Ice cream lovers you’ll love this homemade Cookies and Cream Ice Cream that’s also gluten-free! Easy to make (in a machine or not), it tastes like cookie dough ice cream with delicious chocolate chip cookie chunks in a vanilla ice cream base.
This post is sponsored as part of Boulder Locavore’s ongoing partnership with Udi’s Gluten Free. All opinions are my own.
Ice cream sort of goes into hibernation I’ve found. Those ice cream shops that are pulsing with throngs of confection-seeking consumers go dormant when the mercury hits below a given point. The same stores spring to life again when the sun beams and the temps hit close to 60 no matter what time of year. I start to dream up new flavors of ice cream to make at home and this latest is an all-time favorite: Cookies and Cream Ice Cream {gluten-free}.
When we became gluten-free over 10 years ago, the exit of certain foods were remarkably noticeable. Saying goodbye to Cheerios and Oreo McFlurries were huge for my daughter who was five at the time. The stripping of traditional wheat pasta from our dinner table was a blow to my husband, who was not going gluten-free but still suggested we become a gluten-free kitchen. My son was 2 at the time and still not talking much so weathered it the best of all.
For me it was in the summertime when we’d go out for ice cream. I had been a committed vanilla lover ever since I started eating ice cream as a child. That all changed with the onset of Cookies and Cream ice cream somewhere in my late single digits or teems. It completely won me over. Despite all the advances over the recent years of fabulous gluten-free products, I have not found ‘GF’ Cookies and Cream ice cream.
Well my friends, that day is done. Today I’m excited to share my homemade recipe for Gluten-Free Cookies and Cream Ice Cream. I dare say even as a devotee of the original, I like this version better. Most varieties of cookies and cream use chocolate sandwich cookies. They are great but I used gluten-free Chocolate Chip Cookies from Udi’s Gluten-Free. These cookies were made for this recipe.
The cookies are plump and chewy, holding that texture after freezing. So when you enjoy a cone (you can find gluten-free ice cream cones now!) or a dish, the cookies have a wonderful ‘bite’, soft and chewy. It tastes like a cookie dough ice cream. YUM! My kids are over the moon about this recipe and I think you’ll love it too.
I have had this ice cream machine for a number of years and it’s very easy to use. It’s an affordable appliance and I think it’s one of thos appliances that once you have it you’ll find great ways to use it. I also discovered this ice cream container which I really like (it’s in a photo above too). Its size makes it easy to store in the freezer on a shelf or in the door. Most importantly there is space between the outside of the containter and the insert where the ice cream is so the ice cream stays frozen without getting overly hard.
There are plenty of ice cream recipes here on Boulder Locavore for you to try too! I’ve included a conventional way to freeze the ice cream without a machine as well. I’ve received several messages asking for the brand of these gluten-free ice cream cones. They are made by Goldbaum’s (these are ‘sugar cones‘).
Recipe
Cookies and Cream Ice Cream
Ingredients
- 2 cups Heavy Whipping Cream
- ¾ cups Granulated Sugar
- 1 cup Whole Milk
- 1 whole Vanilla Bean , slit lengthwise
- 1 package Udi’s Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookies cookies cut into ½-inch squares; regular soft chocolate chip cookies can also be substituted
- Ice Cream Maker (see Notes below for instructions to make without a machine)
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan over low heat, combine the cream, sugar and milk. Stirring often, heat until the sugar has completely dissolved. Remove from heat and add the vanilla bean. Place in the refrigerator to chill fully (at least 3 hours) or overnight.
- When fully chilled, scrape the inside of the vanilla bean into the ice cream base mixture and discard the pod. Whisk to blend.
- Pour the chilled ice cream base into an Ice Cream Maker. Process ice cream in an ice cream maker per the manufacturer’s instructions. To prepare the ice cream without a machine, refer to the Notes section below.
- Line the bottom of a large 1.5-2 quart freezer-safe ice cream container with some of the chopped cookies. Layer on 1/3-1/2 of the ice cream; repeat until all the ingredients are in the container.
- With a large mixing spoon, fold the ingredients in together so the cookies are well mixed into the soft ice cream. Seal and place in the freezer overnight.
Connie says
Thank you for this recipe. I have been looking at ice cream freezers. We need to get one. I will be trying out this recipe for sure.
Toni Dash says
Connie I really love the one I have and have had it for a number of years (link in the post). I think it’s affordable, very easy to use and you’ll find so many more things to make with it than you imagined (different types of ice creams and sorbets). Really fun!
Kecia | From Mom's Desk says
I love cookies and cream ice cream, but never have I added cookies to the ice cream like this. Sounds amazing!
Toni Dash says
So easy and the cookies are nice and chewy!
Rachel Ferrucci says
I need a new ice cream maker but I love it and it’s my snack at night in the summer. I’ll definitely be trying this
Toni Dash says
I really love mine and have used it HARD Rachel LOL! There is a link in the post if you want to check it out.
Rosey says
It is funny how we forget about ice cream when it’s cold outside. How ludicrous of us!! This cookies and cream ice cream sounds delish!
Jeanette says
Gluten-free or not this looks so good! This is something that I could eat with my gluten-free friend and enjoy it completely.
Toni Dash says
Absolutely and the only part that would have gluten or not are the cookies. The ice cream alone is delicious; the cookies are the crowning addition!
Vera Sweeney says
This is so perfect for me! I have a friend who has to be gluten free, and she’s always complaining about not being able to have chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream. It’s her favorite. I have to make some for her!
Colleen Lanin says
That looks delicious. I’ve never thought about ice cream as a gluten free food, but I guess with regular cookie dough, you’d have to think about the gluten. Very cool.
Toni Dash says
It is the cookies Colleen. The ice cream itself is naturally gluten-free. If you were to swap out for another non gluten-free brand cookie the ice cream would have gluten.
Our Family World says
I love homemade ice cream! Your recipe looks great and I would love to try making it too. I am happy you made a gluten free recipe. I do have some friends and family who are on special diets and I don’t want them to feel left out when I serve dessert. 🙂
Stacie @ Divine Lifestyle says
Holy moly, that looks good. I can’t wait to make this! I’m all about the ice cream!
Toni Dash says
This one was tough to keep in the freezer! It went very quickly!
robin Rue says
We are all about the ice cream here, too! Especially now with the warm weather here finally!
Toni Dash says
I would have said the same but just learned we are expecting snow tonight!
robin Rue says
Cookies and Cream is one of my favorite ice cream flavors! This sounds soooo good.