raw ice cream sandwiches

Yesterday I got the impulse to make a raw version of something I'd always loved as a kid, but stopped eating because they were processed (not good for me), and definitely not vegan: Ice Cream Sandwiches!  So what'd I do? Made them healthy for you.

The thought of making something so cute, yummy and familiar was enough to get me in the kitchen with the food processor, some jazz music, and determination. I had just enough ice cream left in the freezer to make about 3 of these, plus a mini one (but that's with me eating it as I'm making it... so you could probably make a few more if you can resist munching).

The "cookie" part was the perfect consistency, easy to mold but softened really fast when I took them out of the freezer to eat, so they weren't crunchy. Use any cookie cutter shape you want! Or make 'em rustic by hand. Either way, they were lovely and just what I needed. Nothing to feel guilty about here!

Raw Vegan Ice Cream Sandwiches: makes about 4 good-sized sandwiches 

1/4 cup walnuts

1/4 brazil nuts

1-2 Tb Honey/Agave/Maple Syrup 

3 Tb cacao/cocoa

1 Tb coconut oil

1/8 cup shredded coconut

1/3-1/2 cup raisins

Pinch of salt

2 t vanilla extract

Raw ice cream (or your favourite kind), softened 

Process nuts into rough flour, add the rest of ingredients except ice cream. You should end up with a doughy mixture, pretty thick and not too sticky. Taste it and add other stuff until you like what you have.

Get some cookie cutter molds and put them on wax paper or a plate. Depending on the size of your mold and how thick you want your cookie layer, press in the right amount of dough. Then scoop in a layer of ice cream. Put in the freezer until the ice cream has refrozen.

Take it out again and press on the second cookie layer. At this point you can get the sandwich out of the mold, carefully, if you want. Or wait until the whole thing is frozen. Put back in the freezer until you want to eat it! Do this for each until you run out of ingredients. I had a little extra dough so I shaped it into tiny heart cookies, without ice cream... just as cute! 

Enjoy!