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Alongside the joy of decorating Christmas trees and the gleeful anticipation of unwrapping presents, there’s another festive tradition that many of us eagerly await: the return of Blue Bell Christmas Cookie Ice Cream flavor. This delightful treat, a heartwarming blend of our favorite holiday cookies enveloped in creamy vanilla ice cream with festive sprinkles and a merry green icing swirl, has the magical ability to instantly transport us to our fondest holiday memories.
How to make Blue Bell Christmas Cookie Ice Cream
Blue Bell Christmas Cookie Ice Cream is a festive flavor that combines a sweet, buttery ice cream base with a mix of holiday-inspired flavors and textures. It features pieces of sugar cookies, a touch of cinnamon, and a hint of almond flavor, all swirled together in a creamy ice cream.
Ingredients
Cookie Mix-In:
- 1/2 cup chocolate chip cookie dough, cut into small pieces
- 1/2 cup Snickerdoodle cookie dough, cut into small pieces
- 1/2 cup sugar cookie dough, cut into small pieces
- Red and green sprinkles, as desired
Green Icing Swirl:
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons milk
- Green food coloring
Vanilla Ice Cream Base:
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1 cup whole milk
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
Instructions
Prepare Cookie Dough Mix-Ins:
- Preheat your oven according to the cookie dough package instructions.
- Place small pieces of each cookie dough type on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake them as directed, ensuring they’re slightly underbaked for that gooey texture.
- Once baked, let the cookies cool and then crumble them into small pieces. Set aside.
Green Icing Swirl:
- In a small bowl, whisk together powdered sugar, milk, and enough green food coloring to reach your desired hue. The mixture should be thick but pourable.
- Transfer the icing to a piping bag or a sandwich bag with a small corner snipped off. Set aside.
Vanilla Ice Cream Base:
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the heavy cream, milk, sugar, vanilla extract, and salt until the sugar dissolves.
- Pour the mixture into an ice cream maker and churn according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Assembling the Ice Cream:
- In the last few minutes of churning, add in the crumbled cookie pieces and red and green sprinkles. Continue to churn until evenly distributed.
- Once your ice cream has reached the desired consistency (typically soft-serve), spoon a layer into a freezer-safe container.
- Drizzle a layer of green icing swirl over the ice cream, then continue layering ice cream and icing intermittently, finishing with a drizzle of icing and additional sprinkles on top.
- Using a knife or a skewer, gently swirl the icing through the ice cream to create a marbled effect.
- Freeze the ice cream for several hours or until firm.
Tips
- Underbake the Cookies: Keep the cookies slightly underbaked to retain a softer texture once they’re frozen within the ice cream.
- Chill the Base: For creamier ice cream, chill the vanilla base for at least 2 hours, or overnight, before churning.
- Layer Don’t Mix: For a marbled look similar to Blue Bell’s, layer the ingredients rather than mixing them.
- Cure the Ice Cream: Give the ice cream sufficient time to firm up in the freezer after churning. This process, known as curing, improves the texture and flavor.
- Serving: Transfer the ice cream from the freezer to the fridge for about 10-15 minutes before serving to soften slightly for easy scooping.
What to serve with
When serving your homemade Blue Bell Christmas Cookie Ice Cream dessert, you can make it even more memorable by pairing it with complementary treats and beverages that enhance its festive flavors.
Hot Beverages
- Hot Chocolate: A classic hot chocolate is a cozy companion for cold ice cream, creating a delightful contrast of hot and cold. To tie in with the Christmas theme, top the hot chocolate with whipped cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon.
- Coffee or Espresso: For adults, a warm cup of coffee or a shot of espresso can be an excellent counterpart to the sweetness of the Blue Bell Christmas Cookie Ice Cream. The bitterness of coffee balances the sweetness, and the warmth provides a lovely contrast in temperature.
Baked Goods
- Freshly Baked Cookies: Even though the ice cream contains cookie pieces, serving it with a plate of full-sized homemade Christmas cookies could be a delightful treat. Guests can enjoy dunking the cookies in their ice cream or crumbling them on top for added texture.
- Gingerbread: Gingerbread’s spicy and warm flavor profile matches the vanilla and cookie-loaded ice cream. For a playful pairing, serve with gingerbread men or even gingerbread cake.
Desserts
- Warm Fruit Pies or Cobbler: A slice of warm apple pie or peach cobbler served with a scoop of Christmas Cookie ice cream creates a comfort food duo that sings of holiday tradition. The spiced fruits blend beautifully with the sweet and creamy Blue Bell Christmas Cookie Ice Cream.
- Brownies or Chocolate Cake: If you’re a chocolate lover, the richness of a warm brownie or a slice of chocolate cake served a la mode with the Blue Bell Christmas Cookie Ice Cream is a match made in heaven.
