These gluten free ice cream sandwiches consist of a homemade vanilla ice cream, sandwiched between two no-bake chocolate cookies. They are rich and decadent, but made with wholesome ingredients. These homemade ice cream sandwiches are not only gluten free, but dairy free and paleo as well.
Guys, I am so proud of this recipe!
I remember eating ice cream sandwiches as a kid and wow, those have nothing on these. The ice cream is richer and creamier and made with 100% wholesome ingredients. Plus, the chocolate cookies are thick and fudgy (nothing cakey or dry), with a decadent chocolate flavor.
Better yet, you don't have to use your oven to make these paleo ice cream sandwiches. The cookies are no-bake and no-fuss. They also cut easily, so you don't have to worry about defrosting the sandwiches to cut them to shape.
I used my paleo vanilla ice cream recipe for the filling, but if you're in need of something quick, then a store-bought flavor will work too.
Why You'll Love these Ice Cream Sandwiches
- gluten free and paleo - made without wheat flour and without oats. All simple, minimally processed ingredients.
- thick and fudgy - the perfect ice cream bar texture
- easy to make - the cookie dough is one-bowl and no-bake. You can either make your own ice cream, or use store bought.
- delicious - obviously a MUST when it comes to dessert!
Ingredients
The full recipe for these vanilla ice cream bars can be found in the recipe card below, but here's an overview of what you'll need:
- blanched almond flour - these ice cream sandwiches are made with almond flour. If you can't eat nuts, then tigernut flour should work as a substitute.
- tapioca starch - needed for the proper cookie texture. Arrowroot starch is an appropriate substitute.
- cocoa powder - I like using Dutch processed cocoa powder for a richer chocolate flavor, but any cocoa powder or even cacao powder will work.
- salt - enhances the flavors
- palm shortening - I like palm shortening because it works similar to butter, but keeps all my recipes dairy free. The best substitute would be butter. Coconut oil may work, but it doesn't usually hold up as well.
- maple syrup - to sweeten the cookies
- vanilla extract - for flavor
- ice cream (not pictured) - I used my paleo vanilla ice cream recipe, but you can use any ice cream you want.
How to Make Gluten Free Ice Cream Sandwiches
The cookie dough is made in a bowl, split in half and then molded in an 8" square baking dish. Once chilled, it's layered with ice cream. This recipe is super easy - waiting for everything to set in the freezer is the hard part. Here's what you need to do:
- Make the cookie dough.
- Split the dough into two equal halves. Press one half into a lined 8" x 8" baking dish, then remove it (in the parchment paper) and set on a small baking sheet or plate.
- Line the 8" x 8" pan with parchment again and press the other half of the dough into the pan.
- Freeze both cookie layers for at least 30 minutes.
- Make the ice cream (if using homemade).
- Remove the cookie layers from the freezer. Scoop the ice cream over the cookie layer in the baking pan. Then add the other cookie on top, lightly pressing down.
- Place the bars in the freezer overnight, or for at least 6 hours to fully set.
- Once the ice cream is fully frozen, remove the bars from the baking pan and cut to desired size (I made 8 sandwiches).
Tips and Tricks
- Freeze the chocolate cookie layers separately. The first time I made these, I made the mistake of keeping both cookie layers in the 8" baking dish. Even with parchment, they stuck together and it was a bit of a disaster. So, freeze the cookie layers separately.
- Add the ice cream when it has a soft serve consistency. This not only makes spreading the ice cream easier, but it also ensures that the top layer will stick to the ice cream.
- Use any flavor of ice cream. I love my paleo ice cream recipe, but feel free to mix it up with another homemade version or add mix-ins to my paleo one.
Storage
These paleo ice cream sandwiches need to be stored in the freezer. You can keep them in the baking dish and cover it with foil or plastic wrap. Or you can wrap the bars in parchment paper and place them in a Ziplock baggie.
FAQ
Yes! So long as you use a vegan ice cream, then these ice cream bars are vegan friendly.
Yes, any ice cream will work for this recipe. Before spreading the ice cream layer over the cookie layer, make sure the ice cream is soft and spreadable (similar to soft serve ice cream).
More Homemade Ice Cream Recipes
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
Gluten Free Ice Cream Sandwiches (Dairy Free, Paleo)
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Freeze Time: 6 hours 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 7 hours
- Yield: 8 ice cream bars 1x
Description
These homemade ice cream sandwiches consist of a creamy vanilla ice cream, sandwiched between two fudgy chocolate cookies. This ice cream sandwich recipe is gluten free, dairy free, paleo and vegan friendly.
Ingredients
- 2 cups almond flour (180g)
- ½ cup tapioca starch (60g)
- ½ cup cocoa powder (44g)
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ cup palm shortening (86g) or butter
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 cups paleo vanilla ice cream (or any ice cream)
Instructions
- Make the cookie dough. In a large mixing bowl, combine the almond flour, tapioca starch, cocoa powder and salt. Add in the palm shortening, maple syrup and vanilla. First mix with a spatula, then use your hands to knead the dough until it is well combined.
- Split the dough into two equal halves.
- Line an 8" x 8" baking dish with parchment paper and press one half of the cookie dough into the pan, creating an even, level layer.
- Remove that square cookie, along with the parchment paper, to a small baking sheet or large plate.
- Line the 8" baking dish with another sheet of parchment paper and press the remaining half of the cookie dough into the dish.
- Place both cookie layers in the freezer (keeping one in the baking dish and one on the baking sheet/plate). Freeze for at least 30 minutes.
- If using homemade ice cream, make the ice cream following the recipe's instructions. I used my paleo vanilla ice cream recipe*
- Once the cookies are frozen and the ice cream is ready (creamy and easy to spread), remove the cookies from the freezer.
- Scoop the ice cream onto the cookie in the lined baking dish. Spread the ice cream out in an even layer to the sides of the pan. Remove the other cookie from the parchment paper and place it on top of the ice cream, lightly pressing it down.
- Place the ice cream sandwiches in the freezer overnight, or for at least 6 hours.
- Once frozen, remove the sandwiches from the baking dish and cut them to desired size. I cut mine into 8 large ice cream sandwiches.
- Store the bars in the freezer and eat within one month.
Notes
*I only used 2 cups of my paleo vanilla ice cream for these ice cream sandwiches. You can use more or less, depending on how thick you want the ice cream layer to be.
Katie
These are the best paleo ice cream sandwiches! Hope you all love them!