Michelle Darmody: How to make the classic ice-cream sandwich — and the mistakes to avoid
When I visited Australia a few years ago, there was a bakery near where I was staying which served about 15 different varieties, all delicious.
They made the sandwiches with their own churned ice cream and homemade biscuits.
It was a real treat to visit in the heat of the day. The same place also specialised in ice-cream cakes, which were a wonder.
Layers of different-colour ice creams moulded, and piled high. I know I would have been very excited if one arrived at the birthday table when I was a child.
The recipe here is a little simpler, but hopefully equally as tasty and refreshing.
The biscuits do not get overly crisp so are nice to bite into alongside the soft centre.
I find if the biscuit or cookie is too crisp, it makes the ice cream squelch out as you are eating it.
A soft and chewy American style chocolate chip cookie works very well for example, while a snappy ginger nut biscuit not so well.
There are many Irish-made ice creams you can choose from to fill your sandwich, plenty of delicious locally made versions that celebrate our rich and wonderful dairy history.
Ice Cream Sandwich
recipe by:Michelle Darmody
There are many Irish-made ice creams you can choose from to fill your sandwich, plenty of delicious locally made versions that celebrate our rich and wonderful dairy history.
Servings
12
Preparation Time
20 mins
Cooking Time
12 mins
Total Time
32 mins
Course
Dessert
Ingredients 120g butter, soft
115g golden caster sugar
1 tsp baking powder
50g cocoa powder
240g flour
1 egg, lightly beaten
2 tbsp Golden Syrup
540g vanilla ice cream, soft
Method
Beat the butter and sugar until pale in colour.
Sieve the baking powder, cocoa powder and flour together.
Add the egg and |Golden Syrup to the butter mixture and combine.
Stir in the flour mixture until it is also combined.
Bring the dough together with your hands until smooth.
Wrap in parchment and place into the fridge to firm up for an hour.
Line two large flat baking trays with parchment.
Preheat your oven to 180 °C/gas mark 4.
Roll the dough to about 2 mm in thickness and cut it into rectangles about 8cm x 4.5cm in size. You should get about 24 biscuits.
Place the biscuits onto the prepared trays.
Bake in the center of your oven for 12 minutes.
Baker's Tips:
You can use a hot spoon to measure out the Golden Syrup; it is so viscous it can be difficult to weigh or measure otherwise.
You can put the dough into the freezer or fridge if it gets too soft during rolling. Rolling it while soft will be very messy. Adding a little sprinkling of flour onto your rolling pin with help with the rolling.
Leave some space between each biscuit on tray as they will expand as they heat up during baking.
It may not need saying, but the biscuits will have to cool completely before making the sandwiches. Leave the biscuits to cool on the baking tray a little longer than you would other biscuits because they are soft when they are still warm. Once cooled place them onto a wire rack to cool completely.
You can shape the ice cream around the edge of your biscuit for the neatest result, going around the biscuit with a warm knife can help with this.
You can place the ice cream sandwiches on a baking tray and pop them back in the freezer to harden up before serving. This is advisable if it has taken a while to make them and the ice cream has got very soft.
If the sandwiches are for an outdoor party or to be served later, you can wrap each one in a square of baking parchment for ease of transporting. This can also be helpful because once wrapped in parchment the sandwiches can be placed into the freezer for storage. They will last a few weeks in the freezer. If you are popping them into a zip-loc bag, squeeze out as much of the air as possible to prevent freezer burn or a build-up of excess ice.
The biscuits will keep for a week in an airtight container before you make the sandwiches.
Three delicious variations
Mint chocolate chip
Mint chocolate chip ice cream is a delicious addition instead of the vanilla ice cream.
To be extra-decadent you can pour some melted (but slightly cooled) chocolate over the top of the sandwiches.
Keep the prepared sandwiches on a tray in the freezer as the chocolate is cooling down, it will still need to be somewhat hot to be pouring texture.
Remove the mint choc chip sandwiches from the freezer and drizzle the chocolate on top.
Place the tray back into the freezer quite quickly and allow the chocolate to firm up before serving.
Raspberry sorbet
Raspberry and chocolate work very well together and you can make these sandwiches with a rich raspberry sorbet.
