This Waffle Ice Cream Sandwich is rich and decadent. Paired with ice cream, these homemade chocolate waffles are soft and chewy, and a nostalgic cool treat that will transport you back to summer as a kid as it melts and drips down your arm.
Jump to:
As a child, one of my favorite dessert recipes was an ice cream sandwich. Of course, I loved anything with ice cream, but my go-to was a waffle ice cream sandwich using Eggo Waffles. Lightly toasted then slathered with vanilla ice cream, the warm waffle with its crispy edges would just melt the ice cream resulting in the perfect bite.
While it's pretty easy to grab a box of Eggos and a pint of ice cream, making a homemade waffle ice cream sandwich takes it to the next level – bonus points for making homemade ice cream, too! We suggest the coconut ice cream from our Dairy-Free Ice Cream Sandwiches, Chocolate and Pretzel No-Churn Ice Cream, or the nice cream from our Boozy Banana No-Churn Ice Cream and Grilled Peaches.
Why You’ll Love This Ice Cream Sandwich Recipe
- It’s nostalgic: With a chewy texture, melty ice cream, and sticky fingers, this waffle ice cream sandwich is a nostalgic cool treat reminiscent of childhood summers as they melt and drip down your arm. Just wrap them in parchment and pull them out for the ultimate cool-down dessert this summer or anytime the craving hits.
- The flavors are endless: Store-bought sandwiches are typically made with vanilla ice cream, but making your own homemade version allows you to layer in any flavor of your choosing. Chocolate, mint chip, coffee, bubblegum, or even Rocky Road, the options are endless when you get to add your preferred flavor to the waffles.
- It's beyond decadent: Inspired by a brownie, these homemade chocolate waffles are decadent, rich, and incredibly chocolatey, making for the ultimate base for an ice cream sandwich that's perfectly soft and chewy.
If you love this brownie-inspired Waffle Ice Cream Sandwich you'll also love our Tahini and Chocolate Flourless Cake with Honey Whipped Cream, Dark Chocolate Strawberry Scones, or Caramelized Banana Upside Down Cake.
Ingredient List
- Butter: we use salted butter in all of our recipes, whether sweet or savory.
- Chocolate: dark chocolate gives a richer flavor, but milk chocolate can be used if you prefer a sweeter flavor.
- Vanilla: real vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste are best.
- Sugar: granulated sugar.
- Flour: all-purpose flour or cake/pastry flour can be used.
- Cocoa: baker's cocoa is used in the recipe, though Dutch-process cocoa will also work.
- Salt: coarse sea salt provides a slight crunch to the brownie waffles, but fine sea salt is perfectly acceptable.
- Eggs: large or extra large, as fresh as possible.
- Ice Cream: the sky's the limit, use whatever your favorite ice cream is. We use coffee, chocolate, and vanilla for chocolate waffle ice cream sandwiches.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Recipe Variations and Modifications
- Toppings: just like the ice cream options, the choice of toppings is endless for ice cream sandwiches. Chopped nuts, sprinkles, chocolate chips, and crumbled cookies are just a few of our favorites. Simply press the edges of the sandwiches into a bowl filled with your topping of choice.
- Spreads: just like any sandwich, a layer of additional flavor is always an option. Try it with peanut butter, homemade cashew butter, or chocolate hazelnut spread.
- Dairy-free: use dairy-free dark chocolate, replace the butter with coconut oil or your favorite dairy-free butter alternative, and use coconut or oat-based ice cream for the filling.
Recipe Steps: How to Make a Waffle Ice Cream Sandwich
1. Melt the chocolate.
Melt butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Meanwhile, place the chocolate in a medium mixing bowl. Pour the butter over the chocolate, add vanilla, and stir until the chocolate is completely melted.
2. Make it extra sweet.
Pour the sugar into the chocolate mixture and stir until combined.
3. Build the batter.
Add the flour, cocoa powder, and salt. Mix until combined. The battle will be very thick, almost like cookie dough.
