Homemade ice cream sandwiches are one of my favorite treats to fill the freezer with during the summer. They’re satisfying when you want something bigger than a popsicle, but still cool you down when it is hot outside. These Homemade Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream Sandwiches are made with thin, chewy chocolate chip cookies and sandwich chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream. They’re a chocolate chip cookie-lover’s delight – and one batch will provide you with plenty of ice cream sandwiches!

The recipe starts out with the homemade cookies. These cookies use a bit more brown sugar than some cookie recipes, which helps give them a chewy texture and provides a little more spread. When it comes to cookies for ice cream sandwiches, you don’t want something too hard or too thick. They’re buttery and have plenty of chocolate chips.

While I don’t always think you need a portion scoop to make cookies, it is nice to use one for this recipe. A portion scoop (looks like a small ice cream scoop) will allow your cookies to all come out the same size and shape. If you don’t have one, just spend an extra few seconds per cookie dough ball making sure everything is about even. Spending a little extra time on prep means that pairing up your sandwich cookies will be easier!

Once the cookies have baked and cooled, it’s time to fill them with ice cream. You can use store bought or homemade for this recipe, but the ice cream should be slightly softened to make it easier to work with. I always use chocolate chip cookie dough, as that adds just another layer of chocolate chip cookie goodness to each of these ice cream sandwiches. That said, you can use any flavor and chocolate, vanilla or Rocky Road all work well, too. Use a dry ingredient measuring cup (1/4 or 1/3 is usually good) to scoop out the ice cream and shape it, then pop it between two cookies and squish them together. You’ll want to get the cookies into the freezer as quickly as possible so they can set up, so place them on a baking sheet for about 15 minutes while you work. Once they have chilled slightly, individually wrap them in bags, plastic wrap or aluminum foil and freeze until ready to serve!

Homemade Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream Sandwiches
2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 cup butter, room temperature
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup light brown sugar
2 large eggs
2 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups chocolate chips
1/2 cup mini chocolate chips

Approx 1/2 gal cookie dough ice cream
OR 1 batch homemade vanilla ice cream with homemade cookie dough bits
mini chocolate chips or finely chopped chocolate, for decorating

Preheat oven to 375F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda and salt.
In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugars until light and creamy. Beat in eggs, one at a time, followed by vanilla extract. Stir in the flour mixture until dry ingredients have been completely incorporated, then stir in chocolate chips and mini chocolate chips.
Shape into 1-inch balls and arrange on prepared baking sheet, leaving about 2-inches between cookies to allow for spread.
Bake for 11-13 minutes, or until cookies are set around the edges.
Allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 3-4 minutes, then transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool completely.

Assembly: Pair up chocolate chip cookies according to size. Place a cup or so of mini chocolate chips or chopped chocolate in a medium bowl.
Using a 1/4 cup or 1/3 cup measuring cup, scoop out portions of cookie dough ice cream and place between each pair of cookies. Squish cookies together slightly to spread ice cream, then roll edges in mini chocolate chips or chopped chocolate.
Transfer sandwiches to a baking sheet in the freezer to chill for about 15 minutes, then individually wrap and freeze until frozen.

Makes about 18 sandwiches.

The post Homemade Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream Sandwiches appeared first on Baking Bites.