The best ice cream cookie sandwiches start with the best ever perfectly chewy cookies. I’m happy to tell you that I’ve found the cookie recipe that works perfectly when frozen.
Over the years, I’ve made ice cream sandwiches using many different cookies. And in the end, I simply love the way the flavor in these oatmeal peanut butter cookies adds to the overall awesomeness of this frozen treat.
Ice Cream Cookie Sandwiches
Not all cookie recipes work well when frozen into ice cream sandwiches, but I’m happy to tell you that I’ve found the cookie recipe that works perfectly every single time. This cookie recipe is adapted from my grandmother’s recipe for Monster Cookies and I suspect that it may have been YOUR grandmother’s recipe as well.
When I discovered that the Monster Cookie recipe in my best friend’s cookbook from her mom was almost the exact same recipe that my grandmother used, it became even more fun every time I made those cookies.
I love that we all have so much sentimental attachment to our family recipes.
Cookies for Ice Cream
In the past, I’ve made Monster Cookie Ice Cream Sandwiches using the original recipe, but I found that with a few tweaks, it was even better.
By adapting that recipe to make it a little bit chewier and less crunchy, it freezes and softens beautifully when it is layered with ice cream.
Ice Cream Sandwich Cookie
I love making ice cream sandwiches with homemade ice cream. This recipe for Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream is hands down the easiest and best one you’ll ever make.
For these sandwiches, I churned a batch of ice cream while I started making the cookies. Then I stashed the ice cream in the freezer while the cookies were baking and cooling. The ice cream was firm enough to assemble the sandwiches by the time the cookies had cooled.
If you aren’t in the mood for making your own ice cream, pretty much any store-bought ice cream that you love will work beautifully for these Ice Cream Sandwiches. Chocolate peanut butter ice cream is a long-time favorite for these sandwiches, whether the ice cream is homemade or store-bought.
The most popular question I get is whether it’s possible to make ice cream without a machine. The answer is YES. You can make ice cream without a machine. Find the full directions here!
Homemade Ice Cream Sandwiches
FREEZER STORAGE TIPS: The ice cream sandwiches can be stacked in a large airtight container and they will keep well that way. They can also be wrapped individually in foil.
I do not recommend storing them in zip-close or sandwich bags, they will absorb some of the plastic smell and I really didn’t like that. For what it’s worth, no one else in my family was bothered by it.
Kitchen Tip: I use this scoop both to measure the cookie dough and to scoop the ice cream onto the cookies when making ice cream sandwiches.
Cookies for Ice Cream Sandwiches
You’ll need the following ingredients for this recipe:
- butter
- light brown sugar
- white sugar
- eggs
- baking soda
- vanilla extract
- maple syrup
- creamy peanut butter
- quick oats
- semi-sweet chocolate chips
- ice cream
Ice Cream Recipes for Cookie Sandwiches
With over 70 ice cream recipes here to choose from, there’s sure to be an ice cream for everyone! If you’re new to making ice cream, the best and easiest vanilla ice cream is a great place to start.
Chocolate Peanut Butter Ice Cream with creamy chocolate and peanut butter chunks mixed throughout is a dream come true for any ice cream lover.
I love cheesecake and I love ice cream; so Cheesecake Ice Cream calls my name whenever it’s in the freezer. It really does taste just like cheesecake frozen into perfectly scoopable bites of ice cream.
Chocolate Chip Toffee Bits Ice Cream is exactly that – a homemade vanilla ice cream fully loaded with miniature chocolate chips and toffee bits. It’s one of the easiest flavor variations and it’s popular with kids and adults.
Inspired by our love of warm caramel sauce and homemade ice cream, Salted Caramel Ice Cream is wonderfully decadent ice cream. It’s one of my favorites for sure.
Don’t miss our Ice Cream Maker Review for all the information you need to find the BEST Ice Cream Maker for your needs! Spoiler alert – our top-rated machine under $50 just might surprise you. It sure surprised me!
Servings: 32 cookies (approx 16 sandwiches)
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Preheat the oven to 350°F. Cream together the butter and sugars. Add the eggs, vanilla, syrup and baking soda. Add the peanut butter and then the oats. Stir well to combine and then add the chocolate chips, mixing them in thoroughly.
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Use a large cookie scoop to scoop the dough onto a parchment or silpat lined cookie sheet. Roll each ball of dough between your hands to make it smooth and round. (Eight cookies will fit nicely on a half size baking sheet.)
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Bake for approximately 12 minutes, watching closely to make sure they do not over bake. The cookies should be barely browned around the edges and just past looking wet on top. Cool on sheet for 1 minute and then remove to wire rack. Cool completely.
TO ASSEMBLE THE SANDWICHES:
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When the cookies are completely cool, scoop ⅓ cup of ice cream onto one cookie. (I use a generous scoopful of ice cream made with the same cookie dough scoop I used to make the cookies.) Then top with a second cookie and press gently to spread the ice cream evenly between the cookies.
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Fill all the cookie sandwiches and then place the ice cream sandwiches on a large tray in the freezer until firm. Enjoy!
I do not recommend storing the sandwiches in zip-close or sandwich bags, they will absorb some of the plastic smell. For what it’s worth, no one else in my family was bothered by it, but I didn’t care for it.
{originally published 7/19/18 – recipe notes and photos updated 6/14/24}
