This week, in celebration of the upcoming, very long-awaited, premier of the 4th season of Arrested Development (my most favorite TV show of all time) on Netflix, I am doing a week of Arrested Development-themed recipes. It's sort of a week-long Arrested Development premier celebration, if you will ("Oh, sure, I will. Look, I have..."). To answer your questions: Yes, I am a huge Arrested Development fan and yes, I am also kind of a dork.
"Actually, George Sr. was in the kitchen trying to soothe himself with an ice cream sandwich..."
What better way to start off my Arrested Development-themed week than with ice cream sandwiches! Right?!
There is an ice cream sandwich machine in the visiting area of the prison where George Bluth Sr. is imprisoned. Starting there and continuing throughout the entire series, George Sr. can often be seen eating an ice cream sandwich. No Arrested Development-themed party would be complete without them. And let’s face it, ice cream sandwiches are just awesome.
“I’m having a love affair with this ice cream sandwich.”
For my version, I’ve made ice cream sandwiches a little more awesome by replacing the chocolate cookie with a very thin chocolate brownie. Brownie Ice Cream Sandwich? I think I’ll have a love affair too…
“Then why don’t you marry an ice cream sandwich!”
Maybe I will!
Ingredients
- 1 cup gluten-free flour (or all-purpose flour)
- 3 tablespoons dutch-process cocoa
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon xanthum gum (only if using gluten-free flour, optional)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup vegan dark chocolate, chopped
- 3 tablespoons vegan butter
- ½ cup coconut sugar
- 1/2 cup applesauce
- 2 teaspoons chocolate extract
- 1 large container of vegan vanilla ice cream (I used Trader Joe's "Soy Creamy" vegan vanilla ice cream).
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350. Line two square baking dishes with parchment paper. Set aside.
- In a medium bowl, mix together your dry ingredients.
- Heat your cup of chopped chocolate with the vegan butter in a in a large glass bowl over a pot of boiling water. Once it is fully melted, remove from heat. Add in the rest of the wet ingredients and mix thoroughly.
- Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and stir until just combined.
- Dived the batter between the two baking dishes and spread until smooth and even. Place both dishes in the oven and bake for 25-30 minutes until set and the edges are pulling away from the pan slightly. Remove from oven and let cool for 1-2 hours.
- Once the brownies are cool, place the the two brownie dishes in the freezer. Leave there for 30 minutes.
- After 30 minutes, take your ice cream out of the freezer. Let it sit for a few minutes to soften. Remove the brownies from the freezer.
- Spread ice cream on top of the brownie layer in ONE pan. Create a layer that is about ½-1 inch thick and spread out evenly.
- Carefully lift the brownie layer from the other dish and place on a flat surface. Very carefully, lift and place the layer on top of the ice cream layer. Gently press down to compress the sandwiches. Cover the dish and freeze for about 30-60 minutes.
- Remove the dish from the freezer. Use the parchment paper to lift the big sandwich from the pan and place on a flat surface, like a cutting board. Use a cookie cutter, biscuit cutter or a knife to cut out desired sandwich shapes. You will have to gently push from the bottom, underneath the parchment paper, to get the sandwiches to pop up. Place the sandwiches in an airtight container. Freeze until ready to serve. Enjoy!
Are you an Arrested Development fan? Do you have any favorite quotes?
Photography by Chris Miller
Bobbie {the vegan crew}
Yum (and Trader Joe's vegan vanilla ice cream? by far my favorite), these sandwiches look so tempting! It's kind of silly how excited I am for Arrested Development's return. I thought I was on top of things with the one Arrested Development-themed recipe post I have planned for later this week, but you're totally taking the cake with a whole week of AD recipes -- I can't wait to see what else you have up your sleeve! 🙂
keepinitkind
We are so stoked too (Can you tell?)! We're going to be in Oregon for the weekend, but I have a feeling we'll be watching the new episodes in our hotel on our laptop. 🙂
Caitlin
haha LADY i love you! this is such a fun and awesome week! i love arrested development, too 😉 i watch it every sunday when it's on ifc for a mini marathon. i love the ice cream sandwich quotes!
and this reminds me that i promised dayv a couple months ago to make him ice cream sandwiches, better get on that. brownie "cookies" are such a genius idea!
my all-time favorite arrested development quote:
"there's always money in the banana stand!"
"no touching!"
keepinitkind
Haha! I love you too, Miss Caitlin! The banana stand quotes are some of my favorites too. 🙂 And I'm telling you- the brownie sandwich is the way to go. It's the perfect balance of cookie and ice cream and it is out of this world!
Sarah S.
So I somehow missed the Arrested Development train when it came through the first time, but I am trying to jump on board now (starting at the beginning). I am all about supporting the netflix only shows, because we cancelled cable earlier this year. Hopefully lots more shows start doing it this way! Anyway, I am really here for the ice cream sandwiches, what a fun treat! I haven't seen the soy-free vanilla at TJ's yet, I am going to have to keep an eye out for that for sure.
Melissa
"Her?"
I love this post and theme! So excited for the new episodes too. These ice cream sandwiches look amazing!!
keepinitkind
"She must be funny."
