Last week, while digging in our chest freezer, I found our forgotten ice cream maker. And, because I have food on the brain ALL OF THE TIME, I started dreaming up yummy ideas.
Since my kids have been begging me to make chocolate chip cookie sandwiches…with buttercream frosting…I decided that ice cream would be so much better. Especially now that we will be entering the summer season.
I mean, cookies AND ice cream…come on! One of the best combos ever, right?
Here is how I did it…completely from scratch…
This is my go-to chocolate chip cookie recipe. It is based on a recipe that I found on All Recipes, and have tweaked a bit.
The BEST Chocolate Chip Cookies
Preheat oven 350 degrees.
- 1 cup pasture raised butter
- 1 cup organic sugar
- 1 cup organic brown sugar
- 2 eggs (preferably pasture raised)
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 3 cup unbleached all purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 1/2 cups mini chocolate chips (I love Ghirardelli)
In a large bowl (or in the bowl of a stand mixer) cream butter and sugars with a mixer, Add eggs one at a time, scraping down the edges as you go. Add vanilla. Sift together flour, baking soda and salt into a medium size bowl. Pour dry ingredients into the wet mixture, and mix until well combined. Add the chocolate chips, and fold in with a spatula.
Bake for 10-12 minutes on a parchment lined baking pan.
Now for my favorite part…
The Ice cream!
Easy Vanilla Ice Cream
- 4 cups half & half
- 1 cup organic sugar
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
Combine all ingredients in a medium size bowl. Stir until sugar dissolves completely. Follow the directions on your ice cream freezer.
We have the Kitchen Aid Ice Cream Maker attachment for our stand mixer. LOVE it! It is super simple to use…and does an awesome job. It is a little pricey, but we got ours at Bed Bath & Beyond a few years ago using a 20% off coupon. (FYI: The June issue of Better Homes and Gardens contains a 20% BB&B off coupon.)
When your ice cream is finished…
Transfer to a BPA free plastic container with a lid, and freeze for at least 4 hours.
I couldn’t wait that long, so the first batch on cookie sandwiches were a little on the soft side.
To assemble, take one of your delicious homemade cookies…
place a big scoop of ice cream in the center…
and top with a second cookie.
Devour all that yumminess!
Now that I have busted out the ice cream maker, I foresee a lot of deliciousness this summer.
What is your favorite way to enjoy ice cream?
Jessie