The Best Ice Cream Cookie Sandwiches start with the best ever perfectly chewy cookies. Over the years, I’ve made ice cream sandwiches using many different cookies.
In the end, I simply love the way the flavor in these oatmeal peanut butter cookies adds to the overall awesomeness of this frozen treat.
Ice Cream Cookie Sandwiches
I’m happy to tell you that I’ve found the cookie recipe that works perfectly every single time. This cookie recipe is adapted from my grandmother’s recipe for Monster Cookies and I suspect that it may have been YOUR grandmother’s recipe as well.
When I discovered that the Monster Cookie recipe in my best friend’s cookbook from her mom was almost the exact same recipe that my grandmother used, it became even more fun every time I made those cookies.
I love that we all have so much sentimental attachment to our family recipes.
In the past, I’ve made Monster Cookie Ice Cream Sandwiches using the original recipe, but I found that with a few tweaks, it was even better.
By adapting that recipe to make it a little bit chewier and less crunchy, it freezes and softens beautifully when it is layered with ice cream.
Ice Cream Sandwiches
I love making ice cream sandwiches with homemade ice cream. This recipe for Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream is hands down the easiest and best one you’ll ever make.
For these sandwiches, I churned a batch of ice cream while I started making the cookies. Then I stashed the ice cream in the freezer while the cookies were baking and cooling. The ice cream was firm enough to assemble the sandwiches by the time the cookies had cooled.
If you aren’t in the mood for making your own ice cream, pretty much any store-bought ice cream that you love will work beautifully for these Ice Cream Sandwiches.
The most popular question I get is whether it’s possible to make ice cream without a machine. The answer is YES. You can make ice cream without a machine. Find the full directions here!
FREEZER STORAGE TIPS: The ice cream sandwiches can be stacked in a large airtight container and they will keep well that way. They can also be wrapped individually in foil.
I do not recommend storing them in zip-close or sandwich bags, they will absorb some of the plastic smell and I really didn’t like that. For what it’s worth, no one else in my family was bothered by it.
Kitchen Tip: I use this scoop both to measure the cookie dough and to scoop the ice cream onto the cookies when making ice cream sandwiches.
Ice Cream Cookies
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Cream together the butter and sugars. Add the eggs, vanilla, syrup and baking soda. Add the peanut butter and then the oats. Stir well to combine and then add the chocolate chips, mixing them in thoroughly.
- Use a large cookie scoop to scoop the dough onto a parchment or silpat lined cookie sheet. Roll each ball of dough between your hands to make it smooth and round. (Eight cookies will fit nicely on a half size baking sheet.)
- Bake for approximately 12 minutes, watching closely to make sure they do not over bake. The cookies should be barely browned around the edges and just past looking wet on top.
- Cool on sheet for 1 minute and then remove to wire rack. Cool completely.
- When cookies are cool, fill with ice cream and freeze until ready to eat.
Ice Cream Recipes for Cookie Sandwiches
With over 70 ice cream recipes here to choose from, there’s sure to be an ice cream for everyone! If you’re new to making ice cream, the best and easiest vanilla ice cream is a great place to start.
Chocolate Peanut Butter Ice Cream with creamy chocolate and peanut butter chunks mixed throughout is a dream come true for any ice cream lover.
I love cheesecake and I love ice cream; so Cheesecake Ice Cream calls my name whenever it’s in the freezer. It really does taste just like cheesecake frozen into perfectly scoopable bites of ice cream.
Chocolate Chip Toffee Bits Ice Cream is exactly that – a homemade vanilla ice cream fully loaded with miniature chocolate chips and toffee bits. It’s one of the easiest flavor variations and it’s popular with kids and adults.
Inspired by our love of warm caramel sauce and homemade ice cream, Salted Caramel Ice Cream is wonderfully decadent ice cream. It’s one of my favorites for sure.
Don’t miss our Ice Cream Maker Review for all the information you need to find the BEST Ice Cream Maker for your needs! Spoiler alert – our top-rated machine under $50 just might surprise you. It sure surprised me!
The Best Ice Cream Cookie Sandwiches
Ingredients
- ⅓ cup butter
- 1 cup light brown sugar
- ⅔ cup white sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1½ tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tbsp maple syrup, or pancake syrup
- 1 cup creamy peanut butter
- 3 cups quick 1-minute oats
- ⅔ cup semi sweet chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Cream together the butter and sugars. Add the eggs, vanilla, syrup and baking soda. Add the peanut butter and then the oats. Stir well to combine and then add the chocolate chips, mixing them in thoroughly.
- Use a large cookie scoop to scoop the dough onto a parchment or silpat lined cookie sheet. Roll each ball of dough between your hands to make it smooth and round. (Eight cookies will fit nicely on a half size baking sheet.)
