A lot of exciting things are going on over here today at Erica Sweet Tooth – a post celebrating my brother Scott’s birthday for the 3rd year in a row, my 2nd blogoversary, and my very first giveaway!! When I started this blog back in October of 2009, some of my first posts revolved around the treats I made for Scotty’s 17th birthday weekend – including the most ridiculous Peanut Butter Cup Layer Cake and an equally ridiculous Skittles Cake. Last year I tamed it down a little with some Mint Oreo Ice Cream Cupcakes, and this year I’m coming full circle with these Peanut Butter Cup Ice Cream Sandwiches.
Scott is a peanut butter fanatic, but even my Dad who usually shies away from peanut butter treats loved these ice cream sandwiches. The ice cream was definitely peanut buttery, but not overwhelmingly-so and the deep chocolate cookies helped balance out the flavor. The great thing about this recipe is that the cookies come together really easily and if you don’t want to make your own ice cream, just let a store-bought carton soften and use that instead. I’m also obsessed with Not So Humble Pie‘s method for making the cookies and ice cream the same exact shape so they line up perfectly: by spreading and then freezing the ice cream in a 9×13″ pan, you can use the same cookie cutter used for the cookies and cut out rounds of ice cream. Genius! And very pretty :)
Scott scarfed one down in no time, like any 19 year old boy man (gahhhh), and we had a great day together as a family enjoying the beautiful fall weather, eating delicious food, and of course watching a little Scooby Doo. Scott definitely loved all of his presents, and since Erica Sweet Tooth is turning 2 this month, I would like to give a present to one of you too. Publishing this blog brings me so much happiness even during my not so happy weeks, and having such a great audience of readers is what really makes this whole thing so special. Thank you for all of your comments, acceptance of my nerdy medical and dental tendencies, and non-stop encouragement to keep doing what I’m doing! I hope the winner of the beautiful Blue Willow Kitchen-Aid 5 Quart Artisan Mixer I’m giving away this week will use it to create inspiring and delicious treats and share it with the ones they love – either in person or virtually! (Scroll down to the bottom for info on how to enter!)
Happy 19th Birthday Scott!
Happy 2nd Blogoversary to me!
And good luck winning the mixer to all of you!
Peanut Butter Ice Cream Sandwiches
Adapted from Recipe Girl and Not So Humble Pie
Ingredients:
For the Peanut Butter Cup Ice Cream:
1-1/4 cups smooth peanut butter
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1-1/4 cups whole milk
2 cups heavy whipping cream
1-1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1-1/2 cups chopped peanut butter cups (8-10 full-sized ones)
For the Chocolate Cookies:
12 tbsp butter, at room temperature
1 cup granulated sugar
2/3 cup dark cocoa powder
1 large egg
1-1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1-1/4 cup all purpose flour
Extra flour and cocoa for dusting
Directions:
For the Peanut Butter Cup Ice Cream:
- Make sure your ice cream maker has been in the freezer overnight before starting.
- In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat together peanut butter and sugar until smooth. Add milk and mix on low until sugar is dissolved – about 2-3 minutes.
- Mix in the heavy cream and vanilla and beat until well combined.
- Pour the mixture into the ice cream maker and follow the manufacturers instructions for freezing, which usually takes between 20 and 25 minutes.
- When the ice cream is done, fold in the chopped peanut butter cups.
- To use this ice cream for sandwiches, line a 9×13″ pan with plastic wrap and spread the ice cream evenly in the pan. Cover with another layer of plastic wrap and freeze for at least 12 hours.
*To make the sandwiches with store-bought ice cream, just let a carton of ice cream soften enough to spread evenly in a 9×13″ pan.
For the Chocolate Cookies:
- In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream together the butter and sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
- Add the cocoa powder, reduce the speed to low, and let it mix while scraping down the sides of the bowl occasionally.
- Add the vanilla and egg and beat on medium speed until well combined.
- With the mixer on low, add the flour and mix until well combined.
- Wrap the cookies in plastic wrap and chill the dough for at least 4 hours.
- When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- Make a mixture of 50/50 flour and cocoa and dust surface to prevent sticking (the cocoa powder will keep the cookies dark brown once baked).
- Roll out dough to about 1/8″ thickness and cut out desired shapes. This cookie cutter will also be used to cutout shapes of ice cream from your 9×13″ pan.
- Arrange cutouts on a parchment paper or silpat-lined cookie sheet (don’t worry about crowding them; these don’t spread very much) and bake for 10-12 minutes.
- Allow cookies to cool completely on wire racks before assembling the ice cream sandwiches.
