Ice Cream Sandwiches

I C E    C R E A M    S A N D W I C H E S : When my girlfriend Margot told me I should try this recipe, I saw the ingredients and thought, I don’t think so.  I probably never would have made them if the recipe had come from someone else.  But this is a smart girl, a wonderful cook, and a BFF.  So I did it.  They turned out SO good I call them . . .

F I R E W O R K S !!!

Because, in the best possible way, they explode your taste buds and shock your understanding of what cooking can be.  Everyone loves them.  Joe loves them!  These are the ones you eat leaning against the kitchen counter, barefooted, in front of the fan.   These are the ones you serve at a summer dinner party.  You might even serve them as appetizers if you’re of the “dessert first” ilk. I love to surprise people with them.  

 

These are them, they look OK, don’t you think? That’s because they haven’t exploded yet. I know you’re a little suspicious, what is that pink stuff?

Here we go: the cooky part is important, they need to be the thin, wafer-type. I’ve found them in all kinds of flavors, these (in the photo) have tiny chocolate chips in them.  It doesn’t really matter, but they shouldn’t be all chocolate; look for vanilla, coconut, or ginger.  They come stacked on their sides in a long box.  Buy two boxes, because some of these cookies are bound to be broken. I love the flower-shaped ones for summer. 

Next.  Pineapple-Coconut ice cream.  If you can find it, Haagan Dazs makes a delicious one.  If not, then either Pineapple, OR coconut.  If not, then vanilla. A pint if you are timid, a half gallon if you think this might turn out OK.

Next: freshly ground black pepper, large grind.  Stay with me.  I PROMISE these are so good!

And last, here’s the biggie, the one that will furrow your brow, you will need a jar of pickled ginger; the kind they give you with sushi, make sure that’s what you are getting, mine actually says “sushi ginger” on the jar.

On a flat plate, lay out the number of cookies you want, pretty side of the cooky down. Use a wide flat knife or spatula and cut through ice cream to form basic patties about the size of the cooky, maybe an inch thick.  Carefully put the patty on the fragile cooky, flatten carefully, thumbs work well here, and spread a bit to the edges.  Grind pepper over the ice cream (Yes, I’m sorry, but this is how it’s done).  Cover ice cream with good-sized piles of chopped pickled ginger (courage girlfriends); then put a small dot of ice cream on the top of the ginger pile, and stick on another cooky, flower-side up.  You can eat one now, and keep the others in the freezer (after they’re frozen, you can wrap them individually in waxed paper to keep them).  I don’t know how long they keep because the longest we’ve managed to keep them in the freezer without eating them was six hours. Up to six hours, I can vouch that they’re great.  We’re going to bond over this, I just know it….it’s the ice cream sandwich version of a Skip-and-Go-Naked!  Deceptively fabulous. BUT, in case you can’t see your way to pepper and pickled ginger with your ice cream, I have an alternative.  I come bearing gifts . . .

These delicious Ice Cream Sandwiches are good for a crowd, because lots of them together inspire ooohs and aaahs.  The colors are so perky!  The cooky is the same thin Nabisco famous chocolate wafer cooky you make that old-fashioned (and delicious) ice box cake out of …. for the insides, choose every color of ice cream (and sherbet).  Fill them as described above.  You can roll some of the edges in nuts, shredded or toasted coconut, tiny candies, or chopped up Reese’s Pieces. Be as creative as you like. When frozen, the cooky softens and becomes cake like.  Lovely for children.  Lovely for you. 

Freeze some green grapes, have them with a glass of cold wine and an ice cream sandwich for dinner tonight . . . and remember . . .

