
Directions
- For the cake: Position an oven rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. Line a 9-by-13-inch cake pan with aluminum foil and coat it with cooking spray.
- Beat the cake mix, oil, egg and 1/4 cup water in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Let stand a few minutes until no longer tacky, and then pat into the prepared pan.
- Bake until the edges are set, the cake has deflated and the top is no longer wet and shiny, 20 to 25 minutes. Let cool completely, about 1 hour.
- Spread the softened ice cream over the cake in an even layer. Cover with plastic wrap and freeze until firm, at least 4 hours or overnight.
- For the chocolate sauce: Combine the chocolate, cream, corn syrup, butter and salt in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Whisk periodically as the mixture comes to a gentle simmer. Simmer for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. If the sauce starts to boil, turn down the heat. Cool 15 minutes before serving. Transfer to a bowl or small pitcher.
- Let the cake stand at room temperature for about 20 minutes before serving.
- Whip the cream with the sugar in a chilled medium bowl with an electric mixer until stiff peaks form. Spread the whipped cream over the ice cream layer to cover.
- Use the foil to lift the cake out of the pan and place on a serving platter. Slice and serve along with the chocolate sauce and your favorite toppings, such as chocolate sprinkles, chocolate chips, crushed chocolate wafer cookies, maraschino cherries and chocolate-covered raisins, nuts and pretzels.
