Homemade Orange Sherbet Redux

Soooooooo.  It’s been almost a whole month since we shared with you our homemade orange sherbet recipe, and perhaps you are now as hooked on the stuff as we are.  It honestly needs nothing added to it but a bowl and a spoon, but I just couldn’t leave it there, and have come up with two scrumptious desserts that you can make using that tasty sherbet. 

There is one thing you won’t need for either of these scrumptious desserts, which is an oven.  And there’s one thing you will need (in addition to the sherbet), and that’s some vanilla ice cream, preferably our homemade lower-fat vanilla bean ice cream.  I keep a container of both in the freezer at all times because they’ve become best friends in our house.

So while you go and get those two things together, I’ll tell you about the first of our two very tasty desserts, pictured above… our 50-50 Creamsicle Ice Cream Sandwiches. 

In my Orange Sherbet post, I shared with you my childhood devotion to the creamsicle bar, which is basically an ice cream bar with both vanilla ice cream and orange sherbet… which I am still, lo these many years, rather partial to.  So, to pay homage to this totally awesome flavor combination, I came up with these ice cream sandwiches, which take that creamsicle theme to a whole new place.

I started with these waffle cookies from Trader Joe's.  No worries if you don't have a Trader Joe's from which to procure these delectable little confections.  You can order them online, or find a suitable subtitute, as I think there are lots of different companies that make them.

Then the first thing we’re going to do is spread each of those cookies with a little Nutella. 

I know, we could just stop there, right?  Well, we’re not going to stop there.  No, we’re going to top half of those with vanilla ice cream and half of them with orange sherbet. 

Then we’re going to put them together and freeze them and try to wait just long enough for them to re-freeze.  Holy moly, people, these are so good.

Our second creamsicle-themed dessert is an ice cream pie that is just sort of awe-inspiring, but so very simple to put together.  It starts with a crust made with chocolate cookies.  I used Trader Joe’s chocolate Kitty cookies, but any chocolate wafer cookie will do. 

Then we’re going to top that chocolate crust with some orange sherbet and after that’s spent a bit of time in the freezer, we’ll top it with some softened vanilla ice cream and then return it to the freezer.  When it’s all good and re-frozen, it’s ready to serve.  I topped it with some more of those cute little kitty cookies, but a nice drizzle of chocolate sauce and maybe some grated orange zest would be lovely as well.

So there you have it folks, two memorably delicious desserts to keep you and your people happy in the remaining summer days ahead.  Here are the recipes…

50-50 Creamsicle Ice Cream Sandwiches

Click here for a printable recipe

These are some of the most delectable little ice cream sandwiches we've had the pleasure of meeting.  I used the waffle cookies from Trader Joe's to make them, but any waffle cookie or thin cookie will do.  If you don't have a Trader Joe's nearby, you can order these cookies online.  I used our homemade lower-fat vanilla ice cream and homemade orange herbet, but of course, store-bought will also work great.

You will need...

Waffle cookies (I used Trader Joe's)

Nutella

Vanilla ice cream (here's my recipe), slightly softened

Orange Sherbet (here's my recipe), slightly softened

For each sandwich, you will need 2 waffle cookies.  Spread one side of each cookie with a thin layer of Nutella spread.  I placed these in the freezer for a bit before adding the ice cream.

Remove the cookies from the freezer and spread some of the vanilla ice cream on one and some of the orange sherbet on the other.  Place the two cookies together and return them to the freezer until they are completely frozen.

Once they are frozen, you can place them in a container or ziploc bag and keep them in the freezer for up to a month, which makes them a great make-ahead dessert.

Creamsicle Ice Cream Pie

Click here for a printable recipe

This ice cream pie is ridiculously delicious for how easy it is to make.  I used

Trader Joe's Chocolate Kitty cookies

for the crust, but any chocolate wafer cookie will work for the crumbs.  I also used our homemade vanilla ice cream and homemade orange sherbet, but of course, store-bought would make this even easier.  I topped the pie with a scattering of Kitty Cookies, but it would be equally as good with a drizzle of chocolate sauce and a sprinkling of orange zest.

You will need...

For the Crust

1 1/2 cups of chocolate cookie crumbs

1/4 cup melted butter

1/4 cup sugar

For the Pie

1 1/4 cups of orange sherbet (here's my recipe), softened

1 1/2 cups of vanilla ice cream (here's my recipe), softened

Spray a 9-inch pie plate with nonstick cooking spray

In a medium bowl, combine the cookie crumbs, the melted butter and sugar.  Using your fingers, press the crumbs into the prepared pie plate.

Spread the orange sherbet over the cookie crust, spreading evenly over the top.  Place the pie in the freezer for at least an hour.

Remove the pie from the freezer, spread the vanilla ice cream over the top of the orange sherbet and return the pie to the freezer.  Freeze for at least two hours before serving.  Top the pie with crumbled chocolate cookies or a drizzle of chocolate sauce and a sprinkling of orange zest.

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