The Whats Cooking board on the Nest that I like to post on had a new challenge, it was an ingredient challenge, this weeks challenge was blueberries. I don’t like blueberries so I was not very excited about the challenge, but then realized that it would be a good experience to try something I don’t normally use. And Adam likes blueberries so I ran with it, and started browsing for ideas.
While getting a pedicure last week I was reading the newest issue of Gourmet, this recipe was on the cover, they looked to die for. So I decided that would be my blueberry recipe.
These sandwiches were pretty easy to make, Adam and I both felt the ice cream layer was a little too thick, I think otherwise they were very good. And simple treat to make.
Lemon Ice Cream Sandwiches with Blueberry Swirl (From: Gourmet)
For lemon ice cream
- 2 pints premium vanilla ice cream
- 1 tablespoon grated lemon zest
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
For blueberry compote
- 2 cups blueberries (10 ounces)
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 2 (3- by 21/2-inch) strips lemon zest
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 2 teaspoons cornstarch
For sandwich layers
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 stick unsalted butter, softened
- 3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
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Equipment:
2 (8-inch) square baking pans (2 inches deep); a small offset spatula
Make lemon ice cream:
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Transfer ice cream to a microwave-safe bowl and microwave at 30 percent power in 10-second intervals, stirring, until softened, about 50 seconds total (see cooks’ note, below).
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Stir in lemon zest and juice. Spread ice cream thinly in a 13- by 9-inch baking dish and freeze while making compote and sandwich layers.
Make blueberry compote:
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Cook blueberries, sugar, and zest in a 12-inch heavy skillet over medium-high heat, thoroughly crushing blueberries with a potato masher, until juices are released and sugar has dissolved, about 2 minutes.
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Stir together lemon juice and cornstarch, then stir into blueberry mixture. Boil, stirring, 1 minute (mixture will thicken).
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Transfer blueberry compote to a bowl and chill until cold, about 1 hour. Discard lemon zest.
Make sandwich layers While compote chills:
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Preheat oven to 375°F with rack in middle. Butter baking pans and line with foil, leaving a 1-inch overhang on each side, then butter foil.
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Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a small bowl. Beat together butter and brown sugar in another bowl with an electric mixer at medium-high speed until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Beat in egg and vanilla. At low speed, add flour mixture in 2 batches, mixing until just combined.
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Divide batter between baking pans and spread into thin, even layers with offset spatula. Bake until golden-brown but still tender, 10 to 12 minutes. Cool completely in pans, about 30 minutes.
Assemble sandwiches:
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Dollop tablespoons of blueberry compote all over ice cream, then swirl it gently through ice cream with a spoon. Spoon all of ice cream over 1 sandwich layer (in pan) and spread evenly using clean offset spatula. Invert second sandwich layer over ice cream, pressing gently to form an even sandwich. Wrap baking pan in plastic wrap and freeze until firm, at least 2 hours.
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Transfer sandwich to a cutting board using overhang. Trim edges if desired, then cut into 8 pieces.
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Looks great, I love ice cream sandwiches!
I’m so ducking out on challenges lately – I’m a bad bad WCer.
I don’t like blueberries, either, but these look great – I bet they’d be really good with raspberries or strawberries!