Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream Sandwiches Recipe: Sweet Summer Bliss

Cool summer afternoons call for a delightful treat like these homemade vanilla ice cream sandwiches that blend creamy textures with sweet nostalgia.

Soft, buttery cookies embrace rich vanilla ice cream in a classic combination that melts hearts and cools taste buds.

Every bite transports you to childhood memories of carefree moments and simple pleasures.

The delicate balance of crisp cookies and smooth ice cream creates a dessert that feels both comforting and indulgent.

Perfectly crafted cookies sandwich luxurious vanilla ice cream, promising a refreshing escape from the heat.

With just a few ingredients and minimal effort, you can craft these irresistible treats that spark joy and delight.

Pack these delectable ice cream sandwiches for picnics, backyard gatherings, or a spontaneous sweet moment of pure happiness.

How to Assemble Ice Cream Sandwiches Neatly

• Create Frozen Base

Grab a rectangular pan and line it with parchment paper, letting edges hang over. Spread softened vanilla ice cream smoothly across the surface. Slide into freezer until completely solid, about 2-3 hours.

• Craft Chocolate Cookies

Warm the oven to a toasty 350°F. Mix dry ingredients like flour and cocoa powder in one bowl. In another, whip butter and sugar until super fluffy. Add eggs and vanilla, blending thoroughly. Fold dry ingredients into wet mixture carefully. Roll dough between parchment sheets until thin. Bake cookies until edges look crisp, roughly 10-12 minutes. Let cool completely.

• Build Delicious Sandwiches

Pull frozen ice cream from freezer. Slice into neat rectangles matching cookie dimensions. Gently place ice cream between two chocolate wafers. Press lightly to connect layers. Wrap each sandwich in parchment paper. Return to freezer until perfectly firm, approximately one hour. Enjoy your homemade treat!

Sandwich Ideas to Switch Up the Flavors

• Freeze the ice cream in a pan with overhanging parchment paper for easy removal, ensuring a smooth, even layer that's perfect for cutting precise rectangles.
• Prepare the ice cream and wafers a day in advance, allowing you to assemble sandwiches quickly when dessert time arrives, reducing last-minute stress.
• Swap regular flour with a gluten-free all-purpose blend to create delicious sandwiches for those with wheat sensitivities, maintaining the same rich chocolate flavor.
• Experiment with different ice cream flavors like mint chocolate chip, caramel swirl, or coffee to create unique sandwich combinations that surprise and delight your taste buds.
• Wrap individual sandwiches tightly in plastic wrap or parchment paper, then store in a freezer-safe container for up to 2 weeks, ensuring a quick treat is always within reach.

Serve Vanilla Sandwiches That Stay Firm

• Chocolate Lovers' Dream: Sprinkle crushed chocolate chips, chocolate shavings, or cocoa powder around the edges of each sandwich for extra decadence.
• Party Platter Perfection: Slice sandwiches diagonally and arrange on a beautiful platter, creating an elegant dessert display that's sure to impress guests.
• Festive Fun Twist: Roll sandwich edges in colorful sprinkles, chopped nuts, or mini chocolate chips before freezing to add a playful and textural element to the classic treat.
• Gourmet Drizzle Delight: Melt dark or white chocolate and drizzle artfully over the frozen sandwiches for a professional bakery-style presentation that elevates the dessert.

Ice Cream Storage Tricks That Actually Work

• Store these delightful ice cream sandwiches in a sealed freezer container or heavy-duty freezer bag to prevent freezer burn and maintain optimal taste for up to 2 weeks.
• Create a batch on weekends and stack them with small parchment sheets between each sandwich for easy individual grabbing and serving.
• Keep sandwiches consistently frozen at 0°F (-18°C) to ensure perfect texture and prevent ice crystal formation that could compromise the smooth ice cream experience.
• Prepare the entire recipe components separately and store unbaked wafer dough or unassembled ice cream layers in the refrigerator or freezer, allowing flexible preparation over several days for convenient dessert creation.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 40 minutes

Calories: 353 kcal

Servings: 12

Vanilla Ice Cream Sandwiches: What to Use

• Vanilla Ice Cream: Creamy base that provides smooth, cool texture and classic dessert flavor, choose high-quality brand with rich vanilla notes.

