Where to buy ethical gift boxes in the UK

Let’s face it, shipping is expensive and when you want to buy overseas friends (or even local friends) a gift, the shipping can really add a lot extra onto the price of the gift. If you’re looking to buy a gift in the UK for someone and save money on shipping, here’s where to buy ethical gift boxes in the UK.

Out of the Box Ethical Gift Boxes

No matter where you are in the world, Out of the Box Gifts, can send gift boxes full of beautiful, ethical goods on your behalf.

Located in the United Kingdom, Out of the Box Gifts is an online ethical gift box shop run by Zoe. The gifts are handmade in the UK.

The gifts are packed into care packages with the idea of encouraging the recipient to take some time out for themselves so they make the perfect gift for busy mothers, teachers or anyone else who needs a bit of rest and relaxation.

After starting Out of the Box Gifts in 2017, Zoe wanted to add her passion for mindfulness, organic, natural and ethical products to her gift buying powers and so Out of the Box was born.

All of the items within the gift boxes are hand picked from lovely, ethical, UK brands and put together in packages that complement each other to make a super thoughtful gift.

Check out some of the amazing gift boxes below.

A Box of Happiness

A Box of Happiness is full of the loveliest, ethical products designed to exhilarate and leave you in a state of happiness. This gift box contains:

BeeHappy Votive Candle

Natural plant wax candle, made with essential oils of orange and jasmine. An uplifting fragrance to boost your mood. 

Made By Coopers Rosemary and Eucalyptus Bath Salt Blend

A soothing bath salt blend with eucalyptus, rosemary and lavender essential oils to relieve muscular aches and pains.

Thrive Tea Bags

Positivitea’s Root Chakra blend with hibiscus, strawberry, cinnamon and ashwagandha. Pack contains 12 biodegradable bags, ethically sourced ingredients.

A Big Box for Relaxation

Included in this gift box:

A ‘Sleepy Head’ Atmosphere Mist

This room spray contains Lavender, Frankincense and Chamomile and is so beautifully relaxing, whether you are want to fall asleep or just take some blissful moments of relaxation.

A Calming and Purifying Face Mask by Blushberry Botanicals

With clays, charcoal, chamomile, lavender and tea tree. Perfect for normal to oily skins.

A Bar of Lavender Chocolate by Seed and Bean

The ultimate relaxation chocolate to help you de-stress and unwind. Infused with aromatic French lavender oil, this dark delight is sure to help melt away the hustle and bustle of daily life with each bite.

Vanilla Rose Bath Salts

Relax and unwind with a bath with this nourishing Vanilla Rose Bath Salt Blend with vanilla and ylang ylang essential oils.

Check out the full range of ethical gift boxes at Out of the Box Gifts here.

Gift Wrapping and Personalised Messages

All packages are beautifully gift wrapped with recyclable paper and your personalised message added. You can add your message on the cart page. Please make sure you include your name so that the recipient knows who sent it.

We have a ‘Don’t open until’ sticker, if your gift mustn’t be opened until a certain date, please add the date to the gift message box also and we’ll ensure this is added to the package.

Shipping Prices for Ethical Gift Boxes

There is free shipping for orders over £30.

PLEASE PLACE UK CHRISTMAS ORDERS BY 5PM ON WEDNESDAY 18 DECEMBER 2019.

1-2 working day Delivery with Royal Mail £3.50 (1st class)

3-5 working day Delivery with Royal Mail £3 (2nd class)

3-5 working day Delivery with Royal Mail £3 (2nd class)

If you’re looking to save on shipping and want to send affordable gifts to friends or relatives in the UK that contain ethical, handmade (in the UK) gifts, check out Zoe’s Out of the Box Gifts.

Domestic Goddess REVIVE Essential Oil Roll-On

Ever get to that point in the day when you just feel like you can’t do another thing but there’s the children to pick up from school, supervise homework, get dinner on, bathtime etc etc? Or, if you’re at work, do you go for the chocolate bar or cookies as a pick-me-up in the afternoon? Let me introduce you to Domestic Goddess REVIVE.

