In celebration of Sunday’s return of Arrested Development, some other bloggers and I got together to create some of the dishes mentioned in the show.
I could have been more creative and made something like bone stew or shish ka-bob-loblaw, but I figured they wouldn’t go over too well. Since bananas are so important to the show (yes, it’s true) I tried making some super healthy banana peanut butter ice cream, but it didn’t freeze nicely.
So we have some unhealthy, yet delicious, peanut butter ice cream. I just can’t do healthy ice cream. It makes me weep. At least I used coconut sugar instead of regular sugar. That surely counts for something, right? ;)
This vegan chocolate banana ice cream looks amazing, though!
In the show, the main character, Michael, is visiting his father in jail. Michael’s trying to have a conversation with his father, but he’s too busy “having a love affair” with the ice cream sandwich to really pay attention. I feel confident in saying that you will also have a love affair with these. Peanut butter cookies + peanut butter ice cream. And the chocolate on top? They were supposed to be bars, because, get it… the father’s in jail eating ice cream sandwiches! But they’re just stripes.
For the cookies, I used normal (not natural) peanut butter. I just don’t like natural peanut butter in my cookies. It yields unpleasantly textured and tasting cookies. So if you insist on using it – you’ve been warned. ;)
I also used regular peanut butter in the ice cream, but you could use the natural stuff. I’m pretty sure it’d be a little gritty and not totally smooth. I didn’t heat anything when making the ice cream, so I had tiny little peanut butter specks. And I liked that. If you prefer, you can heat up the milk and then add the peanut butter and mix until combined.
I always freeze my ice cream mixes for 30 minutes or an hour before churning. This time, I forgot about the ice cream and when I went back to it, it was pretty much already in ice cream form.
I could only churn it for a minute or two before the machine revolted and started making some unsettling sounds. So you don’t need an ice cream machine for this one!
If you don’t decide to churn it, mix the ice cream every 20-30 minutes after putting it in the freezer. This helps it to freeze more evenly rather just than having the outer parts freeze.
The cookie recipe was adapted from these chewy peanut butter cookies from Confections of a Foodie Bride. I’ve made them as written and they’re definitely my favorite peanut butter cookie!
I took her recipe, reduced the sugar and used all coconut sugar, used coconut oil instead of butter and used all whole wheat flour. This resulted in a more cakey cookie. I’m normally against all things cakey (except cake) but here it turned out to be a good thing since I didn’t want my cookies to be too hard for the sandwiches.
You could eat these straight from the freezer, but they’re really best if they sit at room temperature for 10-20 minutes first. It just brings out the peanut butter flavor somehow! And they’re softer and gooier. It’s just an all-around much more pleasant experience.
100% Whole Wheat Peanut Butter Ice Cream Sandwiches
- Prep Time:
- Cook Time:
- Ready in:
- Yield: 10 - 15 ice cream sandwiches
Ingredients
- 1 cup peanut butter
- 1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons coconut sugar
- 2 cups whipping / heavy cream
- 1/2 cup whole milk
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup coconut oil, melted
- 2/3 cup coconut sugar
- 1/2 cup smooth commercial peanut butter
- 1 egg
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- 1 cup flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Ice Cream:
Cookies:
Directions
- In a medium bowl, mix everything together with a hand mixer.
- Churn according to your ice cream machine's instructions.
- Line a 8"x8" pan with parchment or wax paper.
- Spoon the ice cream over this, flatten the best you can, and freeze for 1 hour.
- After 1 hour, remove the ice cream from the freezer, and cut out circles with a cookie cutter. The cutter should be the same size that you want your cookies.
- Put back in the freezer and freeze for another hour.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) and line a 9"x13" inch pan with parchment or wax paper.
- In a large bowl, with an electric hand mixer, mix together the coconut oil and coconut sugar and let sit for 5 minutes to help dissolve the sugar.
- Add the peanut butter, egg, vanilla and mix until combined.
- Add the remaining ingredients and mix until thoroughly combined.
