Easy Homemade Cool Whip Ice Cream Sandwich Dessert

Cool whip ice cream sandwiches taste just as delicious as a real ice cream sandwich but without the extra calories! If you want to satisfy your sweet tooth cravings while trying to maintain your healthy lifestyle these treats are sure to please. 

Keep reading for the secret ingredient I used to make these treats even yummier! 

This post contains affiliate links which means if you click on a link and make a purchase I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. For more information please see my Disclaimer page. Thanks!

I love an easy-to-make dessert recipe that I know will be a big hit with my family. These cool whip frozen sandwiches won't disappoint! When I make them for my family I have to fend off the hungry children so these treats have some time to chill in the freezer before being devoured by my dessert-loving crew!

Besides the cool whip, the co-star in this treat is graham crackers. Did you know that graham crackers come in a variety of different flavors? Of course, everyone is familiar with the traditional honey graham cracker flavor, but did you know they come in cinnamon and chocolate too? 

All three flavors are amazing and it is really hard to pick which one is my favorite. I highly recommend that you try these different flavors when you make these ice cream treats.

How To Customize Your Ice Cream Sandwich

Because these are homemade you can customize your cool whip ice cream sandwiches to fit your taste. Here are some great ideas to add to your dessert:

• mini chocolate chips
• sprinkles
• chopped nuts
• toasted coconut
• crushed candy bar pieces
• mini M & M's
• diced fruit pieces

These extra toppings can either be folded into the cool whip or you can roll the edges of the sandwiches into the toppings too. 

For this recipe and I made two different batches of these delicious treats with a slight variation to each to fit my family's taste. One batch contained the secret ingredient I'm about to share with you!

The Secret Ingredient Revealed

Recently, I had the pleasure of receiving a large box full of products from the Paradise Fruit Company to try. Paradise Fruit Company makes an assortment of ready-to-be-used sweetened real fruit. When you think of sweetened fruit you probably think about the traditional fruit cakes people make during the holidays but let me tell you there are way more uses for sweetened fruit than just fruit cake! With a huge variety to choose from like tropical pineapple, ginger, lemon peel, fruit cake mix, orange, cherry, and lime the recipe possibilities are endless. 

This post was written in partnership with Paradise Fruit Co. I received Paradise Fruit Co. products free in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.  

Make sure to check out my Ultimate Chocolate Cherry No-Bake Cookie recipe and my Cinnamon Orange Granola recipe to see how I used some of the other sweetened fruit products from Paradise Fruit Co.

For this ice cream sandwich recipe, the secret ingredient I used was the cherry pineapple sweetened fruit mix from Paradise Fruit Co.! After dicing the pieces extra small (per my own personal preference) I just sprinkled the fruit onto the cool whip before adding the top graham cracker. 

To be honest my kids were pretty skeptical about this secret ingredient and so was I! But I remembered how well fruit and cool whip go together so I thought this had to be a delicious combination. And guess what? I was RIGHT! Everyone loved the cool whip frozen sandwiches with the secret ingredient best. 

Homemade Cool Whip Ice Cream Sandwiches

Ingredients:

• 1 graham cracker sheet

• cool whip

• chocolate chips (optional)

Optional Add-Ins / Toppings

• sprinkles 

• diced sweetened fruit 

• chocolate chips 

• chopped nuts

• mini M & M's

• mini chocolate chips

Instructions:

1. Break one graham cracker sheet in half to make two squares

2. Add a large dollop, about 3 Tbsp. of cool whip onto one graham cracker square. 

3. Sprinkle any add-ins over the cool whip then place the second graham cracker square on top of it.

4. Roll the edges of the sandwich in the toppings to coat the side of the sandwich.

5. Freeze for 1-2 hours until the cool whip is firm.

6. Melt chocolate then drizzle over the top of the frozen sandwich

Click here for the printable version of this recipe! 

How To Store Cool Whip Frozen Sandwiches

Store your treats in an air-tight container in the freezer so they are ready for you and your family to snack on as a treat any time! 

These cool-whip ice cream sandwiches are made with a few simple ingredients - things you probably have on hand already. Are you ready to make a homemade cool whip ice cream sandwich today? 

Make sure to Pin this recipe and share it with your friends.

Enjoy!

Easy Homemade Caramel Corn & Kettle Corn Recipes

Popcorn two easy ways! Caramel corn & Kettle corn recipes you can make right in the comfort of your own home. Gluten-free and full of great flavor make these two recipes so good!