As a stay at home mumpreneur most of my days are busy. After the children have gone to school, I set about doing some chores, getting stuck into my business, have a break for morning tea and lunch and come the afternoon, I’m tired. I’m so used to reaching for a high sugar snack with a cup of coffee to get me through the afternoon, I wanted to find an alternative.

That’s when I came up with the idea of an essential oil blend to give me a ‘calorie free’ energy boost.

Why Essential Oils?

Essential oils are organic compounds extracted from plants with amazing healing properties, otherwise known as “aromatherapy”, which is a holistic treatment seeking to improve physical, mental and emotional health.

For over 5,000 years, many different cultures have used these healing plant oils for a variety of health conditions. They are often used for relaxation, beauty care, home cleaning and most often used as natural medicine.

Oils can be blended together for their various properties to use for healing, cleaning, an alternative for preventative medicine and for general mood enhancers.

Which Essential Oils?

Essential oils are extracted directly from the bark, flower, fruit, leaf, seed or root of a plant or tree, and just one drop can have powerful health benefits. They are typically created through the process of distillation, which separates the oil and water-based compounds of a plant by steaming.

These therapeutic oils in plants protect the plant from insects, shield the plant from a harsh environment and help them adapt to their surroundings. By using essential oils for personal use, you are harnessing the protective and healing powers of a plant.

Only CPTG Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade essential oils are used in the Domestic Goddess REVIVE formula which represent the safest and most beneficial oils available in the world today. For an oil to be CPTG Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade the oil must be: 

• Pure and natural, with aromatic compounds carefully extracted from plants
• Free from fillers or artificial ingredients; no dilution of active qualities
• Free of contaminants, pesticides, or chemical residues
• Rigorously tested for standards of chemical composition
• Cross tested using mass spectrometry and gas chromatography to ensure exact purity and composition potency
• Sourced by a global network of leading essential oil chemists and growers to ensure correct species, growth in ideal environments, and that raw plant materials were carefully harvested at the right time.

Which oils are in the Domestic Goddess REVIVE formula?

Wild Orange

Cold pressed from the peel, Wild Orange is one of the best essential oils due to its energizing aroma and multiple health benefits. High in monoterpenes, Wild Orange possesses stimulating and purifying qualities, making it ideal to support healthy immune system function.  Wild Orange will energize and uplift the mind and body and enhances any essential oil blend with a fresh, sweet, refreshing aroma.

Peppermint

The peppermint plant is a hybrid of watermint and spearmint and was first described by Carl Linneaus in 1753.  Peppermint oil may be the most versatile essential oil in the world along with lavender. Literally, there are few body, health, and mind issues that it cannot help. It is known to improve mental focus and concentration and reduce hunger cravings. Perfect to get you through the afternoon.

Ylang Ylang

Ylang Ylang essential oil is derived from the star-shaped flowers of the tropical Ylang Ylang tree and is used extensively in making perfumes and in aromatherapy. Similar to Jasmine, Ylang Ylang has been used for centuries in religious and wedding ceremonies. In aromatherapy, Ylang Ylang is used to lessen tension and stress and to promote a positive outlook.  It has been selected in the Domestic Goddess REVIVE formula to lift your mood while creating a calming effect.

Jojoba Oil

The above three essential oils have been blended with 100% pure organic jojoba oil as the carrier oil. Jojoba oil is a versatile, purely natural oil that penetrates the skin for deep hydration. Our skin is made up of natural wax esters (called sebum) which locks in moisture to keep skin looking healthy and hydrated.  The Jojoba plant actually produces wax esters identical to our very own sebum.  This means that jojoba mimics our skin’s natural oils and can penetrate at a deeper level.

Buy Now

You can get Domestic Goddess REVIVE from the Domesblissity Shop. Order here.

