Giant Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream Sandwiches Recipes

Steps:

• To make the ice cream, pick through the mint leaves, discarding any leaves that are dried or blackened. Place the mint and a quarter cup of sugar in the bowl of a food processor or blender. Process until pureed. Set aside.
• Bring the half-and-half just to a boil in a three-quart saucepan. Remove from the heat and add the mint puree. Cover and steep for 30 minutes.
• Return the half-and-half mixture to the heat and bring just to a boil. In the meantime, whisk together the egg yolks and remaining half cup of sugar in a large mixing bowl. Once the half-and-half comes to a boil, remove it from the heat and pour it slowly into the yolk mixture, stirring constantly.
• Once blended, return the mint mixture to the saucepan and heat slowly over medium-low heat. Using a rubber spatula, stir constantly for six to eight minutes, until the mixture coats the back of the spatula. At this point, remove from the heat immediately. Pour the mixture into a large mixing bowl and cool it down over an ice bath, or in cold water, stirring constantly. Once cooled, chill it completely in the refrigerator. When cold, process in an ice cream maker according to the manufacturer's directions. Add the chocolate chips just before removing the ice cream, stirring long enough to just scatter them throughout the ice cream. Keep in the freezer until you're ready to assemble the sandwiches.
• To make the ganache, melt the chocolate and butter in the top part of a double boiler. Once melted, remove from the heat and stir in the heavy cream and brandy. Let it cool and thicken before spreading on the chocolate-almond macaroons.
• For the macaroons, preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Butter and flour three cookie sheets. Set aside.
• Melt the chocolate in the top part of a double boiler. When done, remove from the heat.
• Beat the egg whites with the cream of tartar until they hold a firm peak. Gradually beat in the sugar, a quarter of a cup at a time, until all of it is completely incorporated. Add the egg yolk and blend.
• Fold a third of the whipped egg whites into the chocolate using a spatula. Blend in the ground almonds. Fold in the remaining egg whites.
• Fit a half-inch pastry tip into a pastry bag. Scoop the cookie mixture into the bag. Press out half-inch mounds of batter, one-inch apart, onto the prepared cookie sheet. (You can spoon the mixture onto the sheets with a teaspoon as well.)
• Bake the cookies for four to five minutes, until they puff and the edges are slightly wrinkled. Remove from the oven to cool (about five minutes). Remove the cookies with a spatula onto a flat plate. There are extra cookies in case some break.
• To prepare the ice cream sandwiches, spread the top half of the cookies with the ganache and set aside. Brush the ganache on the bottoms of the remaining cookies. Sandwich the ice cream in between, placing the uncoated bottom on the plate.

Steps:

• Sandwich mint chocolate chip ice cream between chocolate wafer cookies; freeze until firm. Melt 6 ounces chopped semisweet chocolate, 6 tablespoons butter and 11/2 tablespoons corn syrup in the microwave, stirring every 30 seconds. Stir in 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract; let cool a few minutes, then dip the ice cream sandwiches in the chocolate mixture to fully coat. Freeze at least 1 hour.

Steps:

• Using an electric mixer on medium-low speed, beat cream in a large bowl until medium-stiff peaks form. Gently fold in chocolate syrup and peppermint extract. Transfer half of the cream mixture to a medium bowl; cover and chill until ready to use.
• Spread a thin layer of remaining cream mixture on bottom of a platter. Top with 4 ice cream sandwiches, placing 3 side by side and 1 along bottom of row for a square-shaped base, or 4 side by side for a rectangular-shaped base. Top with a thin layer of cream mixture and sprinkle with 1/4 cup cookies. Continue layering sandwiches, cream, and cookies, ending with a layer of cream, until all sandwiches are used (you should have 4 layers; reserve remaining 1/4 cup cookies). Wipe any excess cream off platter, then freeze until set, at least 1 hour or up to overnight.
• Using a spatula, frost top and sides of cake with reserved cream mixture. Sprinkle reserved 1/4 cup cookies over cake. Freeze again 30 minutes, then slice and serve.
• Do Ahead
• Fully assembled cake can be made 1 day ahead; keep frozen.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Shape dough pieces into balls. Arrange on baking sheet and flatten to 1/2-inch thickness; press nuts onto each. Bake until golden, 12 to 18 minutes, depending on brand of cookie. Cool completely on sheet.
• Meanwhile, mix ice cream, fresh mint, and extract in small bowl; place in freezer until ready to use.
• Line baking sheet with foil. Place 1/4 cup ice cream on flat side of 1 cookie. Top with flat side of second cookie. Place on prepared sheet and freeze. Repeat to form 7 more sandwiches. Freeze until ice cream begins to firm, about 10 minutes.
• Melt chocolate chips in microwave-safe bowl on low setting in 15-second intervals, stirring often. Dip sandwiches halfway into chocolate. Return to sheet. Freeze at least 30 minutes and up to 1 day.

Steps:

• Line a 9-by-13-inch pan with two layers of plastic wrap, leaving a few inches of overhang on all sides. Open all of the ice cream containers. Place one 1 1/2 quart (or 3 pints) on the counter and let soften until it resembles thick cake batter, 5 to 10 minutes; you'll use this ice cream first. Place the other containers in the refrigerator to soften while you build the first half of the cake. (Ice cream will reach the desired consistency in the refrigerator in 20 to 30 minutes.)
• Scatter the crushed cookies in a thin, even layer across the bottom of the pan. Spoon the first softened container of ice cream over the cookies and spread into an even layer. Press down as you go to adhere the ice cream to the cookies. If at any point the ice cream is melting to liquid, pop the cake and ice cream in the freezer to firm to a spoonable consistency.
• Place the pan in the freezer while you unwrap the sandwiches. Top the ice cream with a layer of ice cream sandwiches, cutting some as needed to fill the layer to the edges.
• Spoon the remaining ice cream over the top and spread into an even layer. Cover with plastic wrap and freeze until firm, at least 2 hours or up to 1 week.
• To serve, use the plastic overhang to remove the cake from the pan. Cut into squares or rectangles and serve with a drizzle of hot fudge or Magic Shell. If you're finding the cake too solid to cut, don't wait for it to soften: Warm your knife by running it under hot water and wiping it dry between cuts.