- Scoop the batter onto the paper, spread as evenly as possible, and bake for 8 - 13 minutes or until the middle is set.
- Let the cookies cool for 5 minutes and then, using the cutter you used for the ice cream, cut out little cookie circles.
- Let the circles cool completely and then freeze for at least 30 minutes or until you're ready to assemble the ice cream sandwiches.
- To assemble ice cream sandwiches: place an ice cream circle between two cookies and freeze until ready to eat.
For the ice cream:
For the cookies:
Cookie recipe adapted from Chewy Peanut Butter Cookies - Confections of a Foodie Bride
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68 comments on “Peanut Butter Ice Cream Sandwiches” — Add one!
I love the whole idea of an Arrested Development food blog party! Annddd I love what you made! Who cares if the pb ice cream isn’t “healthy”? I mean, yeah, it’d be great if it was, but you’re so right that healthy ice cream is almost impossible. The sandwiches look delicious and I love the chocolate “bars”. :)
Aww, what a nice thoughtful comment! Thank you. And yeah, healthy ice cream. It just can’t be, I think. ;) So happy that you liked my sad little bars. You can tell I’m super creative. :D
Mmmm! I’ve made the original cookie recipe and liked it a lot….but I like to use whole grain flour when I can, so I look forward to trying these (love a good peanut butter cookie).
I first found your blog when I lived in Germany and was looking for info on the different kinds of flours there (really miss the ready supply of spelt flour now that I live in Puerto Rico). I’m really glad I clicked in to see this recipe today.
Finally, Kara, the main Troika Table blogger, made Mayonegg variations for different Arrested Development characters – so fun, check them out!
Mayoneggs?! Haha. Someone had to do it! Good for her. :) And sorry about your lack of spelt. I’m sure I’ll be feeling the same in a few years! Thanks for stopping by to say hi. :)
ummm YES! I would totally have a love affair with these!!
Excellent! Go for it! :)
I’ve never watched or even heard of arrested development but I have a feeling if they love food so much I’d love it too.
Anyway, your ice-cream sandwiches look awesome. I’ll definitely have to try the peanut butter ice-cream. Of all the things I had peanut butter flavored, ice-cream isn’t one of them.
I’m so late to get over here and comment, but just wanted to let you know how much I love these little ice cream sandwiches! I’m obsessed with your healthier baked goods :)
I don’t watch Arrested Development, but my husband flew through the new season in just a few days!
These look sooooo good! I’ve heard so many good things about Arrested Development – I need to jump on the band wagon already!
Yeah, give it a shot! It’s a really fun show. :)
Fun!! I wish I did something for Arrested Development! We loooooooove that show, at least the original ones :) Love these ice cream sandwiches!
Do you not like the new season or you haven’t seen it yet? Nice to see you here again! :)
Wow are these gorgeous! Just perfect looking! And the flavors going on??? And I need to get into Arrested Development! I mean, really, what am I waiting for?!?
Yes! You have to check it out. :)
Looks amazing, I’m gonna give them a try soon, might as well do it with with the new episodes I’ve yet to see.
Steve Holt!!!
Hahaha.
Food and Wine! :D
What a fun dessert! I have been absent from watching this show but with all of the hype, I think I need to jump on Netflix and order. I bet this was one TASTY dessert!
Yes! Do that. But you have to start from the first season! Or it’ll make absolutely no sense. Hope you like it! :)
hahahaha dare I say I have not seen that show…but you stating the love affair with ice cream sandwich…well i have love affair with all things ice cream. these sandwiches look SO perfect. i hope mine turn out as pretty as yours!
Thanks, Angela! And same here. Ice cream. It’s just so… happy. :D
How creative are all of you ! I like party themed food-now I just need to have the party;-) Your peanut butter ice cream sandwiches look over the top delicious-great ending to the party!
Thanks, Patty! :) I wish we could have all been together for this party. I would have been a fun one!
