Pioneer Womans Vanilla Ice Cream Food

ICE CREAM PIE

Steps:

• Make the crust: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Place the graham crackers in a large plastic zipper bag and seal it. Smash the crackers with a rolling pin until they're crushed into fine crumbs. (Or you can use a food processor!) Move the crumbs to a large bowl, then pour in the melted butter and stir them to combine. Press the crumbs into a pie plate slowly packing them so they're firm. Bake the crust for 5 minutes, then let it cool completely.
• Make the filling: In a large bowl, stir the ice cream until it's smooth but still firm and somewhat frozen. Add the pecans and candies and stir until it's all combined.
• Pour the mixture into the cooled crust and smooth the surface, then cover the pie and place it in the freezer to harden, 2 to 3 hours minimum. (Psst: Make it up to a week in advance! It keeps well in the freezer if it's covered tightly.)
• Use a warm knife to cut neat slices, then drizzle with your favorite jarred caramel or hot fudge sauce.
• Change Things Up!
• Make a chocolate mint version: Use mint chocolate chip ice cream and mix in chopped peppermint patties. Pour it into a chocolate cookie crust.
• Use any combination of ice cream flavor and candy/nut you'd like!

VANILLA ICE CREAM WITH PEACH SYRUP

Steps:

• Place the chopped peaches in a bowl or mason jar and set aside.
• In a saucepan, combine the sugar and 2 cups of water. Stir to combine. Turn the heat to medium high and boil until the syrup becomes thicker but is not yet starting to turn color, 3 to 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and pour the syrup over the chopped peaches. Allow to sit at room temperature for 1 hour (or you can chill in the fridge).
• To serve, spoon the peach syrup over the vanilla ice cream and sprinkle with the basil.

MERMAID ICE CREAM

Steps:

• Chill a 9-inch loaf pan in the freezer.
• Add the heavy cream, powdered sugar and vanilla extract to the bowl of an electric mixer. Using a whisk attachment, whip the cream until stiff. With a rubber spatula, gently fold in the sweetened condensed milk until combined. Divide the mixture among 3 bowls, coloring one bowl with the neon blue food coloring, one bowl with the neon purple and one bowl with the neon pink.
• Layer the different colors of ice cream base into the chilled loaf pan a couple spoonfuls at a time. There is no rhyme or reason when layering; you want it to be imperfect. Once all of the base has been added to the pan, swirl the colors using a skewer or butter knife. Sprinkle an assortment of sprinkles over the top and wrap lightly with plastic wrap. Freeze overnight.
• When ready to serve, scoop into individual glasses and top with additional sprinkles.

NO-CHURN CHOCOLATE DREAM ICE CREAM

Steps:

• Chill a 9-inch loaf pan or glass container in the freezer.
• Add the heavy cream, powdered sugar and vanilla extract to the bowl of an electric mixer. Using a whisk attachment, whip until stiff. Fold in the condensed milk. Divide the mixture between 2 large bowls.
• To one of the bowls, add the cocoa powder, melted semisweet chocolate and chocolate chips, then fold into the whipped cream.
• To the second bowl of whipped cream, add the melted white chocolate and chopped white chocolate, then fold in.
• Layer the different cream bases into the chilled loaf pan a couple spoonfuls at a time. (There is no rhyme or reason when layering; you want it to be imperfect.) Once all of the base has been added to the pan, swirl the two using a skewer or butter knife. Sprinkle an assortment of sprinkles over the top and wrap lightly with plastic wrap. Freeze overnight.
• When ready to serve, scoop into individual glasses and top with additional sprinkles.

COOKIES AND CREAM CUPS

Steps:

• Crush 15 of the cookies into fine crumbs. Add the melted butter, then mix to combine. Press some of the crumbs into each cup of a 12-cup muffin pan. Set aside.
• Break up 6 more of the cookies into chunks. Mix the softened ice cream with the broken-up cookies. Spoon some of the ice cream mixture into each cup of the muffin pan. Crush the remaining 2 to 3 cookies into crumbs and sprinkle over the cups.
• Freeze until firm, then remove from the muffin pan and place in resealable plastic bags or other airtight containers.

FAST AND FRUITY ICE CREAM

Steps:

• Place the frozen fruit in a food processor with the Greek yogurt, heavy cream and vanilla. Process until smooth. Add the chopped chocolate and pulse until the chocolate pieces have become small bits. Serve immediately in bowls and garnish with shaved dark chocolate over the top.