Cognac-Ice-Cream Sandwiches

Cognac-Ice-Cream Sandwiches
Tom Schierlitz for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Brian Preston-Campbell.
Total Time
2 hour 30 minutes
Rating
4(50)
Comments
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This recipe came to The Times from Meg Ray and Caitlin Williams, the owners of Miette Cakes, a bakery in San Francisco. They reimagined a classic booze pie as ice-cream sandwiches, literally a children’s dessert for adults. They replaced the graham-cracker crust with homemade graham crackers, turned the mousse into ice cream and elevated it with a relatively abstemious dose of Cognac. On the surface, it’s a tasty trifle, but there is subtlety too, with a little cinnamon here, some salt there. —Amanda Hesser

Featured in: The Ice Cream Sandwich Comes of Age

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Ingredients

Yield:Makes 10 ice-cream sandwiches

    For the Graham Crackers

    • 2cups flour
    • ½cup wheat flour
    • 1teaspoon salt
    • ½teaspoon cinnamon
    • 1cup unsalted butter
    • ½cup packed dark brown sugar
    • ¼cup honey

    For the Cognac Ice Cream

    • 1cup milk
    • 2cups cream
    • cup sugar
    • 6egg yolks
    • 2tablespoons Cognac
    • 2tablespoons chocolate liqueur
Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving (10 servings)

617 calories; 39 grams fat; 24 grams saturated fat; 1 gram trans fat; 11 grams monounsaturated fat; 2 grams polyunsaturated fat; 60 grams carbohydrates; 1 gram dietary fiber; 35 grams sugars; 7 grams protein; 267 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Make the graham crackers: sift together the flours, salt and cinnamon. Set aside. In a mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugar. Add the honey and mix until blended. Add the dry ingredients in two batches, mixing until combined before adding the second batch. Mold the dough into 2 balls, wrap in plastic, flatten and chill for at least an hour.

  2. Step 2

    Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Roll out half the dough on a piece of parchment paper to a large square, ⅛-inch thick. Cut the sheet of dough into 3- by 3-inch squares, leaving them as is on the parchment; trim any excess dough from the edges. Transfer this sheet of dough to a baking sheet, using the parchment paper to lift it. Repeat with the remaining dough. Chill for 30 minutes. Bake until golden, 14 to 16 minutes. Let cool, then break into precut squares.

  3. Step 3

    Make the ice cream: in a heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium heat, heat the milk, cream and sugar until the sugar dissolves. Do not boil. Gently whisk the yolks in a bowl. Temper them by pouring ½ cup of the hot liquid into them, then whisk this into the hot liquid in the pan. Over medium heat, cook the custard, stirring continuously in a figure-eight pattern until it coats the back of a spoon. Strain into a heatproof bowl. Stir in the alcohol, then chill in the refrigerator. Churn in an ice-cream maker until thick. Freeze until firm.

  4. Step 4

    Assemble the sandwiches: scoop the ice cream onto a graham cracker, top with another graham cracker, press gently and serve.

Ratings

4 out of 5
50 user ratings
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Comments

by "wheat flour" do you mean "whole wheat flour" as apposed to the "flour" ingredient meaning "all purpose flour"?

These are great. I am not sure I would make the ice cream again unless I had some extra cognac and liquer just lying around, but the crackers are worth making time and again. I think it is easiest to roll the dough out on a silpat sheet and score them into the size you want. They separate after they bake. Adults and kids love them.

Inquiring minds would LOVE to know!!..Whole wheat...whole wheat pastry flour or 'wheat' as ingredient? I have the same query as Julie! Thoughts...better...response please?

Possibly the most delicious dessert I have eaten in my entire life.

Delicious! Well worth the trouble.

Are 2 cups of cream and a cup of milk equal to 3 cups of half and half?

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Credits

By Caitlin Williams and Meg Ray, owners of Miette Cakes in San Francisco

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