Giant Banana Split Ice Cream Sandwich

The only thing I can think of that’s better than an ice cream sandwich, is a great big ice cream sandwich. I loved this treat as a kid, and never outgrew a fondness for melty ice cream sandwiched between chocolate cookies.

This super-sized version is stuffed with banana split ice cream and the soft chocolate cookie tastes exactly like the original sandwich. I think it would make a fun birthday cake because it can hold as many candles as you’d like, and it can be easily sliced into smaller sandwiches.

I looked high and low for banana ice cream at my local markets but found none.  I improvised and made my own by mixing vanilla ice cream and instant banana pudding together, then  folded in all my usual banana split toppings – maraschino cherries, pineapple and swirls of hot fudge sauce.  It’s heaven, I tell ya!

I loved serving slices in these little ice cream sandwich bags – they’re so cute! 

Sprinkles for dipping!

 

You’ll have no problem putting the ice cream portion together, but I felt the soft cookie process could use some visuals. The cookie dough is more like a very thick cake batter, so you have to dollop it onto a parchment lined sheet then spread it evenly in the pan with a rubber spatula.

Another sheet of parchment is sprayed with oil, then pressed onto the batter and rolled out evenly.  I used a plastic tumbler as a rolling pin and then smoothed the top further with my palms.

Remove the parchment before baking.

For the cookie shape, I cut a template to the same same size as the 1 1/4- quart  Le Creuset stoneware baker that held the banana ice cream.  It’s the perfect size and shape for making this big ice cream sandwich.

Plastic drinking straws can be used to make holes in the piece you choose for the top layer.  Here I’m using a tape measure to keep the rows straight.

Trim the ends/edges of the ice cream so they’re straight, then place the ice cream onto a cookie piece.

Finally, place the top piece on and press down. Freeze until time to serve.

Marrying banana split flavors with an ice cream sandwich is my personal idea of bliss, but you may have other flavor ideas. Any flavor of ice cream can be sandwiched, so experimentation is encouraged!

Just don’t forget the sprinkles! ♥

Giant Banana Split Ice Cream Sandwich

[click for printable version]

Source: Banana split ice cream is original to Sprinkle Bakes; cookie portion from Fine Cooking.

Yield: One 7×10 cake, serves 12

Prep: 1 hour

Total: about 4 hours with chill time

Banana split ice cream

1.5 quart container vanilla ice cream, softened

3 oz package instant banana pudding mix

1 cup maraschino cherries, rinsed and patted dry

1/2 cup pineapple tidbits, rinsed and patted dry

2/3 cup prepared hot fudge sauce

  1. Place the vanilla ice cream in a large bowl. Add instant pudding mix and beat on medium-high speed with an electric and mixer. This will take about 5-7 minutes to combine, as the pudding granules will need to dissolve completely. Mixture should not be grainy. Fold in cherries and pineapple. 
  2. Line a 1 1/4 quart rectangular dish (approx. 7×10-inches) with plastic wrap overhanging all sides of the dish. Pour ice cream into the dish and smooth the top.  Dollop hot fudge sauce by the spoonfuls on top and swirl through the ice cream using a butter knife.  Fold the plastic wrap over the ice cream and freeze until solid, 2-4 hours.

Soft chocolate cookie

6 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened

3/4 cup sugar

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 1/4 cups all purpose flour

1/2 cup unsweetened natural cocoa powder

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1/4 tsp. table salt

2/3 cup milk

  1. Preheat oven to 350F. Lightly grease an 11×13-inch rimmed baking sheet with white vegetable shortening.  Line with parchment to cover the bottom and edges of the pan.
  2. Beat butter and sugar together until combined on medium high speed with an electric hand mixer or in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Beat in the vanilla.
  3. In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt. Add about 1/3 of the flour mixture to the butter mixture and beat well. Add half the milk and beat until just blended.Add another third of flour and blend. Pour in remaining milk, beat well and then mix in remaining flour. 
  4. Dollop batter evenly onto the prepared baking sheet; spread with a rubber spatula. Spray a sheet of parchment paper with oil and lay it, oiled side down, onto the dough. Press flatly with your hands to even the dough, or use a small rolling pin. Carefully peel away the parchment.  Bake until a toothpick inserted comes out clean about 10-12 minutes. Allow to cool in the pan on a wire rack.  Turn out cookie carefully then gently slide it back onto the baking sheet and flip it right-side up. It is very soft like cake, so handle very carefully.
  5. Cut cookie into pieces a little larger than the size of the container that holds the ice cream (you may want to use a template as I did, see picture). Use a plastic straw to make rows of holes in one piece that will be used as the top of the sandwich.  Remove ice cream from freezer and trim the edges to straighten, if needed.  Place the ice cream on the bottom piece of cookie and top with the remaining piece.  Store in the freezer until ready to serve.
  6. Slice sandwich into pieces with a sharp knife. Have a few plates full of assorted press-on garnishes like chopped nuts and sprinkles for dipping.
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Rosa's Yummy Yums
Rosa's Yummy Yums
10 years ago

That is such a great idea! Your sandwich looks really pretty.