- Bake for approximately 12 minutes, watching closely to make sure they do not over bake. The cookies should be barely browned around the edges and just past looking wet on top. Cool on sheet for 1 minute and then remove to wire rack. Cool completely.
TO ASSEMBLE THE SANDWICHES:
- When the cookies are completely cool, scoop ⅓ cup of ice cream onto one cookie. (I use a generous scoopful of ice cream made with the same cookie dough scoop I used to make the cookies.) Then top with a second cookie and press gently to spread the ice cream evenly between the cookies.
- Fill all the cookie sandwiches and then place the ice cream sandwiches on a large tray in the freezer until firm. Enjoy!
Notes
{originally published 7/19/18 – recipe notes and photos updated 6/10/22}
Patty says
Will one batch of your homemade vanilla icecream be enough for this recipe. Making these beauties Saturday ! Thanks for such a wonderful recipe.
Mary says
Yes, it will. Enjoy!
Karlie says
If I exclude the peanut butter will this recipe still work?
Mary says
The peanut butter is required for the structure of these cookies. However, there are oatmeal cookie recipes here on the site that should work nicely instead.
Stephanie says
Hi
I want to try making these for my grandson’s birthday party next week. I’m confused about the oats. Are quick 1 minute oats the same thing as old fashioned oats?
Mary says
No, they are cut smaller to cook faster. They’re sold next to old fashioned oats.
ava says
do the cookies go hard and are they hard to eat when they are frozen?
Mary Younkin says
These cookies stay soft enough to eat when frozen. They’re firm, but chewy.
Wendy says
When you say roll the cookies in a ball are you pressing them down before baking?
Mary Younkin says
I do not flatten them before baking, Wendy.
Dana Bynum says
A lot of rich flavors competing here, but the peanut butter won. We found it overwhelming, and we Love peanut butter.
Mary Younkin says
Sorry to hear you didn’t love them, Dana. They’re one of our favorites. Luckily, there are plenty of other cookie recipes that can be used for ice cream sandwiches.
Elaine says
I Love (love,love)your ice cream cookie recipe!!! I’m not sure where I went wrong but using the scoop that you use I get a much smaller batch. I reduced the size of each ball by going back and pinching off from each . Recipe yielded 12 cookie sandwiches(actually 25 cookies and I ate the extra!). My cookies were much thinner than your picture shows
but still made a nice ice cream sandwich. I like the idea of a thicker cookie but I can’t seem to figure out why I am not getting the same yield as you. Any suggestions???
Mary Younkin says
Hmmmm, I’m not sure. I will remake these this summer though and double check my measurements and yield. It’s entirely possible that I wrote something down incorrectly. I’m thrilled that you love the cookies, Elaine! Thanks for the heads up that the yield was off.
noelle says
This recipe looks wonderful. I do not ever think I have aver seen a cookie recipe without flour. Maybe that is the trick to making a good frozen cookie treat?? Thoughts??
Thanks,
Noelle
Mary Younkin says
I don’t know that it’s just that, but it might contribute to the way the cookie remains chewy when frozen, Noelle. Happy baking!
Lily Edgar says
Makes a great amount of cookies. The batter was very liquidity. I added some more oats and it made it a bit better. My only suggestion is, a bit more dry ingredients. But thank you for this!
Mary Younkin says
I’m glad you like them, Lily!
Rachel Berryhill says
These were amazing!! I followed the recipe exactly and they turned out perfect!! I shared with friends and they LOVED them as well!
Mary Younkin says
I’m so glad you like the ice cream cookies, Rachel!
Deb says
This is my GO-TO ice cream sandwich recipe (not something I ever imagined myself saying, but I make these often) and I love the cookies so much we make them at least once a month. I’ve been making these for a while now and I’m finally leaving a comment to say thanks for the AWESOME recipe.
Mary Younkin says
Deb – Your comment make me laugh this morning. While I have a lot of GO-TO recipes having a GO-TO ice cream sandwich one never crossed my mind. I am so glad I can be that for you. Enjoy a summer of ice cream sandwiches!
Sue Shifman says
Good MorningMary,
I was wondering how your husband is feeling, after that bad bout with COVID-19? My heart went out to your family… Hopefully everything is back to normal … I was wondering if you have any LARGE PRINT COOK BOOKS? My girlfriend has a big problem ( immaculate degeneration) and I would love to buy a her a few cook books.
Be Safe and be Well,
Sue
P.S. I love your recipes
Mary Younkin says
Thanks so much for asking, Sue. Sean is doing great. He’s healed better than we even hoped! Thank God.
Unfortunately, none of my cookbooks are available in print in a large print edition. I do think the Kindle version could work though, as your friend would be able to adjust the screen size to the preferred font.
I’m glad you’re enjoying the recipes!
FAVSROYAL says
I really like this recipe but can it be made on a stove
Mary Younkin says
The recipe is for cookies. . . so you bake them in the oven.