 

Budget Gift Guide for Women

I’ve left the best and most important budget gift guide until last. For women, that’s me! Give me an unlimited budget and I’d be filling my basket with the finest French fragrances, gold and diamond jewelry and shoes, shoes, shoes but I’ve already got those things. By living the way I do, that is by cutting back on everyday spending, I can afford to splash out on those things I really like. But in the meantime, I do love this round up of gifts in the Budget Gift Guide for Women should you wish to buy something for yourself or someone you know.

 

Candles

 

I’ve just recently discovered Soy and Shea, a company local to me who is a home business and Keeley creates the most amazing scented candles, diffusers, oils and burners, body products (for men and women) and artisan soaps. Soy and Shea was a regular contributor to the Domestic Goddess Subscription Box and I chose them because they are an affordable luxury made with the intent of setting the mood and adding fragrance to the home. They are made with soy wax, essential oils and all natural products. Compared to most products on the market, the range at Soy and Shea is very affordable. There is also a flat rate of shipping on all orders.

Coffee & Tea Products

 

Show me a woman who doesn’t at least love a cup of coffee or tea in the morning. There aren’t many of us around but I can’t get started in the morning without a coffee or two.

 

If they have a coffee maker, buy their favourite ground coffee or a nice bottle of good quality instant if they don’t. Same goes with tea. I love a pot of tea brewed from leaves so a nice teapot and box of tea leaves to match is a great gift idea. Beautiful tea pots are available from secondhand stores as are coffee plungers. Pop the coffee or tea inside.

 

For the woman on the go who loves to buy her coffee out, these eco-friendly BYO Takeaway Coffee Cup can be folded down and slipped into your handbag. Get it refilled at your favourite coffee shop and most places are offering discounts on coffee when you supply your own cup. Help save the environment by using a reusable coffee cup. Available in 4 colours from the Domesblissity Shop.

Phone & Tablet Accessories

 

You can go to town with mobile phone and tablet accessories for women. Available in silver, gold, rose gold, sparkles or any colour you want, you’ll find ear phones, chargers, USB drives, cases, covers to coordinate with each other.

 

They are all reasonably priced and any bit of sparkle we can add to our every day we’ll grab with both hands.

Stationery Supplies

 

I lurrve stationery. I love notepads, pens, colouring pens and pencils, rulers, scissors, and anything goes. You can get a good range from the dollar stores, stationery shops and online. You can go cute, like above, or something a little more sophisticated.

 

Desk sets come in gold, rose gold, silver, every colour of the rainbow. There are matching staplers, staple removers, paper clips, letter openers etc etc. Book marks, sticky tape dispensers, pen holders, you name it. There are some really well priced stationery items out there that will make any woman happy.

Bath, Shower & Shaving Products

A woman can never have enough of those luxurious bath and body products, well I can’t anyway but buying them in pre-made kits can be expensive. You can put together a nice kit yourself from dollar store buys or from the supermarket. Look for a nice shower scrub, cake of soap and a loofah and gift wrap in a tin or basket.

There are lady’s shavers and shaving products for underarms and legs. Bath salts and bombs are also a good idea. They can easily be made if you have all the ingredients but buying them individually and putting a gift basket together yourself is a great and budget friendly idea.

Books & Magazines

I don’t read as much as I would like, but I do love to thumb through a magazine or add another cookbook to my collection. There are so many good books (and magazines for that matter) on every possible subject available at second hand shops. You could buy a whole series or a whole set of magazines on your woman’s favourite subject.

There are magazines for craft, cooking, gardening and all the best sellers are at the secondhand stores. Failing that, a gift voucher towards a book she really wants is a great idea too.

I hope you like this round up. These are ideas that would appeal to me and you never know, they might just appeal to the girl in your life.

 

Budget Gift Guide for Teenage Boys

Having a boy who’s nearly a teenager, I have some experience in how difficult it is to buy for him. I’ve found, up until now, that whatever he is into at the moment whether it be Pokemon or Star Wars etc, I can’t really go wrong. But buying those themed items can sometimes be very expensive that’s why I’ve come up with a budget gift guide for teenage boys.

