Painting Party-Ice Cream Cake + Party Snack Mix

A birthday party fit for an artist!  Celebrating our favorite six year old with a Painting Party and all things sprinkles!One of my favorite things to do is plan a birthday party.  We are a family that loves to celebrate the big stuff, the small stuff and all the things in between and why not make someone feel extra special on their birthday.  The planning process is just as fun as the actual party and I like to involve the birthday girl (or boy) in all the planning.  

First up, we start with a theme!  This year, our six year was set on a Painting Party.  We searched around and found the perfect spot for our sweet girl and all of her friends.

Cake: Vanilla + Strawberry Ice Cream Cake  

Once the theme is picked, Cake is next on our mind.  I let our birthday girl pick her favorite flavor and  we start working on the design from there.  This year, she decided that she was not into a lot of icing and she really wanted ice cream.  A strawberry Ice Cream Cake was the absolute best addition to her birthday dinner (not great for birthday parties, so we settled on a Red Velvet Naked Cake for her party…that recipe will come soon)!  It was sweet, simple, topped with our favorite sprinkles, french macarons and a beautiful fresh peony!

Vanilla and Strawberry Ice Cream Cake

Three layers of Classic Vanilla Cake layered with your favorite Strawberry Ice Cream

• Author: Kristen Massad

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• Classic Vanilla Cake
• Strawberry Simple Syrup
• 1 Cup Granulated Sugar
• 1 Cup Water
• ½ Cup Strawberries, sliced
• Ice Cream
• 3-4 Cups Strawberry Ice Cream ( I love Tillamook Strawberry Ice Cream)
• Garnish
• Sprinkles, French Macaron and Flowers

Instructions

1. Bake the Vanilla Cake in (3) 6 inch cake pans
2. Allow the cake to cool completely
3. Simple Syrup:
4. In a small sauce pan, bring the sugar, water and strawberries to a simmer
5. Simmer until the sugar is fully dissolved and water has become slightly thick
6. Remove the syrup from the heat and strain the strawberries out
7. Allow the simple syrup to cool before using
8. Layer the Cake:
9. Place the 6 inch cake ring on a cake plate or cake board
10. Line the cake ring with clear acetate paper or a strip of parchment paper
11. Place the first 6 inch vanilla cake layer at the bottom of the cake ring
12. Brush the strawberry simple syrup on the vanilla cake
13. Layer one cup of strawberry ice cream on the vanilla cake and spread until smooth and even
14. Place the next layer of vanilla cake onto the strawberry ice cream layer
15. Brush the strawberry simple syrup onto the vanilla cake
16. Layer one cup of strawberry ice cream onto the vanilla cake layer
17. Repeat until all three layers of vanilla cake are used, finishing with strawberry ice-cream
18. Sprinkle the top of the ice cream with rainbow sprinkles
19. Freeze the Ice Cream Cake for 6-8 hours or overnight
20. Once you are ready to serve the cake, remove the ring and the paper liner from the cake
21. Allow the cake to sit out for 3-5 minutes before serving so that it is not to frozen
22. Garnish with french macarons and a flower!

Snack: Party Snack Mix

Party Snack Mix was a huge hit at the Paint Party!  With not a lot of time for a big or messy snack, something that can be enjoyed with their hands and while they are painting is the way to go…and of course, covered in sprinkles!  Party Snack Mix is a combination of  salty + sweet, coated in white chocolate and sprinkles.

Party Snack Mix

Sweet and Salty snack mix coated in white chocolate and rainbow sprinkles!

• Author: Kristen Massad

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

4 Cups Chex Cereal

4 Cups Kettle Corn Popcorn, popped

2 Cups Pretzel Sticks

2 Cups Lucky Charm Cereal

1 ½ Cups White Chocolate, melted

1-2 Tbsp Coconut Oil ( add more if the white chocolate is very thick)

½ Cup Rainbow Sprinkles

Instructions

Prepare two half sheet pans with parchment paper; set aside.

In a large bowl, combine the chex, popcorn, pretzel sticks and lucky charm cereal.

In a small bowl placed over saucepan with simmering water, melt the white chocolate and coconut oil; stir constantly until the white chocolate is melted.

Pour the white chocolate over the cereal mixture and gently stir until all pieces are coated in white chocolate.

Slowly add the sprinkles to the mixture, stirring the cereal mixture in between to coat all the pieces in sprinkles.

Pour the mixture onto the prepared sheet pan and spread out to cool. Allow the mixture to cool completely before serving.

Store in an air tight container until ready to serve!

Party Favors: Iced Shortbread CookiesA party favor is a must and why not end on a sweet note!  Iced Shortbread Cookies are one of my all time favorite party favors.  They tie the theme of the party together and it is a perfect way to send your guest off thanking them for coming to celebrate.  Iced Shortbread Cookies can also be enjoyed the next day and will keep the celebration going!  
We had such a blast celebrating our sweet Adele with all of our family and friends and we left with a special water color that she made herself.  Oil and Cotton was the perfect Art Studio and Shop to host a birthday party at and we are thankful for all their hard work!