These are too cute looking! But not too cute that I wouldn’t scarff down a ton
Yeah, I don’t think anything is too cute to prevent me from inhaling it. :D
These look SO delicious! I’ve been powering through the old seasons because my boyfriend had NEVER SEEN ANY OF IT. Now I’m trying to savor the new episodes :) No one wanted to make hot ham water?
Same here! We’re still only on season 2. And I’m going on vacation in a week for 3 weeks, which means it’ll be about 6 weeks before we can even start the new episodes! I hope you’re enjoying them. :)
I’m 100% positive I will have a love affair with these!
Haha. I know I did!
Erin these ice cream sandwichs look delish! Thanks for the tips on using all natural PB and on making the ice cream. I haven’t tried coconut sugar but the oil is great for baking. Super photos too
Thanks, Suzanne! You should try coconut sugar if you can find it. It’s really nice. :)
My husband has been trying to get me to watch Arrested Development! I heard it’s hilarious!!!
Now, if I can please have a few of these ice cream sandwiches. Delightfully delicious!
Why don’t you give it a try?! It’s a really fun show. :)
I adore these Erin! The homemade ice cream looks and sounds to die for. They are so adorable and I truly don’t think I could stop at one! I love ice cream too much. And those cookies! coconut oil + coconut sugar. I can only imagine how wonderful those are. I love your photographs too!!
Thanks, Sally! And I had the stopping-at-one-problem. In a major way.
I remember seeing these on instagram, they are so cute!!!
Thanks, Julie! :)
These just look divine. Peanut butter ice cream sandwiches is something that I could have all day every day :-) These little buggers just look awesome and perfect. By the way, I have never heard of that show at all but I will have to check it out now :-)
Yeah, check it out! You could learn some bizarre English idioms. :) And I feel the same about these. I could easily eat them every day.
I’ve never seen the show, but these look pretty darn great. I am a sucker for an ice cream sandwich.
Me too! It’s really a shame I’d never made them before. SO yummy!
I have never seen Arrested Development. I don’t even know what it’s about, but these ice cream sandwiches look really delicious! By the way I plan on making your ganache stuffed peanut butter cookie cup things tomorrow :)
Remember to use normal peanut butter! Otherwise they won’t be good. :) I hope you like them!
Love the way you dressed these up with a little chocolate, I just want to reach through the screen and take a bite! :)
Thanks, Laura! And thanks for your advice on IG. :)
Only you could make whole wheat look so delicious!
What a nice thing to say! Thank you. :)
Love all the PB action going on! PB is my favorite – and I love the “bars” on top!
Hehe. Thanks! Too bad they don’t actually look like bars. ;)
I love the combination! They look so good.
Thanks, Zainab! :)
Sweet heavens, these look good! And I love all the Arrested Development recipes — too funny!
Thanks, Amy! Do you watch AD, too? It’s starting tomorrow. Eeee!
Are you having a love affair with your ice cream sandwiches? ;)
Well, obviously. How could I not? :D
I love that you guys are doing an Arrested Development tribute! So fun! Annnnd these sound so good!
Thanks! I was so happy to have been included. Yippie!
PB recipes get me so excited because I love it so much! This sounds fantastic!
Thanks, Holly! Peanut butter gets me excited, too. :)
I’m having a love affair with your photography. These look so good! If George Sr had access to these in prison he never would have wanted to leave…
Haha, thanks! And agreed. With these and your cornballs, it would have been a magical place for him. :)
What a fun theme! And PB + Chocolate are meant to be. 3 cheers for the real-deal ice cream. This is worth a splurge!
Real-deal ice cream. I like that! :)
hahahahah! I love ice cream sandwiches! And these look super healthy.
Haha. I guess. But not the ice cream! The ice cream is as Erin put it, the “real deal.” :)
I am afraid to check out this serie, as everyone’s writing about it and it can be addictive, hahaha. I am glad that you’re experimenting with ice creams and I hope that we’ll make some more when you’re back.
You should give it a try! It’s really nice. And funny. :) And yes, we’ll definitely make some real ice cream next time!
This is super smart! I love this combo!
Thanks, Jocelyn! :)