Video Games

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Boys of all ages love their video games but they are expensive, especially the latest releases. There is a way to get them a bit cheaper though. If you buy the brand new game in the case from the gaming store you could be looking at $80 to $100 or more. Depending on your device, you can download directly from the online store onto the device for around $20.

I was looking for a brand new Playstation game for my son and to buy it new was $80 but to download directly onto the Playstation was only $19.95.

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The other thing you can do is to buy your teenage boy a gift card towards from the gaming store and get them to do more chores to get more money towards the game. I know it works in theory but depending on how bad they want that game, they’ll do the chores.

Alternatively, waiting that little bit longer until the game has been around for a while it will always be cheaper.

Don’t forget about the accessories for video games. You can pick up controllers second hand quite cheaply and ‘skins’ are relatively cheap depending on what game they’re into. Chargers will also save you a packet on buying batteries and they don’t cost that much.

Phone & Tablet Accessories

By now your teenager will have either a phone, iPod or tablet of some kind. It’s the same as the girls. They’ll love their favourite characters displayed on their phone or tablet case.

Just Cause Head Phones

There are plenty of USB drives in every character imaginable. Ear phones and chargers in novelty designs are also relative cheap and the boys will love them.

Toiletries

The sooner you can get your teenage boy into using toiletries, the better. I know my son has an aversion to soap or deoderant already but getting their own special toiletry pack, soap or scrub might encourage them to use it. Having their own case to put it in when they go on camps or sleepovers is also a great idea.

Also, if your son is anything like mine, he loves doing his hair now in a spiky style so hair gels, hair wax or brushes/combs are a good budget buy.

Board Games

Boys love playing board games with their mates or the family. The old fashioned Battleship that I knew as a child is still a favourite of my son’s.

Did you know there are literally hundreds of different versions of Monopoly for example? Getting their favourite themed game of Monopoly for around $20 to $30 will be a bit hit. My son loves his Cars version.

Even some board games can be played by one player. My son often plays chess on his own and there are some really unusual chess boards available at second hand stores that could quite possibly stay with him for a lifetime.

Even a deck of cards is a great boredom buster for playing Solitaire or learning new card games with his mates or the family.

Money

Once my son started earning pocket money and receiving it for Christmas and birthday presents, he’s grown really fond of it. He’s not much of a spender so likes to save it. The more they can see their bank balance grow with an end goal in mind, like a car when they get their driver’s licence, they’ll love it. A novel money box or cash tin, with key, is also a good idea for them to keep track of it.

Gift cards to their favourite stores will also allow them to get what they like but most of them prefer hard cash.

The Great Outdoors

Soccer, basketballs or footballs of any kind are always a winner. Even good brands aren’t that expensive. Depending what sport they’re into they might like a new bat or glove but you can sometimes pick up near new second hand from online sellers.

A second hand set of golf clubs aren’t all that expensive either. He’ll love a new set of golf balls or other personalised golf accessories just for him. There are plenty of  accessories available like golf tees, shot counters, ball cleaners etc.

A basketball hoop in the backyard second hand is sometimes only $20 and will give them hours of fun.

Don’t forget if he’s into fishing there is always a tackle box, new fishing line, hooks, lures, knives, scalers and plenty of other things for his fishing creel.

Swimming Equipment

Boys love to swim whether it’s at the beach or the pool. New goggles are relatively cheap, even for the better brands. His own beach towel or small microfibre towel that can be thrown into a backpack is a great idea.

There are always surfboards, boogie boards, skim boards and plenty of other bits and pieces for the beach or pool that will appeal to a teenage boy. Surfboards, in particular, are a great buy second hand.

Art Supplies

Not all boys are into crafts but my son loves to draw. His own set of artist’s pencils and drawing pad are something else to add to a gift.

There are also plenty of themed art supplies for the younger teenage boy whether that’s Star Wars related. I’m sure there’s not a boy out there who would’nt love a Star Wars themed pen in the shape of Darth Vader or Chewbacca.

Books & Magazines

Not all boys love reading but if you do find a topic that interests them, there is a book or magazine for it. My son loves Pokemon and there are books galore on the topic.