I particularly like the version made by Murphy's Ice Cream; it works great for this recipe.
You can sprinkle a few chopped raspberries on top of the sorbet before adding the top biscuit if you like.
Neapolitan ice cream sandwich
Neapolitan is a classic paring of colours and flavours.
While ice cream sandwiches are said to have first been invented on the streets on New York for hurried workers on-the-go, to me they are synonymous with Italy, and this is a combination invented by Italian immigrants to the United States.
You will need three different ice creams chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry.
Freeze these in rectangle shapes so you can cut the ice cream blocks to fit the biscuits. Add three layers into each sandwich.
Read More
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Independent
2 hours ago
- Irish Independent
Mary Kenny: Legion of Mary did more for unwed mothers and their babies than anyone – now the State is demanding redress
Founder Frank Duff and his Regina Coeli hostel for women in need were lauded as lifelines for many Some people don't much like the Legion of Mary, the Irish and international faith organisation dedicated to the Blessed Virgin. There have always been dismissive jokes about the 'holy Joe' types who evangelise and perform charitable works – and famously closed down Dublin's red light district, Monto, the scene of erotic meanderings in James Joyce's Ulysses. But hand it to the Legion, and to its founder, Frank Duff, in this: in the whole saga of mother and baby homes, to which unwed mothers were consigned, the Legion was the only organisation that sought to support them and to keep them together with their babies.
Irish Daily Mirror
11 hours ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
'Killer wasp' warning as guidance issued on how to identify Asian Hornets
The public is being urged to stay vigilant and report any sightings of the invasive Asian Hornet after one was captured in Cork. The confirmed sighting - only the second in Ireland - was made by a member of the public and reported to the National Biodiversity Data Centre. A photograph submitted with the report allowed experts to verify the species, triggering a rapid response. Survey teams were dispatched, and while no nest was initially found, a hornet was trapped on August 12. Monitoring will continue to determine if it was a lone arrival or part of a larger population. The first confirmed Irish sighting happened in April 2021, when a single hornet was discovered in a garage on Dublin's northside. How it entered the country remains unknown. The Government today said that the Asian Hornet is considered a serious threat to Ireland's biodiversity. Even a single nest can wipe out local honeybee populations - leading to the term "killer" - but officials say the species does not pose a significant public health risk. Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity, Christopher O'Sullivan, described the situation as urgent. He said: "Asian Hornets are a threat to our native pollinators and our biodiversity. We must take even a single sighting very seriously. NPWS responded quickly to this report, with a team of experts rapidly tasked to monitor and survey the area. One individual was captured and a co-ordinated response is now underway through a new cross government taskforce who will continue to monitor the situation. We are also very grateful for the support of beekeepers and their associations in this endeavour." An Asian hornet (Image: Chris Luck / SWNS) He stressed the importance of public awareness, adding: "This incident shows us that members of the public are our eyes on the ground. Early detection is key if we are to prevent the establishment of this invasive species. I urge everyone to be vigilant and inform themselves so that they can recognise and report any sightings of the Asian Hornet to help us contain this invasive species and protect our biodiversity." Guidance on how to identify Asian Hornets has been issued. The species can easily be mistaken for native insects, including the giant woodwasp, dark giant horsefly or common wasp. While generally non-aggressive, the hornet may sting if provoked, so members of the public are advised not to disturb or attempt to capture it. What are Asian Hornets? Asian Hornets, also known as Vespa velutina, are sometimes referred to as "killer wasps" due to their aggressive behaviour and the significant threat they pose to honeybee populations and, to a lesser extent, humans. Graphic showing the difference between Asian and European hornets (Image: UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology) The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage said: "The Asian Hornet is a predator of honeybees, wasps, other pollinators such as bumblebees, hoverflies and spiders, which it uses primarily to feed its larvae. These prey are important for pollination of crops as well as wild flora and disruptions to their populations may have serious impacts on biodiversity and pollination services. Honeybees are its main prey with potential consequences for the honey production sector. However, the potential of the hornet to become