Plan ahead. The cookie dough will need to chill for at least 20 minutes before baking. This is to ensure the cookies don’t spread too much.
Use room temperature butter. Set out your butter at least an hour before mixing the cookies. This will ensure your butter is at the correct temperature for mixing. You want the butter to give slightly when you touch it, but not be so soft that it is melty.
You can refrigerate the cookie dough in a ball…or you can scoop the cookie dough first, then refrigerate so you don’t have to work with dough that is too hard.
Don’t overbake! You want to remove the cookies from the oven before the get brown. This will help keep your cookie sandwiches easy to bite into.
Freeze the cookies before filling. That way when you press the ice cream between two cookies, the cookies will not bread.
You can also soften the ice cream, spread it in a 9×13 pan and freeze. Then use a cookie cutter the same size as the cookies to cut circles of ice cream to easily sandwich between the cookies.
Fun tip the kids will love: Roll the freshly filled funfetti ice cream sandwiches in extra sprinkles! Because extra sprinkles are always a good idea.
2024/4/25 Edited to
... Read moreOkay, fellow dessert lovers, let me tell you, making homemade funfetti ice cream sandwiches changed my life! I used to think they were super complicated, but after trying them myself, I realized they're surprisingly easy and SO much better than store-bought. My kids absolutely adore them, and honestly, so do I. They’re the perfect summer treat or a fun dessert for any party.
The original article gives fantastic tips for perfecting your cookies – those bits about chilling the dough and using room temperature butter are gold! But if you’re wondering where to even start with the full recipe, don't worry, I've got you covered with a general idea of the process. You’ll need staples like butter, sugar, eggs, vanilla extract, all-purpose flour, a touch of cream of tartar, baking soda, salt, plenty of sprinkles for the cookies themselves, and of course, your favorite vanilla ice cream.
First off, you’ll preheat your oven and get the cookie dough ready. This involves creaming the butter and sugar, adding the egg and vanilla, then mixing in your dry ingredients. The fun part is folding in those vibrant sprinkles! After that crucial chilling step for the dough (seriously, don't skip it!), you’ll bake them until they’re just set – slightly golden but still soft. This is key for soft-bite sandwiches! Once they’re cooled completely, pop them in the freezer for a bit. This little trick makes assembling the sandwiches a breeze, preventing the cookies from crumbling when you press the ice cream.
Now, let's talk about making these beauties truly Instagram-worthy and fulfilling those "easy sandwich decoration ideas" vibes! While rolling them in extra sprinkles (like the tip says!) is always a winner, why stop there?
Sprinkle Extravaganza: Experiment with different sprinkle types! Jimmies are classic, but nonpareils offer a finer texture, and sanding sugar adds a lovely sparkle. You could even do a mix of colors to match a party theme.
Chocolate Dip Perfection: For an extra layer of decadence, melt some chocolate chips or white chocolate. Dip half of your assembled ice cream sandwich into the melted chocolate, then immediately roll it in more sprinkles, mini chocolate chips, or even finely chopped nuts. The chocolate hardens in the freezer, creating a delightful crunch.
Nutty or Coconutty: If you love texture, try rolling the edges in toasted shredded coconut or finely chopped pecans or walnuts. It adds a gourmet touch with minimal effort.
Creative Cookie Bases: While funfetti is amazing, you could also try adapting the cookie recipe to be chocolate, peanut butter, or even red velvet for different color and flavor combinations. Just imagine, red velvet cookies with cream cheese ice cream!
A little personal tip: when softening the vanilla ice cream for easy spreading, don’t let it get too melty. Just soft enough to scoop and press easily. If it gets too liquidy, your sandwiches will be a mess. Also, if your cookies do spread more than you'd like, don't fret! You can use a round cookie cutter right after they come out of the oven (while still warm and pliable) to gently reshape them into perfect circles. Just be quick!
Once they're all assembled and decorated, pop them back into the freezer for at least an hour to firm up. This makes them much easier to handle and eat. I usually make a big batch and store them individually wrapped in parchment paper, then in an airtight container. They last for weeks in the freezer, making them the ultimate grab-and-go sweet treat.
Seriously, give homemade funfetti ice cream sandwiches a try. They’re fun to make, delicious to eat, and a fantastic way to enjoy "cookies ice cream" in a whole new, delightful way! Happy baking!