There are magazines for all types of sports including fishing, surfing, bicycles, golf, athletics, tennis or general sports.

Personal Accessories

By now your boy will be starting to develop some style (or maybe not) so his own wallet, sunglasses, watch, jewelry like necklaces or bracelets are relatively cheap if you stay away from the well known brands.

Clothes

I’m not sure about all boys but some of them love their brand names and logos. Character tshirts or tshirts with goofy sayings are pretty popular (as long as they are appropriate for their age). I just managed to pick up a tshirt with a print of the Death Star from Star Wars with a Pokemon ball printed over the top. My son is going to love his two favourite things printed on a tshirt.

Socks, jocks, boxers and new pyjamas will never go astray as they’re growing at a rate of knots.

I hope this list of budget gift ideas for boys will help you through their teenage years. (You’ll find most grown men will love a lot of these things. They never grow up do they?)

Budget Gift Guide for Men

Finding gifts for men can be hard sometimes but it doesn’t have to be hard or expensive. Here is a budget gift guide for men if you’re struggling for ideas.

 

 

Fun Gadgets

 

If your man is one of those tech-savvy people who can’t wait to test out the latest technological devices, you should definitely go for a fun gadget that’ll sweep him off his feet. A power bank is always a great idea, especially if your man is always on the move, since it’ll allow him to charge his phone no matter where he is.

 

There are plenty of cool phone cases, ear phones, USB sticks, chargers and other accessories that your man will love in his favourite character or something novel.

 

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Another awesome gadget he’ll adore is a multi-use mini massage cushion, which is probably one of the best picks if your boy needs to relax and unwind after a long day at work. Get one with four pressure points that massage in rotating circles, so that he gets a fantastic massage in the comfort of his home and even in his car.

Easy DIY Gifts

 

Making a present can also be a great idea, especially if you want to save some money but still provide a lovely gift. If you’re a crafty person who’s really skillful when it comes to DIY projects, don’t skip these. There are so many wonderful ideas, and one of them is a chalkboard mug. All you need is a white porcelain mug, painter’s tape, porcelain chalkboard paint, and a paintbrush. Use painter’s tape to mask off the parts of the mug you don’t want to paint, and then apply paint with the brush. When the paint is dry, remove the tape and bake your mug in the oven for 35 minutes at 150°C. Write your message before filling the mug with a hot beverage, and voila – your simple yet so effective DIY present is all done!

There are plenty more DIY gift ideas for Dad in these posts including food and other gifts.

For Readers

 

You can’t escape the online world these days but if your man loves to read stories other than online, his favourite sports star’s biography or action story in a book is a great gift idea. Think of his favourite magazine or even a newspaper subscription as a gift idea.

Favourite Drinks

 

For those men who drink alcohol, buying him his favourite spirit that he normally wouldn’t drink on a daily basis is a nice gift idea. There are a lot of possible options, but if you don’t really know where to search for a perfect bottle for your man, online shopping should be your number one choice. Depending on your budget, you can get a bottle of quality whisky online and surprise your loved one with something he’ll really appreciate. You can also opt for vodka, gin, beer, cider or anything else he likes, without even having to actually go to the store.

 

A set of glasses specifically for his favourite drink and/or a carafe can be picked up cheaply from second hand stores.

 

It doesn’t even have to be alcoholic. His favourite soda, coffee or tea is a great gift idea.

Accessories for Men

 

If yours is a man of style, cool accessories like trendy leather bracelets, classy cuff links, or fashionable sunglasses are just some of the possible options. Pocket squares are an amazing gift for gentlemen who prefer to wear suits on a daily basis. Of course, formal business attire requires this type of accessory, but you can also get elegant pocket squares if your man loves wearing a suit in casual occasions as well.

Anchor bracelets will also make a huge difference in any man’s overall appearance, since these will add a touch of edge to any outfit. What’s even greater, you can get any of these pieces for less than $20.