Cheers,

Rosa

Carrie - A Sweet Spot: Home
Carrie - A Sweet Spot: Home
10 years ago

Never in a million years would I have thought to make a giant ice cream sandwich, but I'm SO glad that you did! Yum!

Ken and Lorie
Ken and Lorie
10 years ago

WOW!!!! love it! and your photos are always so beautiful!

Jen
Jen
10 years ago

Can you please share your sources for all the lovely doodads you used to style this delicious yumminess?

Cookbook Queen
Cookbook Queen
10 years ago

Jon David is not a fan of cake but LOOOVES ice cream sandwiches. He has one every night before bed. This needs to happen on his birthday!!

Heather Baird
Heather Baird
10 years ago

Hi Jen!

Most all the doodads are from Target – they have a party line called "Spritz", and that's where I got the banner and pom-pom picks. The bags are from Hey YoYo (linked in post).

Here's a link to the Spritz line –

http://www.target.com/s?searchTerm=spritz+party&category=0%7CAll%7Cmatchallpartial%7Call+categories&lnk=snav_sbox_spritz+party

Unknown
Unknown
10 years ago

My perfect birthday cake come true! I never thought it could be so simple and look so delicious. Will book mark this for ideas.

Pilar
Pilar
10 years ago

Hola, me llamo Pilar y hace tiempo que sigo tu blog, es uno de mis favoritos.
Te escribo porque he hecho una de tus recetas ''caviar de café'' y en mi publicación he puesto el enlace de tu blog con tu receta.
También he hecho videoreceta y es mi hijo de 10 años quien hace el caviar. te dejo el enlace:

http://misdulcespreferidos.blogspot.com.es/2013/04/caviar-de-cafe-videoreceta.html

Ya nos dirás que te ha parecido!

Un abrazo desde España y seguimos tus recetas…!!!

*Pilar*

Amanda
Amanda
10 years ago

Dude! Ice cream sandwiches have been on my to-make list ever since I bought the Tartine book, and they suggest their brownie recipe works for them. That was years ago. Still haven't done it. This is the post that's gonna make it happen, I swear. Thanks for the inspiration!

Lora
Lora
10 years ago

I'll take two please. To start with. That ice cream flavor is genius!

Steph
Steph
10 years ago

So fun!!!

Heather - Chickabug
Heather - Chickabug
10 years ago

This is just fabulous!! Such a great idea, and your styling and photos are wonderful : )

Stephanie @ Girl Versus Dough
Stephanie @ Girl Versus Dough
10 years ago

This is such a fun recipe! Love that "ice cream sandwich" bag 🙂

Nina @ ambrosia
Nina @ ambrosia
10 years ago

Ahh, I love this! It's such an interesting take on the classic ice cream cake and ice cream sandwich bar!

Heather
Heather
10 years ago

That is amazing!

Katrina @ Warm Vanilla Sugar
Katrina @ Warm Vanilla Sugar
10 years ago

I want to pin this, but I don't know what board to put it on. Cake? Cookie? Ice cream? Whatever it is it needs to appear in my kitchen!!

strawberry-colored
strawberry-colored
10 years ago

I reeeeeally like this idea! Thumbs up!
I have to try soon 🙂

http://bakemania192.blogspot.de

julia
julia
10 years ago

This looks fun! I would try this for a summer treat! Thank u

ThisGirlBlogs
ThisGirlBlogs
10 years ago

Awesome idea! And, we've finally got the perfect weather for it. Just in time 🙂

Tieghan
Tieghan
10 years ago

Whoa! That thing is giant! I want to take one giant bite!!!

Alayna @ Thyme Bombe
Alayna @ Thyme Bombe
10 years ago

So cute! I love the trick you used to get the batter to cover the baking pan evenly. Genius! You're right that this idea could contort into any flavor combination you want, but the banana split idea is charming – it has the same nostalgia as the ice cream sandwich itself.

