Ice cream cake lovers often find themselves divided over a surprisingly contentious question: does an ice cream cake actually have cake in it? This debate recently surfaced at a birthday celebration in Pittsburgh, where guests from across the U.S. clashed over what truly defines an ice cream cake.
The birthday cake in question was layers of chocolate and vanilla ice cream, fudge, crunchy chocolate pieces, and whipped cream frosting — but no traditional cake layers. While some attendees embraced this all-ice-cream dessert, others insisted ice cream cake must include a real cake layer topped with ice cream and frosting. Interestingly, this division often aligns regionally: East Coast and Midwest fans favor all-ice-cream versions like those popularized by Carvel, while West Coast guests tend to expect a cake layer within their ice cream cake.
Historically, the concept of ice cream cake evolved from Baked Alaska, a 19th-century dessert combining cake, ice cream, and toasted meringue. However, the modern ice cream cake took shape in the 1920s when Carvel founder Tom Carvel invented soft-serve ice cream and crafted a new dessert featuring layers of chocolate and vanilla ice cream with chocolate crunchies and whipped icing. Carvel remains a major player in ice cream franchise history, especially in the East and Midwest.
Other chains offer variations reflecting this debate: Friendly’s ice cream cakes closely resemble Carvel’s style, featuring all ice cream and crunchy layers. On the West Coast, Cold Stone Creamery offers cakes with actual cake layers combined with mix-ins and ice cream, while Baskin-Robbins presents both versions, allowing customers to choose their preference. Dairy Queen, with its national reach, leans toward Carvel’s all-ice-cream style with fudge and crunchies.
So, is the ice cream cake controversy truly a regional split? Not exactly. It largely depends on which ice cream franchise or brand you favor, as many chains offer both all-ice-cream and cake-inclusive options in most states. The real question is which chain makes the best ice cream cake — a challenge our taste testers have taken on with delicious results.
In the end, whether you prefer your ice cream cake with or without actual cake, one thing is clear: both styles bring joy, and perhaps the best answer is that everyone’s right.
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