Arias - Cookies & cream : hundreds of ways to make the perfect ice cream sandwich

Hundreds of Ways to Make the Perfect Ice Cream Sandwich

TESSA ARIAS

RUNNING PRESS

PHILADELPHIA LONDON

2013 by Tessa Arias

Photography 2013 by Allan Penn

A Hollan Publishing, Inc. Concept

Published by Running Press,

A Member of the Perseus Books Group

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Library of Congress Control Number: 2012944543

E-book ISBN 978-0-7624-4830-2

987654321

Digit on the right indicates the number of this printing

Cover and interior design by Amanda Richmond

Edited by Jordana Tusman

Typography: Whitney, HT Gelateria, and Mensch

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To my family, for always encouraging me to do what I love and for never getting tired of dessert.

D AYDREAMING ABOUT ICE CREAM SANDWICHES AUTOMATICALLY makes you reminisce about that sweet tune that came from the ice cream truck as it neared your neighborhood on a hot summer day. You can almost feel those jangling coins burning a hole in your pocket and just begging to be spent on a frosty confection before you walked back to your front porch and scarfed down that ice cream sandwich, melted cream dripping onto your hands and off your lips. Those fun and carefree days are what ice cream sandwiches are all about.

Even if you didnt get a taste of an ice cream sandwich until later in life, you have to admit that theres something very special about this dessert. After all, its two delicious desserts wrapped in one: cookies and ice cream! These two treats are a match made in frosty heaven because you really get the best of both worlds. The rich creaminess of the ice cream and the chewiness of the cookie are pure bliss, especially when both components are homemade. Not to mention: Ice cream sandwiches are the perfect size for your hand, making them all the more fun to eat and enjoy.

Homemade ice cream sandwiches take a little bit of work and require some equipment and planning, but believe me, they are so completely worth it. The ice cream sandwiches in this book are organized into different chapters depending on flavor, ingredients, or theme. From chocolate to vanilla and everything in between, theres something here for everyone. Whether you want to stick with the classics or venture into the realm of sinful indulgence, whether you want something fruity or something festive, I promise youll find an ice cream sandwich for every occasion.

Each sandwich has a homemade ice cream recipe followed by a cookie recipe. At the end of the cookie recipe are directions for assembling the ice cream and the cookies to make the perfect sandwich. No need to worry if youve never made ice cream or ice cream sandwiches before. Ive included plenty of tricks and troubleshooting tips to ensure every batch is beautiful and perfectly delicious. And believe me, one taste of homemade ice cream and youll never go back to the store-bought kind. I encourage you to have fun and experiment with mixing and matching flavors ().

I adore sharing recipes and kitchen tips, which is what I do on my blog Handle the Heat (Handletheheat.com). As someone with a massive sweet tooth, getting to write an entire cookbook about sweets has been a dream come true. Funnily enough, I disliked ice cream as a young kid and found it too cold and messy. Who would have thought that years later Id learn to love the stuff? Who would have thought Id be writing a cookbook about it?

Ive spent hours and hours making batches of cookies and ice cream to create the marvelous ice cream sandwiches in this book. My hope is that youll impress all your friends and family by serving them the most gorgeous and delectable ice cream sandwiches theyve ever tasted, and I do hope you will enjoy making themand eating them!as much as I have.

U SING THIS BOOK IS EASY, BUT BEFORE YOU GET GOING ON your ice cream sandwich adventures, its really important that you read the next few chapters. They are filled with useful information that will lead the way to creating scrumptious sandwiches.

One of the best tips I can give you that applies to any recipe is to read the entire recipe before you start. Weve all been there, standing in the kitchen, following a recipe as we go, only to unexpectedly encounter something like chill overnight. Reading a recipe completely will ensure a smooth and successful kitchen experience.

The most important thing of all, though, is to have fun with this book! Ice cream sandwiches are the ultimate comfort food and take us back to long and carefree days of childhood. Enjoy every step along the way, and youll make delightful dessert.

A NOTE ABOUT FOOD SAFETY: In the recipes in this book, eggs are cooked thoroughly, destroying any bacteria that may be present. To further ensure the safety of your food, be sure to wash your hands throughout the cooking and baking processes, especially after touching raw egg. Always make sure your utensils are clean. Additionally, never leave egg-based food products at room temperature for an extended period of time. They should be on ice or stored in the refrigerator.

The following is a list of kitchen tools that you will need or that will come in handy as you make ice cream sandwiches.

BAKING SHEETS: Good baking sheets are completely necessary for baking cookies. I love to use half sheet pans or flat (rimless) baking sheets that are the same size as half sheet pans, which is usually about 13 x 18 inches. Good-quality baking sheets are heavy-duty shiny aluminum (avoid using dark, nonstick bakeware, which can burn the bottoms of cookies) and resist warping. Aluminum is an excellent conductor of heat, which means your cookies will bake more evenly.

BAKING PANS: Eight x eight-inch square baking pans and 9 x 13-inch rectangular baking pans are necessary for some of the recipes in this book. Look for the same heavy-duty shiny aluminum bakeware mentioned above.

BENCH SCRAPER: A metal or plastic scraper is useful when rolling out cookie dough to help loosen the dough from the work surface. It is also useful for cutting dough, cutting out brownies or blondies, and transferring items from one place to another.

BLENDER, IMMERSION BLENDER, OR FOOD PROCESSOR: These small kitchen appliances can typically be used interchangeably and are perfect for pureeing fruits and other mixtures to make smooth and creamy ice creams.

COOKIE CUTTERS: These are used with rollout cookie dough recipes. You can use any shape you like, but be sure to adjust the baking times accordingly. Bake longer for larger shapes and less for smaller shapes. Cookie cutters are also used to cut out shapes from sheets of ice cream to make beautifully shaped sandwiches. Avoid plastic cookie cutters and try to use cookie cutters with grips or handles so that its easier to cut shapes out of the ice cream. If you dont have any cookie cutters, you can also use a glass or lid with sharp edges.