Hey Yo Yo
Hey Yo Yo
10 years ago

These are the CUTEST!!! xo

Unknown
Unknown
10 years ago

Oh my gosh I loved ice cream sandwiches as a kid. There is nothing better than those chocolately cakey cookies sandiwiching that imitation vanilla ice cream. I always loved unwrapping the paper and licking off the excess ice cream and chocolate cookie. These look really great!

Lindsey @ Hot Polka Dot
Lindsey @ Hot Polka Dot
10 years ago

It's enormous! I love it!

Unknown
Unknown
10 years ago

I LOVE THIS! 🙂

Ashley
Ashley
10 years ago

You've managed to create another awesome sweet treat!

Caperucita
Caperucita
10 years ago

Que buena idea!! Me encanta!!!!

chocolatesuze
chocolatesuze
10 years ago

WOW! that is all kinds of amazing!

Lindsey @ American Heritage Cooking
Lindsey @ American Heritage Cooking
10 years ago

This looks so delicious and, as always, your props are sensational! How adorable are those little puffy things?!

Monica
Monica
10 years ago

How cute and wonderful is this! My son would get such a kick out of it and eat it all up since ice cream sandwiches are one of his favorites! We can always count on you for these very special desserts!

Yii-Huei
Yii-Huei
10 years ago

I absolutely love how you just sized it up really big 🙂 The pictures are lovely.

Cyndy
Cyndy
10 years ago

Awesome, I LOVE ice cream sandwiches and you nailed it. Did you know that Blue Bunny now makes Banana Split Ice Cream? I think I like your version better!

L @ The Cupcake Ballroom
L @ The Cupcake Ballroom
10 years ago

Omgosh! This is so adorable although jumbo-sized. Love everything about it. Definitely on my 'to-do list' now 🙂

Rosie @ Blueberry Kitchen
Rosie @ Blueberry Kitchen
10 years ago

This looks amazing! I really love this idea, love the sound of the banana split ice cream – and the sprinkles!

SS
SS
10 years ago

So fun! That looks like a perfect summer treat 🙂

Ashley @ Spoonful of Flavor
Ashley @ Spoonful of Flavor
10 years ago

I love everything about this, especially the sprinkles!

Olivia Frescura
Olivia Frescura
10 years ago

Love the idea of combining vanilla ice cream and banana pudding mix- would love some sort of banana ice cream recipe!

United Cakedom
United Cakedom
10 years ago

Everything you make always looks so delicious! And these ice cream sandwiches are no disappointment!! I want one right now! x

El Cajón de las Especias
El Cajón de las Especias
10 years ago

Your blog is delicious!! The recipes, the photographs…look so incredible! Congratulations!!

Anonymous
Anonymous
10 years ago

You are a genius!

Anonymous
Anonymous
10 years ago

This looks incredible. I want to make this for a birthday .. what an original idea

The Baker
The Baker
10 years ago

Banana split is my favorite Ice Cream! Great idea for a kids party!

Sue
Sue
10 years ago

I am in LOVE with this giant ice cream sandwich! I love to make things mini and large:) I even have some of those same cute ice cream sandwich bags. My munchkins will LOVE this, Heather!

Heather, The Well Fed CrossFitter
Heather, The Well Fed CrossFitter
10 years ago

I love that you measured those pieces! It makes me so normal when I do that type of thing!!!

Unknown
Unknown
10 years ago

OMG *_*

http://Fashioneiric.blogspot.com

Coline ♡

Lynna
Lynna
10 years ago

I love this! It looks so fun and there`s so much you can do with this! 🙂

Denise
Denise
10 years ago

Awesome- i just made one of these based off of your recipe and instructions. It's not quite as pretty as yours, but hopefully just as tasty (i made mine with homemade coffee ice cream swirled with caramel, chocolate chips, and heath bits). thanks for the tutorial and pictures!

Unknown
Unknown
10 years ago

What a brilliant idea! Looks so delish! Love the styling you did with the photos too!

Stacy | Wicked Good Kitchen
Stacy | Wicked Good Kitchen
10 years ago

The ice cream sandwich of my dreams, Heather! You are a genius for not only making them giant…but, for making them banana split flavored! Truly innovative to use banana pudding mix along with the classic mix-ins. LOVE THIS! xo

Ice Cream Dan
Ice Cream Dan
10 years ago

Not only is this a fantastic home made ice cream treat, but your step-by-step pictures really help out those of us a little less confident in our cooking abilities. Thanks for the delicious recipe, Heather!