Peanut Butter and Banana Ice Cream Sandwiches

By KeyIngredient

Ingredients

• Cookies
• 2 cups (500 mL) creamy peanut butter
• 1 cup (250 mL) packed brown sugar
• 2/3 cup (150 mL) granulated sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp (5 mL) vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup (125 mL) all-purpose flour
• 2 tsp (10 mL) baking soda
• 1/4 tsp (1 mL) salt
• Filling
• 8 cups (2 L) vanilla ice cream (see Tips below)
• 1 1/4 cups (300 mL) mashed
• ripe banana (3 large bananas)
• 1 cup (250 mL) creamy peanut butter
• 2 cups (500 mL) finely chopped toffee coated
• peanuts (see Tips below)

Preparation

Step 1

1. Preheat oven to 325ºF (160ºC).

2. Beat peanut butter, brown sugar and granulated sugar on medium speed of electric mixer until blended. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla. Add flour, baking soda and salt on low speed, mixing until blended.

3. Shape dough into 1½-inch (4-cm) balls. Place 2-inches (5-cm) apart on ungreased cookie sheet. Flatten with a fork or potato masher dipped in granulated sugar to 2¾-inch (7-cm) rounds.

4. Bake in centre of oven for 15 to 18 minutes, or until set and golden. Cool 5 minutes on baking sheet then transfer to wire rack and cool completely.

5. Soften ice cream slightly until easy to handle. Stir in banana until well blended. Stir peanut butter to soften, then add to ice cream. Marble peanut butter through ice cream with a metal spatula or knife. Don't overmix - there should still be streaks. Return to freezer until firm, about 1 hour.

6. Spread the bottom side of 1 cookie with about ½ cup (125 mL) ice cream. Top with another cookie; press down slightly. Roll edge of cookie in chopped peanuts. Wrap individually in plastic wrap or aluminum foil and freeze. Repeat with remaining cookies and ice cream. Freeze until firm, about 3 hours. Store in freezer.

Makes about 50 cookies, 25 sandwiches, about 3½- inches (9-cm) in diameter


Tips
Dry roasted or honey roasted peanuts also work well. You can omit them entirely if desired.

For an easy filling try a store-bought banana nut ice cream.