Sweet Treats to Beat the Heat

Today is National Ice Cream Sandwich Day!!  Did you even know such a thing existed?  In honor of this auspicious occasion, here are some recipes to delight your family and beat the heat in the process.  Enjoy!

Chocolate Wafter Ice Cream Sandwiches (from allrecipes.com)

1 9oz box chocolate wafer cookies

1 quart ice cream, softened

1 12oz package mini chocolate chips**

On a cookie sheet, place 15 chocolate wafers flat side up.  Working quickly, top each wafer with a small scoop of ice cream.  Top each sandwich with another wafer, flat side down.  Gently push the top wafers down until the ice cream comes to the edge of the wafer cookies.  Freeze for one hour, or until firm.  Roll each ice cream sandwich in mini chocolate chips so that all the exposed ice cream is covered.  Cover and freeze until ready to serve.

**I bet you could use sprinkles or mini MandMs, too!

Snickerdoodle Ice Cream Sandwiches (from bhg.com)

1 roll refrigerated sugar cookie dough

1 tbsp sugar

1tsp ground cinnamon

1 1.75-qt container vanilla ice cream

1 cup shredded sweetened coconut, toasted

2 cups cornflakes, coarsely crushed

Slice cookie dough into 1/4 inch thick slices and arrange on cookie sheet.  Combine sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl and generously sprinkle over dough slices.  Bake at 350 degrees for 9 to 11 minutes or until lightly browned.  Cool 1 minute on cookie sheet and then remove and cool completely on wire racks.

Let ice cream soften slightly and then stir in coconut (optional).  Scoop ice cream mixture onto flat sides of half the cookies.  Top with the remaining cookies and press together gently.  Place cornflakes in shallow dish and roll edges of sandwiches in cornflakes to coat ice cream.  Wrap each sandwich in plastic wrap and freeze 2 hours or until firm.

Makes 14 sandwiches.

Easy Chocolate-Mint Ice Cream Sandwiches (from myrecipes.com)

2 pints vanilla ice cream, softened

15 mint-and-cream filled chocolate sandwich cookies*, chopped

1 8.5oz package large chewy chocolate cookies

Stir together softened ice cream and sandwich cookie pieces.  Freeze 30 minutes.  Spread ice cream evenly on 1 side of 5 large chewy cookies; top with remaining large chewy cookies. Place in plastic or wax paper sandwich bags and freeze at least 1 hour.

Makes 5 servings.

*Try Oreo Double Delight Mint 'n Creme cookies

photo by Tina Cornett