Eggnog Ice Cream Sandwiches
These Eggnog Ice Cream Sandwiches are a new holiday favorite. They’re just like your favorite holiday drink…only in ice cream form and stuffed between thin, crispy cookies!
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Some of my favorite recipes have come about when I was just playing around in the kitchen. These Eggnog Ice Cream Sandwiches definitely fall into that category. A couple weeks ago, I had pulled out my pasta machine to make these Kalamata Olive and Sea Salt Grissini. Did you know that a pasta machine is an easy way to make thin, crispy breadsticks? Yup, that fettuccine cutter is perfect for this task.
Of course, I’ve also used my pasta machine to make pasta…isn’t that what it’s for? (This Spinach Whole-Wheat Pasta is still one of my favorites!) But as I was rolling out the dough for the grissini through that pasta machine, I had a crazy idea. What if I used the pasta machine to make cookies. Yes, cookies. Thin, crispy cookies. I’ve been thinking about those thin cookies for weeks now…and that’s how these Eggnog Ice Cream Sandwiches were born.
I made a basic sugar cookie dough and then rolled it through the pasta machine. I was able to get the dough pretty thin, but cookie dough isn’t quite as sturdy as pasta dough. That meant that I could only go so thin before the cookie dough just ripped and fell apart as I rolled it. Once baked, the cookies puffed up a little more than I had anticipated. They were still awesomely thin and crunchy, though…just the way I like ’em!
Eggnog Ice Cream Sandwiches
Eggnog Ice Cream SandwichesThat’s when my wife and one of our friends walked in from work. I was standing in the kitchen, my pants were covered in flour (who wears black sweat pants when playing with flour!?), and there were about 6 dozen thin sugar cookies cooling on baking trays around the kitchen. My wife is a scientist, so she should totally get the experiment thing. She immediately chimed in and said, “Those would be great for ice cream sandwiches.” To which I promptly replied, “Ice cream sandwiches in December?” To which she promptly replied, “Yes! Make some of your Eggnog Ice Cream.” To which I promptly kept my mouth shut. She was right. Eggnog Ice Cream Sandwiches did sound really good.
I posted this Eggnog Ice Cream last December, and it still remains one of my favorite ice cream recipes ever! But slap that ice cream between two thin, crispy sugar cookies and dust the tops with a dash of cinnamon? Yeah, that happened. These Eggnog Ice Cream Sandwiches are full of holiday cheer…especially if you add the optional bourbon. So forget the cookies and milk for Santa this year…I’m pretty sure Santa would rather have one of these treats!
Did you make a batch of these Eggnog Ice Cream Sandwiches at home? Leave a comment, or snap a photo and tag me on Instagram (@Spicedblog). I’d love to see your version!
Eggnog Ice Cream
Ingredients
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 6 egg yolks
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 3 Tbsp bourbon or rum optional
- 1/2 Tbsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp nutmeg
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
Instructions
- Place the milk in a medium saucepan. Heat over medium-low it just begins to simmer.
- While the milk is heating, whisk together the salt, sugar, and egg yolks in a medium bowl. Gradually pour the hot milk into the egg yolks; whisking vigorously the entire time.
- Return the mixture to the saucepan and cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture thickens and coats a wooden spoon. (~6-7 minutes)
- Remove mixture from heat and add the heavy cream; stir until well combined. Pour the mixture through a fine-mesh strainer into a clean container. Stir in the bourbon (optional), vanilla, nutmeg, and cinnamon. Cover with plastic wrap, pressing the plastic directly onto the surface of the mixture, and refrigerate overnight.
- Pour the ice cream mixture into an ice cream maker and freeze according to the manufacturer's directions.
- If you desire a firmer ice cream, transfer the finished ice cream into the freezer for a couple of hours.
- Garnish with a dash of cinnamon and freshly-grated nutmeg before serving.
Thin and Crispy Sugar Cookies
Ingredients
- 8 Tbsp unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2¼ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ¼ tsp salt
- ¼ cup buttermilk
- superfine sugar for tops of cookies
Instructions
- Using a countertop mixer, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy (2-3 minutes on medium speed).
- Add the egg and vanilla; stir until well combined.
- In a separate bowl, add the flour, baking soda and salt; stir until well combined.
- Add half of the dry ingredients to the butter mixture followed by half of the buttermilk, stirring between each addition. Repeat with the remaining dry ingredients and remaining buttermilk.
- Cover and chill dough for at least 1 hour.
- Preheat oven to 375°F.
- Remove ¼ of the dough and place on a well-floured countertop. Leave the remaining dough in the refrigerator.
- Using a well-floured rolling pin, roll the dough out to as thin as possible (~1/8"). (Tip: If you have a pasta machine, you can roll the dough through the pasta rollers until very thin.)
- Use a cookie cutter to cut dough into desired shapes. (I prefer just a simple round cookie for this recipe, but feel free to experiment! Also, if dough warms up too much and begins to stick, just place it back in the refrigerator for a few minutes.)
- Place cookies on a parchment-lined baking sheet and sprinkle tops of cookies lightly with superfine sugar.
- Bake at 375°F for 8-9 minutes, or until edges of cookies just begin to turn brown.
