Introduction
The holiday season is upon us, and what better way to celebrate than with some festive treats? These Christmas Tree Ice Cream Bars are the perfect combination of sweet and festive, making them a hit with both kids and adults alike. In this blog post, we’ll be sharing two different recipes that you can use to make these delicious treats at home. We’ll cover everything from the ingredients you’ll need to the cooking time, serving suggestions, and more. So, let’s get started!
Recipe 1: Peppermint Christmas Tree Ice Cream Bars
Ingredients:
– 1 cup heavy cream – 1 cup whole milk – 1/2 cup sugar – 1/2 tsp peppermint extract – Green food coloring – Crushed candy canes – 12 small candy canes – 1 cup dark chocolate chips
Instructions:
1. In a large bowl, mix together the heavy cream, whole milk, sugar, peppermint extract, and green food coloring until well combined. 2. Pour the mixture into a 9×13 inch baking dish and freeze for 2 hours or until firm. 3. Once the ice cream has frozen, remove it from the dish and use a Christmas tree cookie cutter to cut out 12 Christmas tree shapes. 4. Crush the candy canes in a plastic bag using a rolling pin. Pour the crushed candy canes onto a plate. 5. Melt the dark chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl in 30-second intervals, stirring in between, until fully melted. 6. Dip one end of each Christmas tree ice cream bar into the melted chocolate and then into the crushed candy canes. 7. Insert a small candy cane into the bottom of each ice cream bar to create a trunk for the Christmas tree. 8. Place the ice cream bars on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and freeze for at least 2 hours or until firm.
Nutritional Information:
– Calories: 275 – Fat: 16g – Carbohydrates: 30g – Protein: 3g
Cooking Time:
– Prep Time: 20 minutes – Freezing Time: 4 hours – Total Time: 4 hours and 20 minutes
Equipment:
– Large mixing bowl – 9×13 inch baking dish – Christmas tree cookie cutter – Plastic bag – Rolling pin – Microwave-safe bowl – Baking sheet – Parchment paper
Serving Suggestions:
Serve these Christmas Tree Ice Cream Bars as a festive dessert at your holiday party. You can also wrap them up in cellophane bags and give them as gifts to your friends and family.
Variations:
If you prefer a different flavor of ice cream, feel free to experiment with different extracts and food coloring. You can also add in other mix-ins, such as chocolate chips or sprinkles.
Substitutions:
If you don’t have peppermint extract on hand, you can use vanilla extract instead. You can also use any type of milk or cream that you have available.
Storage:
Store these Christmas Tree Ice Cream Bars in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 2 weeks.
Tips:
– Make sure to freeze the ice cream mixture for at least 2 hours before using the cookie cutter to cut out the Christmas tree shapes. – Use a sharp knife to cut through the candy canes when crushing them to avoid tearing the plastic bag. – Dip the ice cream bars quickly in the melted chocolate to avoid melting the ice cream.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: Can I use a different type of candy instead of candy canes? A: Yes, you can use any type of candy that you like for the topping. Q: Can I make these without a cookie cutter? A: Yes, you can use a knife to cut the ice cream into Christmas tree shapes instead.
Recipe 2: Gingerbread Christmas Tree Ice Cream Bars
Ingredients:
– 1 cup heavy cream – 1 cup whole milk – 1/2 cup sugar – 1 tsp ground ginger – 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon – 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg – 1/4 tsp ground cloves – 12 gingersnap cookies, crushed – 12 small candy canes – 1 cup white chocolate chips
Instructions:
1. In a large bowl, mix together the heavy cream, whole milk, sugar, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves until well combined. 2. Pour the mixture into a 9×13 inch baking dish and freeze for 2 hours or until firm. 3. Once the ice cream has frozen, remove it from the dish and use a Christmas tree cookie cutter to cut out 12 Christmas tree shapes. 4. Crush the gingersnap cookies in a plastic bag using a rolling pin. Pour the crushed cookies onto a plate. 5. Melt the white chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl in 30-second intervals, stirring in between, until fully melted. 6. Dip one end of each Christmas tree ice cream bar into the melted chocolate and then into the crushed gingersnap cookies. 7. Insert a small candy cane into the bottom of each ice cream bar to create a trunk for the Christmas tree. 8. Place the ice cream bars on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and freeze for at least 2 hours or until firm.
Nutritional Information:
– Calories: 300 – Fat: 17g – Carbohydrates: 32g – Protein: 4g
Cooking Time:
– Prep Time: 20 minutes – Freezing Time: 4 hours – Total Time: 4 hours and 20 minutes
Equipment:
– Large mixing bowl – 9×13 inch baking dish – Christmas tree cookie cutter – Plastic bag – Rolling pin – Microwave-safe bowl – Baking sheet – Parchment paper
Serving Suggestions:
Serve these Gingerbread Christmas Tree Ice Cream Bars as a festive dessert at your holiday party. You can also wrap them up in cellophane bags and give them as gifts to your friends and family.
Variations:
If you prefer a different flavor of ice cream, feel free to experiment with different spices and mix-ins. You can also use any type of cookie for the topping.
Substitutions:
If you don’t have gingersnap cookies on hand, you can use any type of cookie that you like. You can also use any type of milk or cream that you have available.
Storage:
Store these Gingerbread Christmas Tree Ice Cream Bars in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 2 weeks.
Tips:
– Make sure to freeze the ice cream mixture for at least 2 hours before using the cookie cutter to cut out the Christmas tree shapes. – Use a sharp knife to cut through the cookies when crushing them to avoid tearing the plastic bag. – Dip the ice cream bars quickly in the melted chocolate to avoid melting the ice cream.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: Can I use a different type of cookie for the topping? A: Yes, you can use any type of cookie that you like. Q: Can I make these without a cookie cutter? A: Yes, you can use a knife to cut the ice cream into Christmas tree shapes instead.
Conclusion
These Christmas Tree Ice Cream Bars are a fun and festive treat that are perfect for the holiday season. Whether you prefer the peppermint or gingerbread flavor, these recipes are sure to be a hit with your friends and family. So, why not give them a try for yourself and spread some holiday cheer?