Chocolate Hazelnut Ice Cream Sandwich

Leibniz cookies, especially those with a dark chocolate layer are my all time favorite store bought cookie and they make the perfect chocolate hazelnut ice cream sandwiches.

Do I have to use Leibniz for these?

No, but if you can find them, I highly recommend using them. I love the variation with a dark chocolate layer on top but you can also use the milk chocolate or plain variety. There are also many duplicates of these types of butter cookies that can be found at other grocery stores.

Can I use a different Ice cream?

Yes! The beauty of this recipe is that you can use anything you have on hand. I tend to always have vanilla ice cream so this recipe uses the addition of dark chocolate and hazelnuts to elevate the simple ice cream.

What is the best way to store ice cream sandwiches?

Once these have been made and cut into individual sandwiches, I recommend storing them in an airtight container in the freezer.

Tips for making Homemade Ice Cream Sandwiches

• When making the chocolate hazelnut ice cream, allow the ice cream to soften just enough so that it can be whipped with a mixer but not to the point of melting.
• Line the loaf pan with plastic wrap before assembling so that they will be easy to remove once frozen.
• Do your best to line up the cookies on top and bottom so that when you go to cut through the layers, you won’t accidentally cut through one of the cookies.

Additional No Bake Recipes to try!

• Kalter Hund | No Bake Chocolate Biscuit Cake
• Bayerische Creme | Bavarian Cream with Berries
• Kaiserschmarrn | Giant torn up pancake

Ingredients

• Vanilla Ice Cream: Any vanilla ice cream will work for this recipe – you can also substitute with any other ice cream you prefer!
• Dark Chocolate: The chocolate is optional but to elevate the vanilla ice cream, I like to pour in melted chocolate to make my own stracciatella ice cream.
• Hazelnuts: Toasted Hazelnuts make a delicious addition in the vanilla ice cream but again if you choose to use a different ice cream, they are optional.
• Leibniz Cookies: The leibniz cookies with dark chocolate on them are my favorite to use but you can also use the plain ones or any other rectangular butter cookie. I get them at World Market in the US.

How to make Leibniz Ice Cream Sandwiches?

Vanilla Chocolate Hazelnut Ice cream

• Pour the hazelnuts into a pan and heat over medium heat until fragrant and you start to see the oil bead on the surface of the nuts. Toss the hazelnuts regularly to keep them from burning.
• Once toasted, pour the hazelnuts into a kitchen towel. Rub the hazelnuts within the towel to remove the skin.
• Roughly chop the hazelnuts and set aside in a bowl.
• Break up and melt the chocolate in a glass, liquid measuring cup with a spout.
• Dump the vanilla ice cream into a large mixing bowl. Use a hand or stand mixer to whip the vanilla ice cream until it is smooth and spreadable.
• While mixing, slowly drizzle in the melted chocolate. As you mix it will distribute and break up creating a stracciatella effect.
• Pour in the chopped hazelnuts and stir to combine.
• Place the bowl in the freezer for 20-30 minutes to let it firm up slightly.

Assembling the Sandwiches

• Line a loaf pan with plastic wrap, it needs to be large enough that the plastic wrap reaches up the long sides of the pan.
• Place 6 of the cookies, chocolate side down into the bottom of the pan. Try to space them evenly and line them up with the edges of the pan.
• Pour in the mixed ice cream and gently spread it out to create an even layer.
• Lay 6 more cookies, chocolate side up on top of the ice cream.
• Immediately place the pan in the freezer and allow to set for at least 6 hours or up to overnight.
• Once frozen, use the plastic wrap to lift the loaf of ice cream sandwiches out of the pan. Peel the plastic away from the sandwiches and place them on a cutting board.
• Use a long sharp knife to cut in between the 6 cookies to create the individual sandwiches.
• Optionally dip or drizzle them with dark chocolate and sprinkle with chopped hazelnuts.
• Serve immediately or place in an airtight container and place back in the freezer.