• All-Purpose Flour: Structural foundation for crisp cookies, select unbleached flour for best results.
• Cocoa Powder: Delivers deep chocolate intensity, opt for Dutch-processed for richer color.
• Baking Powder: Helps wafers rise and become light, ensure it's fresh for maximum lift.
• Salt: Enhances overall flavor complexity, use fine-grain table salt.
• Butter: Creates tender, rich wafer texture, select unsalted for precise flavor control.
• Granulated Sugar: Sweetens and helps achieve crisp cookie structure, use pure cane sugar.
• Vanilla Extract: Adds aromatic depth, choose pure extract over artificial.
• Eggs: Bind ingredients and provide structure, use room temperature eggs.

• Parchment Paper: Essential for clean preparation and easy removal, select non-stick variety.

Tools to Build the Best Ice Cream Sandwiches

• Baking Pan (9×13-inch): Essential for creating a perfect ice cream layer with even thickness.
• Parchment Paper: Crucial for lining pans and rolling dough, ensuring easy removal and clean baking.
• Mixing Bowls (Medium and Large): Key for combining dry and wet ingredients separately.
• Whisk: Perfect for blending dry ingredients and creating smooth mixtures.
• Electric Mixer or Hand Mixer: Helps cream butter and sugar to light, fluffy consistency.
• Rolling Pin: Needed to roll out chocolate wafer dough evenly.
• Baking Sheet: Provides surface for baking chocolate wafers.
• Sharp Knife or Bench Scraper: Essential for cutting precise wafer and ice cream rectangles.
• Freezer: Necessary for setting ice cream and final sandwich assembly.

Heavenly Vanilla Ice Cream Sandwiches Recipe

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• Total Time: 40 minutes
• Yield: 13 1x

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Description

Cool summer days find sweet solace in homemade vanilla ice cream sandwiches nestled between crisp chocolate cookies. Creamy vanilla meets rich chocolate in this delightful dessert that brings simple pleasure to anyone craving a classic treat.

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Ingredients

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• 1 cup / 120 g all-purpose flour
• 1 cup / 100 g unsweetened cocoa powder
• ½ tsp / 2.5 ml baking powder
• ½ tsp / 2.5 ml salt
• 2 large eggs
• 1 ¼ cups / 283 g unsalted butter, softened
• 1 ¼ cups / 250 g granulated sugar
• 1 tbsp / 15 ml vanilla extract
• 1 ½ quarts / 6 cups vanilla ice cream, softened

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Instructions

1. Ice Cream Preparation: Carefully line a 9×13-inch pan with parchment paper, ensuring overhang for easy extraction. Spread softened vanilla ice cream uniformly across the surface, creating a smooth, level layer. Freeze until completely solidified, approximately 2-3 hours.

1. Chocolate Wafer Crafting: Heat oven to 350°F (175°C). Whisk flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt in a mixing bowl. In a separate large bowl, cream butter and sugar until airy and pale. Incorporate vanilla extract and eggs, blending thoroughly. Fold dry ingredients into wet mixture, mixing until just combined. Divide dough in half, rolling each portion between parchment sheets to achieve uniform thinness. Transfer to baking sheet and bake for 10-12 minutes until edges are set. Cool completely on wire rack.

1. Sandwich Assembly: Trim wafer edges to create precise rectangles. Slice wafer sheets and frozen ice cream into matching rectangular portions. Carefully position ice cream between two chocolate wafers, applying gentle pressure to secure. Individually wrap each sandwich in parchment paper and return to freezer until serving moment. Store in sealed container to maintain optimal texture and flavor.

Notes

• Ensure baking sheets are cold when rolling out cookie dough to prevent spreading and maintain crisp edges.
• Use an offset spatula or the back of a spoon to create a perfectly even ice cream layer without air pockets.
• Let butter and eggs sit at room temperature for better mixing and smoother cookie texture.
• Use a sharp knife or pizza cutter for clean, straight edges when cutting wafers and ice cream layers to create professional-looking sandwiches.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 30 minutes
• Category: Desserts, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 13
• Calories: 200
• Sugar: 15 g
• Sodium: 150 mg
• Fat: 10 g
• Saturated Fat: 5 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 24 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 2 g
• Cholesterol: 30 mg