Easy Homemade Gluten-Free Ice Cream Sandwiches: Your Ultimate Summer Treat Recipe
Let’s keep the gluten-free celebration going strong! What better way to beat the heat and satisfy your sweet tooth than with some incredibly delicious and easy-to-make Gluten-Free Ice Cream Sandwiches? These delightful frozen treats are a perfect blend of rich, chewy cookies and creamy, cool ice cream, making them an irresistible dessert for all ages, especially those adhering to a gluten-free diet.
The beauty of homemade ice cream sandwiches lies in their simplicity and the ability to customize them exactly to your liking. Forget the store-bought versions that often lack flavor or contain unwanted ingredients. With this recipe, you’re in control, ensuring a treat that is not only safe for gluten-free consumption but also bursting with fresh, high-quality ingredients. They are an absolute game-changer for summer gatherings, birthday parties, or just a quiet evening indulgence.
The Foundation: Perfect Gluten-Free Dark Chocolate Cookies
For this recipe, we’re building on the success of our yesterday’s baking adventure. I happen to have a few — four, to be exact — dark chocolate cookies remaining from a previous batch. These aren’t just any cookies; they are perfectly round, wonderfully flat, and possess just the right soft-yet-chewy texture to cradle a generous scoop of ice cream. Their rich, deep chocolate flavor provides an exquisite contrast to the creamy sweetness of the ice cream, creating a harmonious bite every time.
If you haven’t had the pleasure of making these cookies yet, or if your stash is already depleted (which is entirely understandable!), don’t worry. The full recipe for these fantastic Gluten-Free Dark Chocolate Cookies can be found here. These cookies are specifically designed to be robust enough to hold ice cream without crumbling, while still maintaining a delightful melt-in-your-mouth quality once frozen. Their dark chocolate base makes them incredibly versatile, pairing well with a multitude of ice cream flavors.
And just to be fair, let’s give credit where it’s due. My young friends, Sophia and Ava, were lucky enough to take some freshly made cookies home with them after their recent visit. I’m pretty sure they’re big fans of this ice cream sandwich creation. Thanks so much for the delicious inspiration, girls! Your enthusiasm for sweet treats is infectious and truly sparked this idea.
Gather Your Ingredients: Simple & Sweet
Creating these delightful gluten-free ice cream sandwiches requires just a few key components. You’ll want to gather your freshly baked (or leftover!) gluten-free dark chocolate cookies, a generous container of your favorite ice cream, and for that extra touch of deliciousness, some mini semi-sweet chocolate chips. Because, let’s be honest, you can never really have too much chocolate, especially when it adds a delightful crunch and extra flavor to every bite.
Key Considerations for Assembly:
- Allow the ice cream to soften slightly before layering it between two cookies. This makes it easier to scoop and spread evenly without damaging your cookies. A firm but pliable consistency is ideal.
- Once formed, the edges of your sandwich will be rolled in a tray of mini chips. This step is not just for aesthetics; it adds texture and prevents sticky fingers!
- It’s crucial to work swiftly to avoid melted ice cream. Melted ice cream can lead to messy drips, a soggy cookie bottom, and a less enjoyable final product. Have all your components ready and work efficiently.
Step-by-Step Guide to Crafting Your Ice Cream Sandwiches
- Prepare your chocolate chips: Add your mini chocolate chips to a small, shallow plate and set it aside. This will make the rolling process quick and easy.
- Assemble the base: Place one of your gluten-free dark chocolate cookies on your clean workspace, with the top side facing down. This creates a stable base for your ice cream layer.
- Scoop the ice cream: Working quickly, scoop approximately 4 ounces of your slightly softened favorite ice cream onto the exposed, flat side of the cookie. The ice cream should be soft enough to spread but not melting.
- Even out the ice cream: Gently smooth out the ice cream using a spoon or small offset spatula, ensuring it’s evenly distributed and comes close to the edge of the cookie. This creates a neat, professional-looking sandwich.
