Cookies 'n Cream Ice Cream

The temperature reached 99 here in CT this week, and with only 2 weeks of classes left (including 4 exams, gahh), it's definitely starting to feel like summer's right around the corner. Even though I'm all for eating ice cream during even the coldest of winter nights, ice cream in the summer is completely irresistible. Speaking of irresistible....



I sought out to make cookies 'n cream ice cream initially because it's one of my favorite flavors, and once I spotted Baked Bree's beautiful pictures of her batch, I knew I'd have to try it. I had oreos left over from making the road of the Coast to Coast cake, so this week seemed like a perfect opportunity. It's pretty ridiculous how easy this recipe is to put together (assuming you have an ice cream maker), and the possibilities of changing up the mix-ins and flavors are almost endless -- no bacon ice cream for me, please.

My ice cream base looks dark because of all the tiny bits of Oreos that got mixed in. To me, this is a plus -- I love the flavor of the vanilla/oreo crumb combo, but if you want more contrast between the larger cookie pieces and the white ice cream base, don't smash your cookies as finely and wait until the very end to gently stir them in, using a spatula rather than the ice cream maker to incorporate them. It's up to you, but either way it's absolutely delicious.



Cookies 'n Cream Ice Cream
Adapted from Baked Bree

1-1/2 cups whole milk
1-1/8 cups sugar
3 cups heavy cream
1 tbsp vanilla
15 Oreos crushed (I used about 20, hehe)

- Make sure your ice cream maker is in the freezer for at least 24 hours before starting this recipe
- Stir the milk and sugar together in a medium-sized bowl until the sugar is dissolved, about 3 minutes
- Mix in the cream and vanilla
- Pour the mixture into the ice cream machine and let it run for the manufacturer's recommended time. Add the oreos in about 3 minutes before the time is up
- Put the ice cream in the freezer to firm up completely

My good friend Marissa has a blog all about healthy recipes, and at the end of each post she includes the nutritional highlights of that meal. As I was writing out these ingredients I just laughed to myself thinking about how terribly unhealthy ice cream is, which you definitely realize more when you make it yourself. It also doesn't help that this week we were also studying for a test on cariology -- the study of what causes cavities. Although I know Marissa and some dental professors might disapprove, just remember my friends -- everything in moderation!