The summer is in full-swing, and to keep you cool during these sweltering months, I’ve got a semi-homemade frozen treat that literally makes my mouth water just thinking about it: chocolate chip cookie ice cream sandwiches. Chewy, sweet and salty chocolate chunk cookies filled with the ice cream of you choice, these bad boys have your name written all over them.

We’ve spent the past few weeks in the sun with salty hair and bellies full of watermelon and frozen cocktails. Enjoying the beach with children is an activity I would more closely identify as “work” over “vacation,” but doing so with friends that feel like family make the effort worth it. My kids are slowly gaining a healthy respect and love for the water, and I have loved the opportunity to watch them experience new things for the first time. 

I’m realizing there’s a lot of things you take for granted when you go to the beach without children for most of your life. In fact, it wasn’t until I had two overheated toddlers plastered to my sweaty thighs that I realized just how oppressive the summer heat can be. There’s sunscreen in their eyes, life jacket-induced wedgies, and  never enough juice boxes to go around. The sun’s too hot, there’s sand in their pants, and somehow everyone in the water has a near-drowning experience. By the end of the trip, mom needs another vacation. #firstworldprobs

As a reprieve, I’ve retreated to the lake so that my mom can play grandmother to my babies and I can get some real R&R over the holiday week. To celebrate, you had better believe we’re noshing on these chocolate chip cookie ice cream sandwiches. These frozen treats (and a few bottles of rose) are the reason I’ll be staying sane (ok, and five pounds over my usual body weight) for the remainder of the summer. 

The key to these chocolate chip cookie ice cream sandwiches is the cookie. In order to keep this dessert as simple and stress-free as possible, we need to be able to assemble and freeze them in advance. So I’ve made this recipe to be just barely soft and chewy when frozen so that you can enjoy the goods without fussing in the kitchen all week long.

Like most cookies, we start these by creaming butter and sugar. These have a high percentage of brown sugar for extra chewiness. Next comes vanilla and eggs which get stirred in until combined. Finally we add the dry ingredients and the chopped chocolate. Be sure to use finely chopped chocolate so that you don’t bite into any huge hunks of chocolate once they’re baked! While I love huge chunks in normal cookies, I don’t want to be held responsible when you crack a tooth on a giant frozen piece of chocolate. So just chop it. These cookies get baked just until the edges are set and they still appear slightly underdone. 

Once the cookies are completely cooled, sandwich a big scoop of ice cream right between two of them. I prefer classic vanilla and chocolate ice cream, but caramel, cookies and cream, or even chocolate chip would be a great addition here. It’s your pick!

Stay extra cool for the remainder of this month. These chocolate chip cookie ice cream sandwiches are the ticket!

If you like these chocolate chip cookie ice cream sandwiches you should check out:

Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies

Candied Walnut Chocolate Chip Cookies

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chunk Cookies

No-Churn Coffee Cookie Dough Ice Cream

Mint Brownie Ice Cream Cake

 

Print