invasive in Ireland is dependent on its successful establishment of colonies here." Confirmed sightings of Asian Hornets in Ireland The first confirmed Asian Hornet in Ireland was recorded in April 2021, when a single specimen was discovered in a garage on Dublin's northside. Verified by Dr A. O'Hanlon of the National Museum of Ireland, the insect was preserved in the museum's collection. How it arrived in the country remains unknown. Today marks only the second verified sighting on Irish soil. Spotted recently in the Cork area by a member of the public, the insect's identification led to the capture of an Asian Hornet on August 12. Experts are now investigating whether it was a lone arrival or part of a wider population. Can Asian Hornets kill humans? A single Asian Hornet can kill multiple bees per day, and a small group can decimate an entire hive, leading to the term "killer". Unlike honeybees, Asian Hornets can sting again and again. The sting of an Asian Hornet is said to be particularly painful and can cause severe allergic reactions in some individuals, leading to medical emergencies. Multiple stings from Asian Hornets can cause significant pain, allergic reactions, and in severe cases, can be life-threatening. An Asian hornet queen In their native Asia, particularly in countries like Japan and China, there are occasional reports of fatalities every year due to stings from various hornet species, including the Asian Hornet. In Japan, an average of 20 to 40 people die each year from hornet, wasp and bee stings combined. The NPWS said: "Asian Hornet will also sting people but in general, the sting is no worse than a sting from any bee or wasp in Ireland. The reaction experienced by people from their sting varies – as it does with wasp or bee stings – from most commonly a mild localized hive like throbbing swelling to more rarely, a severe reaction of anaphylaxis." How to identify an Asian Hornet According to Biodiversity Ireland: "Workers can be up to 25mm long, while queens may reach in excess of 30mm, which is considerably larger than any of our wasp species. The thorax is a velvety dark brown or black and the abdomen is dark with the exception of the 4th segment, which is yellow. "Legs have yellow tips, from which it takes its other common name the 'yellow-legged hornet'. The head is black with an orange face. Males can be differentiated from workers by their lack of a stinger. "ID features to look out for: Queen up to 3 centimetres & worker up to 2.5 centimetres long Dark colour antennae Long orange face Entirely brown or black thorax so no stripes on the middle/thorax section. Abdomen mostly black except for yellow band across the 4th segment with orangey-coloured lower segments. Legs yellow at the ends It has a small thin stinger that is retractable so normally not visible." What to do if you spot an Asian Hornet The NPWS has advised the public to become familiar with the identification features of Asian Hornet. Report suspected sightings in Ireland though the National Biodiversity Data Centre's Alien Watch reporting portal here. What to do if an Asian Hornet stings you If an Asian Hornet stings you, you should immediately wash the area thoroughly with soap and cool water, and apply ice to slow the venom from spreading further. If you have trouble breathing, visit an A&E as you may be allergic to the sting. Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here.
RTÉ News
19 hours ago
- RTÉ News
Call for cherry laurel to be on invasive species list
A charity's report has warned that "fast-growing" cherry laurel needs to be "urgently" added to Ireland's list of invasive species. Cherry laurel is still sold in garden centres, nurseries and supermarkets despite the National Parks and Wildlife Service recognising it as an "established highly invasive species with a risk of high impact". Cherry laurel has green, waxy leaves and does not lose its leaves during the winter. The charity set up to to support and encourage Irish ecological restoration said cherry laurel is commonly used for hedging. The "evergreen plant" found "all over the country" is causing "serious, ongoing harm to Irish ecosystems", the Gaelic Woodland Project said. Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, the charity's director said that cherry laurel suppresses the growth of native flora and "suppresses native regeneration". "It really really harms and it chokes the woodlands," Oisín O'Neill said. "It destroys the eco-system. It outcompetes our native plants." "Once it's established and it is established unfortunately, it completely outcompetes the native trees and the native plants," he added. Cherry laurel was not included in Ireland's List of National Concern that set out 77 types of invasive species as part of an EU initiative. However, Mr O'Neill said it is "economically damaging" and "very time consuming" to remove. "We are spending up to €200 million a year on invasive species removal." Cherry laurel's deep roots make it hard to remove, he said. "It just spreads so fast, often in habitats that are not easy to access," he said. Mr O'Neill warned that Ireland's eco systems "are already in such a fragile state".
