Wo doesn't love an ice cream sandwich? When there are brownies involved, it just takes it to a whole other level! The best part about using brownies in these sandwiches... they stay soft when frozen so they won't crumble when you bite into them. I used my flourless brownie fudge here, and froze it prior so they'd be nice and firm when I spread the ice cream on. I will link my brownies and ice cream recipes below!
With March finally here (again, like what? I thought it was still March 2020), and 'spring' finally coming our way, I am craving allllll the cold treats. I've always loved ice cream all year around, but it's even more tempting now with warmer temps and more sunshine, who is with me? If you are looking for a delicious paleo dessert, gluten free dessert and a low fodmap treat, these brownie ice cream sandwiches are delicious and fun to make! I guarantee they won't last long. That's if, you can contain yourself eating all the brownies before they actually make it to ice cream sandwiches.
These brownie ice cream sandwiches are gluten free, paleo, dairy free and FODMAP-friendly!
As always, the brownies I used in these ice cream sandwiches are flourless -- so that means, no gluten or no grains. I have two brownie recipes that will work for these sandwiches, one is made without nuts. I will link them below and you can choose the recipe to your liking! You can stuff them with any ice cream flavor, but I think traditional vanilla, or even chocolate ice cream would be delicious! I used a dairy-free packaged ice cream here for convenience (Nada Moo), but I will share my homemade dairy free ice cream flavors below!
What do I need to make these paleo brownie ice cream sandwiches?
You can either make these ice cream sandwiches with homemade ice cream or with store bought ice cream. My two favorite paleo/dairy free ice cream brands are Nada Moo and Luna and Larry's Coconut Bliss. To be honest all the others I've tried don't taste like real ice cream. If you want to make your own ice cream, it's so much fun and rewarding. And easy! I have a few of my dairy free ice cream recipes I'll link below. And of course you need brownies! Or cookies would be delicious too.
How to store the paleo brownie ice cream sandwiches?
Well, in the freezer of course. I like to put them in an airtight container with small cut sheets of parchment or wax paper in between so they don't stick together.
Here are the best brownie recipes for these ice cream sandwiches:
#1 Choice -- Paleo Flourless Brownie Fudge
I like these brownies because they're firmer than the second option. They are both paleo, but these are made with melted chocolate chips and are nut free. They are less sweet than the other brownies, and more rich, so the ice cream compliments them perfectly. Find the recipe here:
#2 Choice -- Almond Butter Double Chocolate Brownies
These brownies are also flourless, but instead of almond butter, chocolate chips are the main ingredient holding these together. These brownies are a little softer so they will have to be frozen before the ice cream is spread on. But these brownies are amazing and went 'viral' on Instagram! You can omit the frosting on these and just use the brownie recipe:
Now for the ice cream filling!
If you are not using store bought ice cream, you can make your own homemade ice cream and I have a few great ice cream recipes that are just delicious! They are dairy free and also egg-free; gelatin is used in my ice creams to keep it nice and soft and give it a pudding-like texture when melty.
Choice #1 - Classic Vanilla Ice Cream:
You can find the recipe for the classic vanilla ice cream in this post. These ice cream bars are amazing too, I suggest you Pin them for later! You will need an ice cream machine for these. I suggest the Cuisinart 2 Quart. You can also make this ice cream without a churner, as noted in the recipe, but trust me... it's worth the investment!
Choice #2 Dark Chocolate Ice Cream:
This is one of my most popular recipes. You can omit the toasted nuts and just make the chocolate ice cream! It's delicious and easy and would make your brownie ice cream sandwiches double chocolately.
Choice #3 Maple Walnut Ice Cream:
This ice ice cream is soooo good and is sweetened just with maple syrup. I toast the walnuts and it brings it to a whole other level! I think the walnuts with the brownie and a hint of maple would be amazing!
Once you have the brownies made and ice cream ready to go, it's time to assemble:
1. First, I suggest the brownies are frozen before assembling. A warm brownie will melt the ice cream and make a mess, and a room temperature brownie may fall apart when spreading the ice cream over.
2. Take one side of the brownie and scoop 2-3 tablespoons of ice cream over the second half. Carefully spread the ice cream with a knife or the back of a spoon until it's even. I like to pile the ice cream so it's nice and thick in the middle. Place another brownie over the top and smoosh it down with your fingers until you feel it's 'sealed'. Repeat with all remaining brownies.
3. Place in freezer for the ice cream to re-set/harden. About 30 minutes. Then remove from freezer and carefully trim off the edges with a sharp knife, to give them a nice clean edge (optional). Eat the scraps!
4. You have the option to roll the sides in:
Crushed nuts
Sprinkles
Coconut flakes
5. Place in an airtight container and store for up to 3 months in the freezer. Placing parchment or wax paper between each brownie will ensure they will not stick together, and will reduce icing.
6. Enjoy straight from the freezer!
See video below how I assembled:
If you make these brownie ice cream sandwiches, be sure to leave me comments or questions below. And tag me on Instagram @gutsy_baker. I love to see your creations and what you come up with for these... they're so fun and you can get creative!
xo Stephanie