L o v e    L o v e   L o v e   L o v e   L o v e   L o v e   L o v e

23 Responses to Ice Cream Sandwiches

  1. tonia bowman says:

    Hi Susan-
    The first cookbook I ever bought was Sweets to the Sweet when I was twenty one and first on my own. I was instantly hooked, and then bought Heart of the Home, and The Christmas Book, and The Summer Book. Your books and website are positively wonderful- and every single recipe comes out perfect! I have three daughters now (15 years later) and they all love the recipes from your books. Your carrot cake recipe is the most requested birthday cake in our house! I’m going to be brave and try the pickled ginger ice cream sandwiches, but have you ever tried a gingersnap cookie with pumpkin ice cream sandwich? There is a local ice cream maker here in NH that makes awesome pumpkin ice cream- it’s a wonderful Halloween treat!
    Happy Spring-
    Toni

  2. Gail Buss says:

    Well I will look for this ingredients since my daughter and granddaughter are coming at the end of the month! Can’t wait to try them! Hugs and thanks for this yummy recipe! Gail Buss XXX

  3. Betty says:

    Longtime fan!! A few years ago I went vegan, so I must share with you a very yummy recipe. Banana Ice Cream!! you can make with just bananas but the touch of vanilla is great.

    Peel two bananas and slice them into ¼” rounds. Place them on a plate and cover the plate with plastic wrap. Place the bananas in the freezer for 2 hours, or until frozen.

    Place the frozen bananas and 1/8 tsp vanilla extract in the bowl of a food processor and pulse until the bananas turn into a creamy texture. Stop the food processor intermittently to scrape down the bowl.

    Maybe I’ll try dried pineapple bits & toasted coconut folded in, with the fresh ground pepper and sushi ginger.

  4. Joyce Collins says:

    They look delish! Will definitely do this. Thanks Sue…

  5. leannamckanna says:

    These look soo yummy. I must try this. Enjoy everything you do. Have all your books, always have a colander and purse calender. Everything is so dainty and creative. Just love it all.

  6. This sounds downright bizarre, but I like food with pizazz!! Thanks for this fun idea, Susan 🙂

  7. Carla says:

    Susan:

    What is the name of the cookie like a flower on the first recipe?

    Thank you~

    • sbranch says:

      I’ve found them on both coasts, but I don’t know the name … and they were two different brands. I think you might just see them at the supermarket (I hope!).

  8. Jean W says:

    These look yummy! I’m not so sure about the pepper and pickled ginger though. I will try the chocolate ones with coconut ummm!

  9. Linda C. says:

    Not sure if I am brave enough to try these yet Susan . . . HOWEVER . . . I love the way you read all of us gals your recipe ! Happy Summer : )

  10. Lily says:

    This ice-cream looks soooo yummy!and delicious! Great post 🙂 x
    It’s never too late for ice cream. 😉 One of my favorite flavors!! 🙂

  11. Maria says:

    This ice cream looks so good!! I actually got an ice cream maker for my birthday few years ago, and I ain’t gonna use it until I move out, and this really inspired me! can’t wait til I can start making my own ice creams, because I also love it all year around 🙂
    Those look just amazing! I am also a big fan of ice cream, but never seem to buy it.My mom just got an ice cream maker, I might have to borrow it to make that one! Yum! 🍨

  12. Fariha says:

    This recipe was a real hit.🍨 I may try to add it to our offerings at the next catering job we do. Where do you get the inspiration for your recipes? I struggle with coming up with unique recipes.🌟

    • sbranch says:

      Since I learned to cook it’s been something I think about, recipes! One suggestion, almost everything tastes better in the fall with fresh cranberries in it! Not the dried ones … put them in apple crisp or baked apples, or muffins, oh yeah! But sauces too, anywhere a pop of bright color and flavor would fit, toss them in! (Need to be cooked!)

  13. Lovely says:

    This ice-cream looks soooo yummy! and delicious! Great post 🙂 x
    It’s never too late for ice cream. 😉 One of my favorite flavors!! 🙂

  14. Naira says:

    I tried the recipe and this really is the best homemade ice cream sandwich (Y)

  15. Jenni G says:

    Trying to make ice cream cake roll…. recipe says to fold in 1/3 of the cocao sugar and egg to the other eggs then butter the pan. What happens to the other 2/3 of the batter????

    • sbranch says:

      That should read, Gently fold egg white mixture into beaten yolks, by thirds! Butter the cookie sheet, and butter the waxed paper too . . .

      So it’s 1/3, 1/3, 1/3 folded into beaten yolks! Sorry! Missed that during editing!

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