Shaving Products

 

Guys who are rocking a beard know that it needs a lot of extra care, so make your man’s life much easier and get him some fantastic beard products. You could buy him a beard oil, which is a truly magical product that’ll take care of both his facial hair and the skin beneath it. It’ll hydrate his scruff and tame it at the same time, which is exactly what he needs. A good beard wash and a beard balm are also a must, as well as a quality comb – just be sure to get one made of sandalwood instead of a plastic one that can cause static and beard frizz.

 

If your man shaves, there are plenty of beautiful shaving products around like brushes, soaps, balms and after shave products.  You don’t need to spend a fortune on expensive after shave fragrances. A gift pack made from disposable razors and his favourite shaving cream is a nice gift or browse your local second hand stores for vintage shaving kits.

As you can see, there are so many fantastic budget gifts you can get for your man, even though you’re on a budget. You’ll find men are pretty easy to please and are grateful for anything they receive. You’re on the right track if you get them things they already use or like.

 

Budget Gift Guide for Teenage Girls

Well, there’s a teenager in the house and even though there hasn’t been much change to the beautiful girl that she is, she’s all of a sudden grown up and no longer interested in toys like she used to be so finding suitable gifts that aren’t too provocative or ‘grown up’ has been hard but I’ve compiled this budget gift guide for teenage girls hoping that it might help others.

Stationery

One thing my daughter has been interested in forever is stationery. She loves to draw and use all types of medium to create drawings and write stories. I think I should’ve bought shares in a stationery company years ago because I’ve spent quite a bit of money over the years on pencils, paints, drawing and colouring books. 

Gone are the days of normal markers and crayons. Teenage girls who are interested in drawing are learning new mediums to use at school and extend their artistic capabilities.

Here is a range of different and fun stationery items that will appeal to young female teens.

Water Colour Markers (available in packs of 12, 18 or 24)

• Sketch pad
• Exercise book
• Watercolor pad

Water Colour Pencils with Brush (available in tins of 24, 36 or 48)

Pencil cases of any and every description. The more unusual the better.

There are all types of cute stationery items for young girls like erasers, memo pads, sticky notes, rulers, lead pencils and pens. Just keep your stash hidden or it will be open slather.

iPad/iPod Accessories

Whether it’s an Apple or Android device, most teenage girls (well, mine in particular) have it stuck to their hands permanently. Whether it’s messaging friends or watching Youtube clips, they’ve got to be ‘in the know’ and kept up to date at all times. (I think back to my childhood and it’s not much different to me being on the hard-wired telephone to my girlfriends and my mother telling me to get off the phone. It’s just a sign of the times.)

So why not get them some cool accessories to compliment their device.

Headphones like the above light up cat’s ears headphones

A Pop Socket in any number of designs. Folds down flat while device not in use then pops out so you can grip the device better. (I only know because my daughter requested one for her birthday.)

No, the above isn’t a fidget spinner. It’s a bluetooth speaker. They come in every shape and design known to man kind. Again, the more unusual the better.

And there’s always a new case for their device. Just like any fashion accessory, the case is such an all important must have (according to my daughter).

There are so many different accessories for iPads, tablets, iPhones and laptops that any teenage girl would love to receive. I didn’t know half of them existed or were even a thing so there’s something for everyone at every budget.

Make Up

It might be karma for all the times I got into my mother’s make up, but my teenager has already been testing how to apply makeup using all my products.  Not that I let her wear it out except for a soft pink lipstick and maybe a clear mascara but they’ll still want to experiment when they’re young and of course want to wear it as they get into their older teenage years.

A make up kit stocked full of different coloured eyeshadows, lipsticks, blush, nail polishes and everything in between will keep her occupied for hours and hopefully out of your makeup stash.

Skin Care

The hormones are raging and so are the break outs. My daughter has pretty good skin, at this stage, but it’s never too early to develop a good skin regime. There are a lot of products on the market specifically designed for the teenage girl.

Look for all natural products or make up your own using ingredients found in your pantry. Buy some pretty bottles or jars to store the products in.

Make sure they learn to remove their makeup each night before bed. Throw in a soft makeup removing cloth to add to a cleansing kit specifically for your teenage girl.