Thanks, Melissa! 🙂
Katie
I love Arrested Development! My boyfriend and I have been watching it all weekend in preparation for the new season. I once tried to put all my favorite quotes on my Facebook page, but there were just too many to fit! Haha.
keepinitkind
Chris and I have been rewatching the old episodes in preparation for the new season for probably 4 years now. 😉 I loved it when it was on the air and was devastated when it was taken off the air. When Chris and I started dating, I showed him the DVDs and I kid you not, we've probably watched an average of at least an episode a day since then. We quote it to each other constantly- there are just WAY TOO MANY great quotes! 🙂
Richa
heart that dark wood under them delicious ice cream sandwiches! i cant help it.. i notice the props at the same instant i notice the food:))
keepinitkind
Thank you, Richa! Chris drove by a house where they were installing a new fence. He grabbed a bunch of the old slats they were tossing and built a new tabletop for pictures! I'm in love with it (and my very handy husband!). 🙂
Heather
My Sister and i are so excited for the premiere too!!! LOVE the quotes- you are so awesome!
Funny thing is I have ice cream cookie sandwiches in my Que for June! 🙂 Great minds think alike 🙂
keepinitkind
I wish we could all have a huge virtual AD watching party- It would be so fun to watch it along side you and your sister! 🙂
And I can't wait to see your ice cream sandwiches- I'm sure they're amazing!
Abby @ The Frosted Vegan
Look at how perfect those sandwiches are!! Love these and love that they are smushed in between brownie layers!
keepinitkind
Thank you, Abby! 🙂
Amanda
I love that you're doing this! I've been watching Arrested Development season 1 this week in anticipation. It's so, so funny! Why was it ever canceled?!
keepinitkind
Thanks, Amanda! It was cancelled because, even though it one a crap-load of emmys, nobody was watching it. It was right around when TiVo became popular and people were watching it, but at a different time when Neilson ratings couldn't analyze it. It was such a brilliant show and I'm so thankful that there were enough fans to make the creators want to bring it back. I can't wait! 🙂
Ala
So a) I love the inspiration, and b) is polygamy for ice cream sandwiches legal? Because if it is, this may need to be a three-way marriage...thanks for sharing, I love this idea. Bookmarked!
keepinitkind
I think anything goes when it comes to ice cream sandwiches. I say you go for it! 😉
Shumaila
These look great! I'll marry these!
keepinitkind
Thank you! 🙂
Sarina @ Earthgiven Kitchen
So clever! I have only ever made ice cream sandwiches before by smearing the filling on pre-shaped cookies or brownies, never cutting them out like this, but what a great way to get the perfect shape. We don't have Trader Joe's near me (boo!) but I love Coconut Bliss vegan gelato.
keepinitkind
Thanks, Sarina! I need to get my hands on that Coconut Bliss- I hear such wonderful things about it! 🙂
Maria Tadic
These kinda remind me of those old school ice cream sandwiches with the brown cakey cookie. So good. This is just a way grown up version!
I love the way you assembled them...looks significantly more mess-free than trying to do them individually! Good tips!
keepinitkind
Thanks, Maria. I think it probably was significantly easier, though I've never tried the other way. 🙂
Ashley | Spoonful of Flavor
Yum. I hope you ate the part that was leftover after you cut out the sandwiches since that looks like the best part!
keepinitkind
Oh, you know I did! I don't know if it was the best part, but it sure was good! 🙂
Elizabeth @ SugarHero.com
This is too funny--I'm doing an Arrested Development week on my blog too ("it's the final countdooooown!") and today I posted brownie ice cream sandwiches. Great minds obviously think alike! "I'm having a love affair with this ice cream sandwich" is totally a classic, and one of the first things I thought of when brainstorming food ideas. Love it!
keepinitkind
That IS too funny! Great minds... Can't wait for this weekend! 🙂
Andrea
Uh oh, these look way too good. And your method of cutting them out, while fabulous, is way too dangerous. I will eat all the leftovers, I will. Great post!
keepinitkind
Oh I did eat the leftovers and it was wonderful (in my defense, though, we saved it and shared it one night when we did not have the sandwiches for dessert). 🙂
Gabby @ the veggie nook
I am in love with this recipe and theme!! I sincerely hope some kind of frozen banana treat is coming up 😉
I would gladly visit George in prison if it meant I could have one of these every time 🙂
keepinitkind
Thanks, Gabby!
Leo
Marry me.
keepinitkind
I need to find a new deflection.
Julie
My little niece and I made these together. They are a fun kitchen project with delicious results! They ended up being a lot easier than I thought they would be. The taste great and I will definitely make them again! Kids love them!
Julie
These were so good, that my Mom requested a double batch for a dinner party she's going to tonight. We made them with Wayfare vanilla.
Julie
And I'm making these again... right now! Am I your biggest fan? 🙂
alison
hi there - just added these babies to the menu for a small dinner party of 6 i'm throwing this coming saturday. do you think it would be okay to make the brownies on friday night, then assemble saturday? #newvegan #maybe
keepinitkind
Sorry for replying so late, but yes, advance preparation would be fine.