Gingersnap Lemon Ice Cream Sandwiches

Homemade lemon ice cream sandwiched between spicy gingersnap cookies. This elegant dessert combines rich, creamy lemon-infused ice cream with warm-spiced cookies featuring ginger, cinnamon, and allspice.

12 servings
14 hr 12 min

Ingredients

  • cups whole milk
  • 3 cups heavy (whipping) cream
  • 2 lemons lemon zest
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 6 large egg yolks
  • ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
  • 2 teaspoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon ground ginger
  • teaspoon ground white pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon ground allspice
  • ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
  • 4 ounces unsalted butter
  • ½ cup granulated sugar
  • ¼ cup brown sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 3 tablespoons molasses

Cooking Instructions

  1. 1.

    Combine the milk, cream, lemon zest and 1/2 cup of the sugar in a heavy saucepan. Cook, stirring frequently, over medium heat until almost simmering. In a bowl, whisk together the egg yolks, the remaining 1/2 cup sugar, and the salt in a bowl. Slowly pour the hot liquid into the egg mixture, whisking as you pour. Return the mixture to the saucepan. Cook, over medium-low heat, stirring constantly with a heat-resistant plastic or a wooden spatula, until the custard reaches 175°F and lightly coats the spatula.

    20 min

  2. 2.

    Strain the custard into a clean bowl and cool over an ice bath until room temperature. Stir in the lemon juice. Refrigerate the custard for at least 4 hours or up to overnight. Churn in an ice cream machine according to the manufacturer's instructions. Freeze until scoopable, about 4 hours, depending on your freezer.

    480 min

  3. 3.

    Sift together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, white pepper, and allspice. Stir in the salt.

    5 min

  4. 4.

    Beat the butter, 1/4 cup of the granulated sugar, and the brown sugar together until smooth. Stir in the egg. Mix in the molasses. Stir in the dry ingredients in 2 additions. Refrigerate the dough until very firm, at least 3 hours.

    200 min

  5. 5.

    Divide the dough in half, wrap each half in plastic wrap, and refrigerate the dough for at least 2 hours or up to 4 days. When firm, roll the dough on a lightly sugared work surface into two 9-inch-long logs.

    120 min

  6. 6.

    Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line 3 baking pans with parchment paper. Cut the dough into 1/2-inch-thick slices. There should be at least 24 cookies. Put the remaining 1/4 cup granulated sugar in a bowl. Coat the cookies with the sugar. Place the cookies 2 1/2 inches apart on the prepared pans. Bake the cookies until set and no longer wet looking, 10 to 12 minutes. They will be puffy when you take them out of the oven and will sink as they cool.

    12 min

  7. 7.

    Place 12 of the cookies, bottom side up, on the work surface. Place a large scoop of ice cream on each. Top with a second cookie, bottom side against the ice cream, and gently press to adhere the sandwiches together. Serve immediately, or freeze until ready to serve. Once frozen, wrap well in plastic wrap or store in an airtight container.

    15 min

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