It's customary to mark big events with celebration, typically involving mouthwatering food and drink. And while we don't necessarily want to celebrate the end of summer, Labor Day is just one more reason to throw a bash and indulge. To make your party fun, without having the gloom of the school year settling over it, include treats that are whimsical and lighthearted to keep the mood jovial. These peanut butter and jelly ice cream sandwiches are just the ticket. We used a classic peanut butter cookie recipe and turned it on its head, slathering it with thick strawberry jelly and layering some vanilla bean ice cream inside. A nod to the upcoming school lunches, perhaps, but with enough fun to keep things light. br
Ingredients
For cookies:
1 cup sugar
1 stick butter, softened
1 egg
1 cup smooth peanut butter
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 1/2 cups flour
For sandwiches:
2 dozen peanut butter cookies
1 pint vanilla ice cream
strawberry jelly
Directions
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Cream butter and sugar in a mixer until well mixed. Add in egg and vanilla and mix until combined. Stir in peanut butter and mix until fully combined. Add in peanut butter and baking soda and stir until fully combined. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Using a small scoop, scoop a ball of dough on to the parchment. Repeat until your tray is full with the cookies an inch apart. Use a fork and press it down across the cookies to form a criss cross pattern. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes until golden. Remove to a baking rack to cool. Repeat until you have no more dough. Cool completely.
To form the sandwiches, swipe a bit of jelly onto one cookie. Place a scoop of ice cream on top, then sandwich another cookie on top. Repeat with remaining cookies. Wrap each one in plastic wrap then refrigerate for an hour until firm.
Makes approximately 12 sandwiches.
--Kim Cooper--