4. Add the eggs.
Pour in the eggs and whisk until the batter is shiny, mostly smooth, and ribbony. It will resemble a thick cake batter or a typical brownie batter.
5. Arrange the brownie batter.
Preheat your waffle iron or pan. Use a large cookie scoop (3 tbsp) and arrange heaping scoops onto the center of each waffle quarter.
6. Cook the brownie waffles.
Close the lid to the waffle maker and cook the waffles for 2-3 minutes, until they are fully cooked on the outside but still slightly gooey on the inside.
7. Cool and chill the waffles.
Carefully remove the waffles from the pan and arrange them in a single layer on a wire rack. Transfer them to the freezer for at least 15-20 minutes until cold and slightly hardened.
8. Assemble the sandwiches.
Arrange half the waffles on plates and place a scoop of your favorite ice cream on each. Place a waffle on top and squeeze it to fill all the crevices of the waffles and the ice cream starts to ooze out the sides. Eat immediately or place them back in the freezer to enjoy later.
Chef's Tips
Cooking the waffles: when it comes to brownie waffles, it's better to slightly undercook the waffles than overcook the waffles. If you remove the waffles and the texture resembles cake, then reduce the cooking time by at least 30 seconds.
Soften the ice cream: if necessary, leave the ice cream out for at least 5 minutes to soften. This ensures the ice cream fills every pocket of the waffles, and makes pressing it into a sandwich easier.
Make Ahead, Storage, and Freezing
Make ahead: the waffles can be made a day in advance, left out at room temperature, then chill for 15-20 minutes before assembling the sandwiches.
Storage: store leftover or ready-made sandwiches on a baking tray, placed in the freezer for up to 1 day. Beyond that, store them in an air tight container for up to 1 week in the freezer.
Freezing: The waffles can be stored in a freezer bag for 1 month to be enjoyed with ice cream as needed. We do not recommend freezing assembled sandwiches for an extended period of time.
Recipe FAQs
Freezing the waffles ahead of time, and keeping assembled ice cream sandwiches in the freezer until serving ensures they don't melt too quickly.
Store assembled homemade ice cream sandwiches on a baking sheet in the freezer.
Yes, follow the instructions on the box, but double the eggs. Doubling the eggs helps the waffles hold their shape and prevents them from falling apart when removing them from the waffle maker.
Did you make this Waffle Ice Cream Sandwich recipe? Please leave a ⭐️ star rating and let us know what you loved about it in the 📝 comments below. And don't forget to sign up for our email newsletter so you don't miss any recipes. Thanks for cooking with us!
Recipe Card
Waffle Ice Cream Sandwich
Ingredients
- ½ cup salted butter
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 ½ cups dark chocolate
- ⅔ cup all-purpose flour
- ⅔ cup cocoa powder sifted if lumpy
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt
- 4 large eggs beaten
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
Instructions
- Melt butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Meanwhile, place the chocolate in a medium mixing bowl. Pour the butter over the chocolate, add vanilla, and stir until the chocolate is completely melted.
- Pour the sugar into the chocolate mixture and stir until combined.
- Add the flour, cocoa powder, and salt. Mix until combined. The battle will be very thick, almost like cookie dough.
- Pour in the eggs and whisk until the batter is shiny, mostly smooth, and ribbony. It will resemble a thick cake batter or a typical brownie batter.
- Preheat your waffle iron or pan. Use a large cookie scoop (3 tbsp) and arrange heaping scoops onto the center of each waffle quarter. Close the lid to the waffle maker and cook the waffles for 2-3 minutes, until they are fully cooked on the outside but still slightly gooey on the inside.
- Carefully remove the waffles from the pan and arrange them in a single layer on a wire rack. Transfer them to the freezer for at least 15-20 minutes until cold and slightly hardened.
- Arrange half the waffles on plates and place a scoop of your favorite ice cream on each. Place a waffle on top and squeeze it to fill all the crevices of the waffles and the ice cream starts to ooze out the sides. Eat immediately or place them back in the freezer to enjoy later.
Leave a Reply