For Ice Cream Sandwich Assembly:
- Remove pan of ice cream from freezer and allow to soften for 5-10 minutes.
- Using the same cookie cutter as used for the cookies, cut out rounds of ice cream and sandwich the ice cream between 2 cookies.
- Return sandwiches to freezer or enjoy immediately.
GIVEAWAY DETAILS
Here’s how to enter to win this Blue Willow KitchenAid Mixer:
1) “Like” Sweet Tooth on facebook
2) Fill out the form below to enter and so I can contact you if you win! (don’t worry, this information is only accessible to me and your email address will be kept confidential!)
3) For an extra entry, tweet about this post with a link back here and include @EricaSweetTooth
4) For another extra entry, tell your friends on facebook with a link back here and include @Sweet Tooth
SORRY! The giveaway is over, thanks to all who entered!! The winner will be announced later today :)
Gak, I wish I could enter, but I live in Canada and my white KitchenAid Mixer might get jealous. :) Happy belated blogoversary!
I love reading your blog & all of your great recipes..The Pink Lemonade Cupcakes are my fav!
These look amazing! Seriously, my mind is blown. And a happy blogaversary to you! ^^
Oh my gosh, I DEFINITELY need to make this ice cream sandwich. It looks so, so, so good. :-D
This is such an awesome giveaway. Thanks!
Man. Now I’m nervous my entry didn’t go through. :/
I just entered! :D I’m so excited! BTW those look amazing!
I just entered then saw the part about only shipping within the US. Guess this Canadian girl will have to go out and by her own mixer ;)
But love your blog! Delicious and easy recipes :)
Happy Blogiversary! :)
I just found your blog, and am in love already! I love your creativity, and it all looks delicious! I want to make everything on it!
Happy blogoversary!!
These ice cream sandwiches look amazing! It’s very innovative.
Oh my these look sooo yummy!
Happy Blogoversary! Love your goodies!!!
Just found your blog through a google search and I am so glad I did! I love sweets and this blog is just perfect to satisfy my tooth. And what a fun giveaway to find! Tweeted and fbooked about it and blog stalked you a little!
your ice cream sandwiches look so neat! with all those peanut butter cups i’m sure these taste craaaazy good.
YUM! My hubby would love these! And that’s such a sweet picture of you and brother. It’s great that you always try to make his birthday extra special.
These ice cream sandwiches are almost too good to be true
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Love your blog! You always share great recipes. The contest is a great idea. :)
Thanks for a fantastic giveaway and a delicious Peanut Butter Cup Ice Cream Sandwich recipe. These look yummy! I love peanut butter and I could eat this entire batch!
Love your blog! Someone I follow on Twitter led me here (a Kitchenaid is pretty good incentive), but alas I live in Canada. I will be back though for the sweets and I definitely told my US friends to come enter the giveaway!
Thanks for the chance to win, and happy blogiversary!
– Maggie
Happy Blogoversary! I really want to enter but I do not have Facebook or Twitter. My only internet access is at work. Can you make an exception to the rule by any chance?
Love the ice cream sandwiches. My family would love these. We are all about some peanut butter!!!!
These ice cream sandwiches look so good! And so pro! PS. Happy Blogoversary! :)
Done, done and done. Entered, tweeted, facebooked on my page, and liked with my personal page and my blog page. I NEED a mixer in a HUGE way, and I LOVE icecream. It’s a necessary part of life :) Happy blogoversary!!
Happy Blogoversary! I stumbled upon your blog about a year ago and have been hooked ever since! I’ve made the mock Pinkberry froyo, Caramel Frap Cupcakes, Smores Cookies and I love them all!
As for the mixer, I just know it would look FAB on my kitchen counter!
Happy Blogoversary!! It’s been so fun following your blog and I’m excited to be getting Facebook updates now :) Those peanut butter ice cream sandwiches look yummy!!
Yum. These ice cream sandwiches look sooo good! You are just filled with scrumptious treats on this blog.
Love the photos of these – and I’m sure I’d love the sandwiches themselves! You have the cutest blog – I love your header colors!!!
<3 Miss Candiquik
These looks amazing!! Thanks for sharing the recipe!
So glad I found this recipe and love that it doesnt include eggs…delishhh! I also added a smidge of peanut butter extract…mmm this recipe reminded me of dairy queens reeses blizzard!
this receipe looks so good, that I have to try it, maybe I will win and can use it for this cookie and if not I will still use it anyway. Keep up the good work with the different items to try out
These look amazing!
These look amazing! Peanut Butter Cups are the BEST!