Books

I’m lucky in that my daughter has always been an avid reader and she’s read most books over and over again. You can always find the cheapest price for the book on a website called Booko or browse the secondhand stores for a bargain. This comprehensive list details 17 books every girl should read before she’s 17 from Seventeen mag.

 

Throw in something like the above ‘book cushion’ which also doubles as an iPad holder and hope that she uses it more for reading a book rather than her iPad.

Jewelry

Between high school and their after school commitments, there’s probably not much opportunity for young teenage girls to wear jewelry but that’s not to say they don’t love to wear it. Pretty bangles, friendship necklaces and chokers compliment their outfits when they catch up with friends at the movies.

And there’s always those ‘best friend’ pendant necklaces that they will want to share with their ‘bestie’ (or is it BFF)?

 

I hope you like this list I’ve put together. Depending on your own teenager, they might be into other specific things. I know my daughter is quite scientific and loves things about the solar system and outer space so tailoring the above to specific interests will always be a winner.

 

How to make an easy ice cream cake at home

I’m afraid the days of me baking the children cakes for their birthdays might be over. Both of their birthdays are in November and it’s hot and they’re busy with after school activities. They only ever eat the icing and decorations so it’s a waste of time and money. From now on it’s an ice cream cake so I’m going to show you how to make an easy ice cream cake at home.

It really couldn’t be any easier. The only trouble I have is that in our hot summer, it’s melting as soon as you put it on a plate so you’ve got to be quick. To buy an ice cream cake from the store could be anywhere from $10 PLUS and you control just how big to make it and what flavour to make.

Easy Ice Cream Cake

First job is to choose your ice cream. I prefer a better known brand as the cheaper brands are more water than cream so they won’t refreeze as nice. I asked my son, who’s 10th birthday it was coming up, and he chose a Cookies’n’Cream flavour. Leave it out on the bench to soften.

Next choose your add-ins. I don’t like to buy special candy or ingredients when I’m cooking, rather opting for using what I have but it was a special birthday so I let him choose his favourite chocolate bars. You can add anything you like. 

• Fresh, frozen or canned fruit
• Chocolate chips
• Leftover candy
• Nuts
• Cookie dough
• Crushed cookies
• Nut butters (like Nutella or peanut butter)
• Crumbled cake
• Sprinkles or 100s & 1000s

Next step is to choose your mould. It doesn’t have to be anything special. I used a cake pan. It can be a plastic container, a baking dish, plastic or silicon mould, just about anything that can be lined with plastic cling wrap.

Pour the contents of the melted ice cream into a mixing bowl and add all your extras. I also found a few cookies in the cookie container so crushed them up and added them.

Pour it into the mould. You can also add a swirl of ice cream topping if you like or something like fruit puree or melted chocolate.

Ready for the Freezer

Cover with plastic cling film and return to the freezer, preferably overnight.

When ready to serve, turn onto a plate and remove the plastic cling wrap. I added chocolate shell topping and more crushed chocolate bar to serve. It was really yummy. The best part was everyone ate this. No cake wasted and it was easy for me. The premium ice cream was on special for $4.50 for 2 litres and the chocolate bars were $2 so for $6.50 I got this huge ice cream cake which lasted quite a few nights. I know a cheap version of an ice cream cake from one of our supermarkets is about $15 and it doesn’t even taste nice.

 

Save yourself some time and energy for your next celebration cake with this easy ‘make at home’ ice cream cake. Your kids will love it!

Recipe

• quantity of premium ice cream in your favourite flavour
• suggested add-in ingredients (as above)
• extra chocolate shell or ice cream topping
• extra candy or nuts for decorating

1. Leave the ice cream out to melt.
2. Pour into a mixing bowl.
3. Add your extra flavourings.
4. Return the melted ice cream mixture to a mould which has been lined with plastic cling film.
5. Cover with plastic cling film and return to the freezer until required, preferably overnight.
6. Top with extra chocolate shell topping or ice cream topping and candy or nuts.