The Chefs Black Book

Baskin-Robbins® B.R. Blast®

Burt Baskin and Irv Robbins' idea to franchise their ice
cream stores for rapid growth was so inspired that the
company's former milk shake machine salesman, Ray Kroc,
adopted the technique to successfully expand his new chain
of McDonald's hamburger outlets.
Ice cream is this chain's staple. So this coffee drink,
unlike the Frappuccino made famous by Starbucks, requires
adding ice cream for a creamy texture and rich taste.
If you've got a blender you can clone either of the two
varieties of this refreshing coffee beverage. For
chocoholics bent on everything mocha, just add some
chocolate syrup to the mix.

Cappuccino
1 cup double-strength coffee (see Tidbits)
1 cup milk
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1 heaping cup vanilla ice cream
2 cups crushed ice or ice cubes
Garnish
whipped cream
cinnamon

1. Combine the strong coffee, milk and sugar in a blender
and mix on medium speed for 15 seconds to dissolve sugar.

2. Add ice cream and ice then blend on high speed until smooth
and creamy.

3. Pour drink into two 16-ounce glasses. If desired, add
whipped cream to the top of each drink followed by a sprinkle
of cinnamon.

Makes 2 large drinks.

Mocha
For this version, add 2 tablespoons of chocolate syrup to
the recipe above and prepare as described.
Tidbits
Make double-strength coffee in your coffee maker by adding
half the water suggested by the manufacturer. Allow coffee to chill in the refrigerator before using it in this recipe.

Baskin-Robbins® Ice Cream Cake

Traditional white birthday cakes are pretty boring
by themselves. Scoop a little ice cream onto the
plate and I'll perk up a bit. But, hey baby, bring
a Baskin-Robbins ice cream cake to the party and I'll
be the first one in line with a plastic fork. This
4500-unit ice cream chain stacks several varieties of
pre-made ice cream cakes in its freezer, but I've
discovered the most popular version, over and over
again, is the one made from white cake with pralines
and cream ice cream on top. So that's got to be the
version we clone here. But don't think you're locked
into this formula - you can use any flavor of cake and
ice cream you fancy for your homemade masterpiece.
Just be sure the ice cream you choose comes in a box.
It should be rectangular shape so that the ice cream
layer stacks up right. Then you'll want to find a real
sharp serrated knife to cut the ice cream in half while
it's in the box. And check this out: That white stuff
that coats the cake is actually softened ice cream spread
on a thin layer like frosting, and then re-frozen.
After it sets up, you can decorate the cake any way
you like with pre-made frosting in whatever color suits
your festive occasion. Voilà! You've just made an ice
cream cake at home that looks and tastes like those in the
stores that costs around 35 buck each.

Cake
1 box white cake mix
1 1/4 cups water
1/3 cup vegetable oil
3 egg whites
1/2-gallon box pralines and cream ice cream
4 cups (2 pints) vanilla ice cream
1 12-ounce container white frosting

Optional
colored frosting
A sharp bread knife makes box slicing easy
Ice cream on top of the cake, and all the trimming

1. Make your cake following the directions on the box.
If you are making the white cake you will likely blend
the cake mix with water, oil, and 3 eggs. Pour the batter
into a greased 9 x 13-inch baking pan and bake at 350 degrees
for 30 to 35 minutes. This will make a thin cake for our bottom
layer. When cake is done, let it cool to room temperature.

2. When the cake has cooled, carefully remove it from the
pan and place it on a wax paper-covered cookie sheet, or a
platter or tray that will fit into your freezer.

3. Use a sharp serrated knife (a bread knife works great)
to slice the ice cream lengthwise through the middle, box
and all, so that you have two 2-inch thick sheets of ice cream.
Peel the cardboard off the ice cream and lay the halves next
to each other on the cake. Slice the edges of the cake all
the way around so that the cake is the same size as the ice
cream on top. Work quickly so that the ice cream doesn't melt.
When the cake has been trimmed, place it into the freezer
for an hour or two.

4. When you are ready to frost the cake, take the two pints
(4 cups) of vanilla ice cream out of the freezer for 20 to 30
minutes to soften. Sitr the ice cream so that it is smooth,
like frosting. Use a frosting knife or spatula to coat your
cake with about 2 cups of ice cream. Cover the entire surface
thoroughly so that you cannot see any of the cake or ice cream
underneath. Pop the cake into the freezer for an hour or so
to set up.

5. When the cake has set, fill a pastry bag (with a fancy tip)
with white frosting to decorate all around the top edge of the
cake. Also decorate around the bottom of the cake. Use colored
frosting and different tips to add inspired artistic flair and writing on the cake, as needed. Cover the cake with plastic wrap and keep it in your freezer until party time.

6. When you are ready to serve the cake, leave it out for 10
minutes before slicing. Cut the cake with a sharp knife that
has been held under hot water.
Makes 1 large cake (16 - 20 servings).

Tidbits
You may wish to use another flavor cake mix such as chocolate
or devil's food for this dessert - even low-fat cake mix works.
It's up to you. Just follow the directions on the box for making
the cake in a 9 x 13-inch baking pan.
You can also use any flavor of ice cream. Just be sure to get
it in a box.