- Top with another cookie: Place a second gluten-free dark chocolate cookie on top of the ice cream, with its top side facing up.
- Gently press and seal: Delicately press down on the top cookie so that the ice cream is flush with the edges of both cookies. Be careful not to press too hard, or the ice cream will squish out excessively.
- Roll in chocolate chips: Take your newly formed ice cream sandwich and carefully roll its exposed edges through the mini chocolate chips on your plate. Continue rolling until the edges are almost completely covered with the chips. This adds a beautiful finish and a delightful textural element.
- Freeze immediately: As soon as each sandwich is complete, immediately wrap it tightly in parchment paper or plastic wrap. This prevents freezer burn and helps the sandwich firm up. Place it in the freezer right away.
- Repeat for remaining cookies: Continue this process with your other cookies. Because the cookies are quite large, two cookies make one substantial sandwich.
- Prepare for serving: Before serving, you might find it best to cut each large sandwich in half. This makes them easier to handle and is perfect for a more manageable snack size.
Serving Suggestions & Customization for Your Gluten-Free Ice Cream Sandwiches
Since each finished ice cream sandwich is quite large, a half sandwich provides a perfectly substantial and satisfying snack. This is especially great for portion control or for sharing. Another fantastic possibility is to create smaller versions when you’re initially baking your batch of gluten-free dark chocolate cookies. Simply use a smaller cookie scoop or cut out smaller shapes. Your little ones will absolutely adore these miniature versions, making them an ideal treat for kids’ parties or after-school snacks.
Beyond the classic combination, don’t hesitate to get creative with your ice cream choices! Vanilla is always a safe bet, but imagine the possibilities with mint chocolate chip, strawberry, coffee, or even a dairy-free alternative for those with lactose sensitivities. You could also experiment with different toppings beyond mini chocolate chips – finely chopped nuts, shredded coconut, or even a drizzle of homemade caramel sauce after they’re frozen would be delightful additions.
Storage is Key: Keep Your Gluten-Free Ice Cream Sandwiches Frozen Until Ready to Serve.
To ensure the best texture and prevent a melty mess, these delicious treats need to be kept frozen solid. When you’re ready to enjoy, consider the temperature of your freezer. If it’s set very low, you may choose to allow the sandwich to sit at room temperature for a few minutes (3-5 minutes usually does the trick) before taking a bite. This brief softening period will ensure the cookies are pleasantly chewy and the ice cream is perfectly creamy, not rock-hard.

Gluten-Free Ice Cream Sandwiches
Sandwiches constructed with Gluten-Free Dark Chocolate Cookies
Delicious and refreshing, just the treat for kids of all ages.
Ingredients
-
3
ounces
mini semi-sweet chocolate chips -
4
large gluten-free dark chocolate cookies
(See note below) -
8
ounces
good quality ice cream
Instructions
-
Place chocolate chips on a small plate and set aside.
-
Place 1 cookie, top side facing down, on your workspace. Quickly, scoop about 4 ounces ice cream on the exposed side of the cookie. Smooth out the ice cream so that it is even and close to the edge of the cookie. Place another cookie on top of the ice cream, with the top side facing up. Gently press down so that the ice cream is flush with the edge of the sandwich.
-
Roll the edges of the sandwich through the chocolate chips so that the edges are almost completely covered.
-
Immediately wrap the sandwich in parchment paper or plastic wrap and place in freezer. Repeat process with the other 2 cookies.
-
Before serving, cut each sandwich in half.
Recipe Notes
For the large gluten-free dark chocolate cookies, get the recipe here.
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More delightful gluten-free treats…
These homemade gluten-free ice cream sandwiches are more than just a dessert; they are a celebration of delicious, inclusive eating. They prove that a gluten-free diet doesn’t mean compromising on flavor or fun. So go ahead, whip up a batch of those dark chocolate cookies, scoop your favorite ice cream, and create these delightful treats that will surely bring smiles to everyone’s faces. Enjoy the simple pleasure of a perfectly crafted, homemade, gluten-free ice cream sandwich!