- Repeat with remaining dough.
For the Eggnog Ice Cream Sandwiches
- Let the Eggnog Ice Cream rest at room temperature for a couple of minutes, or until soft and spreadable.
- Spread 2-3 Tbsp of ice cream onto one of the sugar cookies. Top with another sugar cookie. Wrap the ice cream sandwich in plastic wrap. Repeat to make as many ice cream sandwiches as desired. (Note: You'll probably have ice cream and cookies left over, but that shouldn't be a problem, right?)
- Freeze the wrapped-ice cream sandwiches for 2 hours, or until ice cream has hardened. Garnish tops with a dash of cinnamon before serving.
Looking for more eggnog recipes? Check out these other favorite eggnog treats:
Dude… you are one sweet genius. Cookie dough in the pasta machine? You are freaking awesome. And these ice cream sandwiches? I bet you they would ship really nice if you put some dry ice in a container with them. I’m sure they would make it down to Long Island just fine…. just saying. Hahaha nice work buddy. I’m always down for an ice cream sandwich, even in the winter! #wolfpackeats
Thanks, man! I think all of the Christmas cookie thoughts just infiltrated my brain…and the pasta machine was sitting on the counter. Next thing I knew, I had 6 dozen cookies sitting on my kitchen counter. If only I had a neighbor who was also a food blogger who happened to like ice cream…oh well, more for Santa I guess! 🙂
Dude…..Chris just took every’ word from my mouth! You’re a flippin’ genius!
I don’t own a pasta machine, so maybe we should get together. You can borrow my slow cooker while I’m making cookies in your pasta maker.
By the way, your eggnog ice cream would go fabulously with my chocolate gingerbread crinkle cookies. Ohhh… can you imagine the killer ice cream sandwich we could make?! Messy as all get out, but awesomeness!
Wait…I can borrow your slow cooker? I thought this day would never come, Becca! There is a house for sale down the street from us. Want to buy it? Rumor has it that Chris is interested in it, too…so you might need to hurry. If you hurry fast enough, then there might be some eggnog ice cream left! You bring the chocolate cookies, I’ll bring the frozen nog. 🙂
I have to agree with David and Becca, this is one ingenious recipe and cookie dough in the pasta maker? Hands down genius!
#WolfpackRulez #WolfpackSmart #WolfpackEats
Haha! Thanks, Mike! Perhaps I should use the pasta machine for recipes that are a bit, uh, healthier…but then again, Santa wants his cookies. And I’m not about to deny the fat man his cookies!
I’ve got a pasta machine sitting around that I just haven’t had a chance to use. I’m so going to break it out and try this. What a great idea! And ice cream sandwiches out of these cookies, your wife is a genius!
Yes! Get that pasta machine out, Tori!! I feel like pasta machines get stuck in the corner of the basement. I heard that Santa needs extra cookies this year, so perhaps it’s time to put that bad boy into action. 🙂
Sweet Genius! These look fantastic and I’m ready for that Egg Nog Ice Cream anytime really. The recipe sounds fantastic. Great idea on the pasta rolling that out thin cookie dough! Plus, I love the buttermilk addition in the cookies, nice. Nice job my man. #WolfpackEats
Thanks, Kevin! I had a blast making these cookies, too. Sure, it was a bit of a mess with 6 dozen cookies spread around the kitchen and partially melted eggnog ice cream jumping into the party. But the end result was totally worth it!
What a fun idea, David! Love it!
Thanks, Sean! 🙂
OMG I’m in love with these ice cream sandwiches! Egg nog ice cream sounds like the bomb!! Pinned!
I am not a huge fan of pasta so never really paid any attention to pasta machines before – but I <3 cookies in a big, humongous, way (specially with beets) and now after your experimentation – I need to go get me one!
Now y'all have 2 "scientists" in the Spice home – one who dabbles with metal and one who dabbles with pasta machines – wait – those are made with metal too…oh well….guess y'all just have one scientist after all…but – there is that experimenting with food thing… 🙂
Next week you’ll be using your snow plower to make pizzas. This is genius. Absolutely genius. Guess what. Ice cream machines are being advertised for pre-Xmas sales and I’m VERY keen!
Hahaha…if only I could use that snow blower to make pizza. That would be epic. Maybe I can shove powdered sugar in it and do something with that? It would literally spray powdered sugar 50 feet across my yard, though…hmmm.
And I totally know that YOU are getting for pre-Xmas sale this year. The package will read: “To: Future Arman, From: Present Arman, Merry Christmas! Now make me some ice cream.”)
Your wife is a genius! And you are a total boss with that pasta machine. Y’all make a great team and these ice cream sandwiches look really good!
Hehehe…we do make a pretty good team, don’t we? I can take care of making 6 dozen cookies, but then I don’t know what to do with ’em. That’s where she comes in and solves the problem! I think we still have some of these leftover in the freezer if you find yourself in upstate New York…haha!
Yum! I eat ice cream year round, and holiday flavored ice creams are the best!
I totally agree, Laura! Ice cream is a year-round dessert…plus, it goes well with Christmas cookies. 🙂