The Secret To Delicious Homemade Cookies & Cream Ice Cream

Who doesn’t love a bowl of creamy, sweet ice cream? It’s the perfect snack to cool you off on a hot summer day. But why settle for store-bought ice cream when you can make your own at home? In this post, we’ll share the secret to preparing delicious cookies and cream ice cream.

Anyone who loves desserts needs some ice cream maker recipes in their arsenal! But don’t worry, even if you’ve never made ice cream before, we’ll take you through the step-by-step process of making it from scratch today. We’ll give you tips on how to perfectly mix in the cookies and churn the ice cream to creamy perfection. We’ll also suggest toppings to make your ice cream even more irresistible.

Ingredients 

No homemade ice cream recipe would be complete without an ice cream base! For this portion of the recipe, you will need the following ingredients: 

• 2 cups of whole milk
• 1 cup of heavy cream
• 1 cup of granulated sugar
• 5 large egg yolks
• ¼ teaspoon of kosher salt

For the delicious cookie bits, you will need to gather these ingredients:

• 1 cup of all-purpose flour
• ¼ teaspoon of baking soda
• ¼ teaspoon of baking powder
• ¼ teaspoon of kosher salt
• 3 tablespoons of unsalted butter (at room temperature)
• 1 tablespoon of vegetable shortening
• ¾ cup of light brown sugar (packed)
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract
• 1 ¼ cups of semi-sweet chocolate chips 

Preparing the Ice Cream Base 

To begin preparing the ice cream base, mix the milk, cream, sugar and salt in a medium saucepan. Place over medium heat and stir until the sugar has dissolved completely. Whisk together the egg yolks in a separate bowl until they’re well blended. Slowly pour about ¼ cup of the hot mixture into the whisked egg yolks while stirring continuously. This process will help temper the eggs so they don’t cook too quickly when added to the hot mixture. Once combined, slowly pour this mixture into the pan while stirring continuously. 

It’s important to strain your mixture before cooling to remove any bits of the egg; if not, your ice cream won’t be smooth and creamy. Set aside to cool until it’s room temperature. Once it’s cooled down to room temperature, transfer your mixture to an airtight container and refrigerate it for at least 8 hours or overnight. This will give your ice cream base time to thicken even further.  

Preparing the Cookies

To make delicious cookie bits for your ice cream, first, gather all your ingredients. Then, in a medium-sized bowl, combine flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt until well mixed. Set aside for later use. 

In a separate bowl, using an electric mixer, beat butter and shortening until light and creamy — about two minutes on medium speed should be sufficient. Then add brown sugar and mix until incorporated. Scrape down the sides as needed and then beat in the egg, followed by vanilla extract, until well combined for about another two minutes on medium speed. Add the dry ingredients slowly while mixing on low speed until just combined. Finally, add chocolate chips and mix until evenly distributed throughout the dough—about 30 seconds on low speed should be enough. Reduce the mixer speed further if needed to prevent breaking apart the chips too much.   

Once all ingredients are combined, it is time to roll out the dough onto parchment paper or a similar surface with a rolling pin; using your hands or a pastry brush, spread melted butter onto each side before cutting into pieces measuring about 1 inch squared or desired size depending on preference; transfer pieces onto a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper or similar surface preserving shape from rolling out. Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 to 12 minutes, keeping an eye on them towards the end so that the edges don’t burn. Once done, let them cool.  

Assembling the Ice Cream 

Once your cookie bits have cooled completely and your ice cream base has thickened in the refrigerator, it’s time to assemble everything. Start by transferring the strained liquid mixture into a soft serve ice cream maker, following the manufacturer’s instructions (as they vary). Churn for approximately 20 minutes or until the desired texture is achieved.

Next, transfer a portion of the partially finished ice cream into a separate airtight container, reserving the rest for future use if desired. Next, add the cookie chunks and gently stir with a spoon or a silicone spatula to distribute them evenly throughout the mixture. Avoid adding the cookie dough too soon before churning, as it may change the texture.

Carefully fold the cookie chunks into the ice cream, ensuring not to break them apart. This will provide each scoop with delightful cookie chunks. Next, transfer the completed ice cream into a freezer-safe airtight container, leaving space at the top for expansion. Freeze for three hours or overnight, depending on your preference.

Serving

When serving the ice cream, use an ice cream scoop with a release handle to create uniform scoops and ensure each bite has an equal amount of deliciousness. Scoop the desired amount into a bowl, cone or cup. You can include optional toppings like sprinkles, nuts, or fruit for added flair. However, be mindful of portion sizes and follow the serving sizes listed on the nutrition labels to avoid excessive caloric intake. Any leftover ice cream should be stored in a freezer-safe, airtight container with a lid. Leave some space at the top for expansion during freezing. Remember not to store the ice cream for too long, as its flavor may diminish.

Conclusion

Now that you have all the steps to make delicious homemade cookies and cream ice cream, it’s time to implement them. As you can see, making homemade ice cream doesn’t have to be daunting or complicated. With a few simple steps, you can create a dessert that will surely be the star of any summer gathering. So, grab the ingredients and start making the most delicious homemade cookies and cream ice cream of all time!