Gingersnap and Pumpkin Ice Cream Dessert
We have sort of a tradition in my family of making ice cream desserts for holidays, birthdays or when we get together for dinners. My sister and I love to think of new combinations and flavors. This particular dessert I made for a "Friends-Giving" this year when
I was assigned the dessert! I typically love a graham cracker crust so this is a spin off of that using gingersnap cookies, mine were store bought but you could use your own if you like!
Ingredients:
- 48 gingersnap cookies plus several more for topping
- 4 dried prunes
- 1 tsp canola oil
- 1/2 quart vanilla low-fat ice cream or frozen yogurt (I loveBlue Bunny Vanilla Bean Frozen Yogurt)
- 1 cup pumpkin puree
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp nutmeg
- 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
- Lite cool whip
Directions:
- Set out ice cream to soften while you prepare the crust:
- Crumble gingersnap cookies in the food processor until they start to break down
- Add in prunes, chop up first so that they don't get stuck in large pieces
- Add in canola oil while mixing
- Spray the bottom of a 9x13 pan with baking spray and place contents of food processor into the pan.
- Bake at 350 F for about 15 minutes until a crust has formed, let cool.
- Place most of container of ice cream in a large mixing bowl, add pumpkin puree and spices; mix together
- Spread ice cream mixture over cooled crust
- Optional: drizzle a layer of chocolate on top of ice cream
- Spread enough cool whip over ice cream to cover the pan
- Sprinkle extra gingersnaps on top for garnish.
- Place in freezer for 1-2 hours to set prior to cutting.
This was a hit so at a dinner party a few weeks later I made the same crust and added the vanilla bean frozen yogurt and froze that much for a base for my dessert. After dinner I sauteed some pears with Fig Vinegar and a little brown sugar. I cut the ice cream crust into squares and topped each with caramelized pears. So delicious!
I like the Blue Bunny Frozen Yogurts, a lot of them now have probiotics included and very few ingredients. Check them out and let me know of your favorite ice cream recipes!