Friday, May 21, 2010

Cookies 'n Cream Ice Cream


Or is it Cookies & Cream?  Cookies 'n Creme?  Cookies 'n Cream?  I don't think I ever figured that one out--and neither has anyone else, judging by the variety of ways I've seen those words in print.  We might not be able to agree on a single spelling, but there's no denying that this is one of America's top favorite ice cream flavors.  I can't think of any ice cream lover I know that would turn down a bowl of this!  Don't be fooled by the meager ingredients list, though.  Sweetened condensed milk fills in nicely for sugar and milk, streamlining the process while adding a uniquely delicious but difficult to identify flavor.  Keeping this egg-free (Philadelphia style) preserves both the color and the pure, sweet creaminess of the ice cream base, while the touch of vanilla rounds out the flavor. 

My method of incorporating the cookies might seem like extra work, but I have my reasons:
  • I have THIS 2-quart ice cream maker.  By the end of the freezing cycle the ice cream was practically jumping out of the top opening.  No way was there room for adding cookies without making a supreme mess.
  • The manufacturer or my ice cream maker recommends adding 'chunkies' no larger than the size of a chocolate chip.  Cookie pieces = definitely larger than chocolate chip.
  • Folding in the roughly chopped (I quartered each one) cookies instead of letting the dasher mix in the pieces keeps the ice cream more pristinely white. 


Cookies 'n Cream Ice Cream (Yield: about 2 quarts)

14 oz. can sweetened condensed milk
4 cups half-and-half (or 2 cups each heavy cream and 2% milk)
1 tsp. vanilla extract
18 chocolate sandwich cookies, roughly chopped (a heaping 2 cups)

Place sweetened condensed milk in large bowl with a spout.  Gradually blend in half-and-half.  Stir in vanilla.  Place mixture in refrigerator for 2-3 hours, or until thoroughly chilled.  Freeze in ice cream maker according to manufacturer's instructions.  Meanwhile, place a large mixing bowl in the freezer.  When ice cream has finished churning, remove ice cream from machine and place into chilled mixing bowl.  Fold in chopped cookie pieces, then place ice cream into containers to continue freezing.

As a matter of personal taste, I prefer to let this ice cream sit in the freezer for a few days before serving it. Over time, the cookie pieces absorb some of the moisture from the ice cream, leaving them soft and cake-like rather than crunchy. 

23 comments:

  1. This sounds and looks great. I will be trying it soon! There's nothing like ice cream, for sure!

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  2. This looks great! I will try this.

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  3. So jealous of your ice cream machine!

    I never remember to ask for one at my birthday/x-mas OR Mother's Day!

    Your ice cream looks so good!

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  4. This looks great!. I will be trying it soon! There's nothing like ice cream, for sure! thanx for the post.

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  5. Well, There's nothing like ice cream, for sure! anyway thanx for the recipe.

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  6. Wow, This looks great! I wish i can eat this all haha, anyway thanx.

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  7. Wow, I will be trying it soon! There's nothing like ice cream, for sure! thanx for posting, keep it such kind of hard work.

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  8. Love your blog, thanx for the delicious ice cream, must try this at home, thanx.

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  9. If you do use Oreo cookies, how do you crush them without the filling getting stuck on everything?

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  10. Hi everyone! I do hope you try out this recipe; it's really easy and tastes fantastic :)

    Victoria - I get around that by cutting the Oreos into quarters with a big sharp knife. It does get a bit crumbly, but the filling doesn't get squashed everywhere. Hope that helps!

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  11. Wow! These pictures are so delicious! thanks for the share.

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  12. A lovely treat for my self while watching my favorite movie or Tv shows.

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  13. Well, I will be trying it soon! There's nothing like ice cream, for sure! thanx for sharing with us.

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  14. My favorite flavor ice cream! I love it very much. I would love to try in my own. Thanks

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  15. This was awesome, very rich so does well with ice cream to calm it down! but it is a keeper for sure.

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  16. Kind of random I know but we just bought some Lucerene brand cookies n' cream ice cream and I swear there are no cookies at all! It's just the outside cookie layer of an oreo. I'm just wondering what brand has huge cookies embedded in the ice cream and tastes the best? Thanks in advance! :D

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  17. It was easy to make and delicious. I was not quite sure about the frosting when I tasted it by itself, but it works very well with the cake. I will definitely make this one again!

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  18. My favorite flavor ice cream! I love it very much. I would love to try in my own. Thanks for sharing.

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  19. Well, I love it very much. I would love to try in my own. Thanks for the wonderful share.

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  20. I will try this recipe, and let you know how it come out. Thanks for the share!

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  21. Incredible. Every time I make it, I get rave reviews. Outrageously decadent, but worth every calorie.

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  22. Excellent taste and easy to make. For those who care for "hard" ice cream, this is soft and creamy.

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  23. There's nothing like ice cream. If you do use Oreo cookies, how do you crush them without the filling getting stuck on everything?

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