Drinks
- Milkshakes or Floats: For a fun twist, blend the Christmas Cookie ice cream with a bit of milk to make a festive milkshake, or pour over some sparkling soda to create a delightful float.
- Eggnog: A glass of chilled eggnog complements the creamy texture and spices found in the ice cream, and its creamy richness can hold its own against the flavor-packed dessert.
Ingredients Substitutes
The Blue Bell Ice Cream Christmas Cookie flavor is a seasonal release that combines sugar cookie-flavored ice cream with chocolate chip, snickerdoodle, and sugar cookies, along with red sprinkles and a green icing swirl. When making a homemade version or a variation of this ice cream, you might need to substitute one or more ingredients due to allergies, personal preferences, or availability.
Sugar Cookie-Flavored Ice Cream Base
- Substitutes for Cream: If you’re looking to replace the cream in the base due to dietary restrictions or a desire for a lighter option, you can try full-fat coconut milk, cashew cream, or almond milk creamer for a dairy-free alternative.
- Substitutes for Sugar: To reduce the sugar content, you could use a sugar substitute like stevia, erythritol, or a sugar-free sweetener blend designed for baking. Keep in mind that sweetness levels and freezing properties may vary.
- Substitutes for Eggs (in custard bases): Some ice cream recipes use eggs for a custard base. To avoid eggs, you can use cornstarch or arrowroot powder as thickeners for your ice cream mixture.
Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Substitutes for Wheat Flour: For those who are avoiding gluten, almond flour, oat flour, or a gluten-free all-purpose flour blend can be used.
- Substitutes for Chocolate Chips: If you have an allergy to chocolate or want to try something different, you can use carob chips, white chocolate chips, or even cinnamon chips for a unique twist.
Snickerdoodle Cookies
- Substitutes for Cream of Tartar: Cream of tartar gives Snickerdoodle cookies their distinct tangy flavor. If you can’t find it, you can use lemon juice or white vinegar in its place.
- Substitutes for Cinnamon: While there may be no direct substitute for cinnamon, a small amount of nutmeg or allspice could offer a warm, spicy flavor if cinnamon is unavailable or needs to be avoided.
Sugar Cookies
- Substitutes for Vanilla Extract: If you don’t have vanilla, you can use almond extract for a different, but still delightful flavor profile. Use it sparingly, though, as it’s much stronger than vanilla.
Red Sprinkles
- Substitutes for Sprinkles: To avoid artificial colors, look for naturally colored sprinkles made with ingredients like beet juice. Alternatively, you can omit the sprinkles or replace them with crushed freeze-dried berries for a pop of color and a hint of tartness.
Green Icing Swirl
- Substitutes for Food Coloring: Like with the sprinkles, you can opt for natural food dyes made from vegetables or fruits for the green coloring, or forego the color and just enjoy the flavor of the icing.
- Substitutes for Icing: If you can’t consume regular icing due to dietary restrictions, you can try a coconut cream-based version or a cashew butter icing for a dairy-free alternative.
Final Thoughts
Enjoy your homemade Blue Bell Christmas Cookie Ice Cream surrounded by friends, family, and the festive spirit!
More Ice Cream Recipes:
Ingredients
Cookie Mix-In:
- 1/2 cup chocolate chip cookie dough, cut into small pieces
- 1/2 cup Snickerdoodle cookie dough, cut into small pieces
- 1/2 cup sugar cookie dough, cut into small pieces
- Red and green sprinkles, as desired
Green Icing Swirl:
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons milk
- Green food coloring
Vanilla Ice Cream Base:
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1 cup whole milk
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
Instructions
Prepare Cookie Dough Mix-Ins:
- Preheat your oven according to the cookie dough package instructions.
- Place small pieces of each cookie dough type on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake them as directed, ensuring they're slightly underbaked for that gooey texture.
- Once baked, let the cookies cool and then crumble them into small pieces. Set aside.
Green Icing Swirl:
- In a small bowl, whisk together powdered sugar, milk, and enough green food coloring to reach your desired hue. The mixture should be thick but pourable.
- Transfer the icing to a piping bag or a sandwich bag with a small corner snipped off. Set aside.
Vanilla Ice Cream Base:
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the heavy cream, milk, sugar, vanilla extract, and salt until the sugar dissolves.
- Pour the mixture into an ice cream maker and churn according to the manufacturer's instructions.
Assembling the Ice Cream:
- In the last few minutes of churning, add in the crumbled cookie pieces and red and green sprinkles. Continue to churn until evenly distributed.
- Once your ice cream has reached the desired consistency (typically soft-serve), spoon a layer into a freezer-safe container.
- Drizzle a layer of green icing swirl over the ice cream, then continue layering ice cream and icing intermittently, finishing with a drizzle of icing and additional sprinkles on top.
- Using a knife or a skewer, gently swirl the icing through the ice cream to create a marbled effect.
- Freeze the ice cream for several hours or until firm.
