Peppermint Ice Cream Dessert
We have several family “traditions” around Christmas time, starting with purchasing and decorating our Christmas tree. We’ve always had a live tree and try to get it the week after Thanksgiving. I’ve mentioned before that we’re not from Texas (but we got here as quick as we could) and “winter” is a little different here. Sometimes it’s cold, sometimes it’s hot. In our ideal world, Christmas tree hunting is done when it’s cold outside…we check the weather and plan to get our tree on the “coolest” night possible. Sometimes we even wait a week if the temps are going to cool down. Then an evening or two later, we decorate.
My mom started a wonderful tradition twenty years ago, after our oldest daughter was born. It started with a “baby’s first Christmas” ornament and it’s grown from there. Every year she buys each of my children one new ornament that represents something unique about them. It’s always the first to go on the tree that year. We have three children and twenty years worth of ornaments…so our tree is pretty full…and amazingly decorated with things that represent our children’s personalities and interests.
Everyone has an important role in the tree decorating…
My husband and son get the decorations out of the attic, I put on the lights and sort through the ornaments, and each child puts on their ornaments.
We were able to find a cool night to get the tree but before “decorating night” came around, it was quite warm again. Like most events and occasions around here, tree decorating wouldn’t be complete without SNACKS! Yes, everything we do somehow involves food. This year I decided to make Peppermint Mocha Coffee Punch as a special treat, but since I only used half the ice cream, and I thought eating some ice cream might help us feel a little cooler. I made Peppermint Ice Cream Dessert, usually a summer favorite.
Here’s the Recipe:
- chocolate sandwich cookies – 1 bag
- peppermint ice cream – I used Dryer’s
- chocolate syrup
- non-dairy whipped topping – such as Cool Whip
- chocolate chips – Nestle has Christmas colored ones out right now
- Optional- chopped pecans
Note – I made half a recipe with ice cream I had left. For this 9 x 13 amount, use about 1/2 gal of ice cream
Remove ice cream from freezer and allow to soften until somewhat spreadable
Meanwhile, crush cookies in a large baggie
*They don’t need to be finely crushed and kids love helping with this…especially boys*
Place cookies in bottom of a 9 x 13 pan, preferably one with a lid
When ice cream is soft enough, “spread” over cookies
* I usually end up just glopping it on and smoothing out the best I can*
Drizzle liberally with chocolate syrup
Sprinkle a generous amount of Christmas colored chocolate chips – just remember to save some for the top
Add nuts, if using
Spread a layer of whipped topping, sprinkle a few more chocolate chips and freeze until ready to serve, remembering to cover tightly and sit level in the freezer
*Best made the evening before or at least very early in the day so the ice cream has plenty of time to re-freeze before serving. Otherwise, it doesn’t cut…you’ll have a sundae instead of a layered dessert..not necessarily bad, just different.
We were able to cool down without turning on the air conditioner!
- chocolate sandwich cookies – 1 bag
- peppermint ice cream - I used Dryer's
- chocolate syrup
- non-dairy whipped topping – such as Cool Whip
- chocolate chips – Nestle has Christmas colored ones out right now
- Optional- chopped pecans
- Remove ice cream from freezer and allow to soften until somewhat spreadable
- Meanwhile, crush cookies in a large baggie
- Place cookies in bottom of a 9 x 13 pan, preferably one with a lid
- When ice cream is soft enough, “spread” over cookies
- Drizzle liberally with chocolate syrup
- Sprinkle a generous amount of Christmas colored chocolate chips – just remember to save some for the top
- Add nus, if using
- Spread a layer of whipped topping, sprinkle a few more chocolate chips
- Cover tightly and freeze, making sure it stays flat, until ready to serve
- No need to crush cookies finely, great job for kids
- I usually end up glopping on the ice cream and "spreading" the best I can
- This is best made the evening before or at least very early in the day so the ice cream has plenty of time to re-freeze before serving. Otherwise, it doesn’t cut well…you’ll have a sundae instead of layer..not necessarily bad, just different.