I have always loved popcorn. I think my love for it is genetic. My dad has consumed mass quantities of popcorn on a regular basis over his lifetime! He loves to eat air-popped, lightly salted popcorn while watching a sports game. 

This post contains affiliate links which means if you click on a link and make a purchase I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. For more information please see my Disclaimer page. Thanks!

When it isn't doused in butter, popcorn can really be a healthy and satisfying snack.

When I need something sweet to snack on I love to make a batch of homemade kettle corn or homemade caramel corn. It is a sweet treat that I like to indulge in for special occasions...or anytime really. 

If you are intimidated about making homemade kettle corn or caramel corn you don't have to be any longer! My caramel corn and kettle corn recipes are super simple, quick, and DELICIOUS!  

Ingredients for Caramel:

6Tbsp unsalted butter

3/4 cup packed brown sugar

3-4 Tbsp light corn syrup

1/4 tsp. Salt

1/8 tsp. Baking soda

1/8 tsp. Vanilla extract

How To Make The Best Caramel Corn:

• Preheat your oven to 315 degrees Fahrenheit. 

• Pop your popcorn either in an air popper or in a traditional popcorn popper. Make 6-8 cups of popped popcorn then pour the popped popcorn in a large roasting pan and set aside. 

• In a medium size saucepan mix the following ingredients (below) - except for the baking soda and vanilla extract over medium high heat, stirring constantly.

• Let boil for five minutes continuing to stir. Turn off heat and add the vanilla and baking soda stirring to combine. 

• Pour the caramel mixture over the popcorn in the roasting pan and stir to coat evenly. Put the roasting pan with the caramel covered popcorn into the oven and bake for 10 minutes.

• Stir the caramel corn and bake an additional five minutes. 

• After it is done baking scoop the caramel corn into a large bowl (or two) and stir occasionally to break up the chunks as it cools.

• Let the caramel corn cool for about 10 minutes and then enjoy!

Pour the cooled caramel corn into your favorite bowl and prepare to dig in! Be careful - it is very easy to eat it all in one sitting, I may or may not be speaking from experience!

Here is the printable recipe card for this amazing recipe!!

PRINTABLE CARAMEL CORN RECIPE CARD

Let's try my homemade kettle corn recipe. This recipe requires the popcorn to be made in a traditional oil popcorn machine. If you don't have one (you should get one) you can use a large pot with a lid to make the popcorn in instead. 

* My all-time favorite popcorn popper is the Whirley Popper!! Trust me when I tell you this is the best because I have tried tons of different kinds of popcorn poppers and this is by far the best. 

Homemade Kettle Corn Recipe

• Pour 2-3 tablespoons of vegetable oil in the popcorn popper or pot along with 2/3 cup of popcorn kernels. ( I prefer yellow popcorn versus white but use whatever you like best. ) 

• Next, sprinkle  2-3 tablespoons of granulated sugar (white sugar) over the un-popped kernels. 

• Over medium-high heat using a Whirley popper popcorn machine begin to pop your popcorn or if you are making it in a pot on the stove, put the lid on and turn the heat to medium-high. Shake the pot every few seconds to keep the kernels moving.

• Once the popping stops remove the pot from the stove or turn off your popcorn machine and pour the popcorn into a large bowl. Lightly salt the kettle corn if you desire. 

Here is a printable for the Kettle Corn Recipe:

Printable Kettle Corn Recipe Card

Since this post is all about popcorn I thought I'd share with you the tools I use to make the best popcorn. 

My favorite traditional popcorn maker is the Whirley Popper Popcorn Machine. It is the most amazing popcorn popper. This popper can make 6 quarts of popped popcorn in 3 minutes! (I timed it and sure enough it only takes 3 minutes). You can make the kettle corn recipe (above) right in this popper too!

Amazon

Since I am a popcorn junkie it would be a big tragedy if my popper broke and I was left popcorn-less! To make sure this never happens I keep a backup popcorn popper.  My backup popper is this cute air popper machine from West Bend called the Stir Crazy Popcorn Maker.

click HERE

If you are really in a bind and don't have access to a popcorn machine you can just use what you have on hand like a large stockpot with a lid. This method too can make a pretty tasty batch of popcorn. I got my large stock pot on Amazon.

I'm not overly picky about popcorn kernels however I do prefer yellow popcorn over white. I think yellow popcorn is bigger and has that fluffy appearance whereas white looks small and crumbles easier. White popcorn is the perfect kind to use when making popcorn balls though because of its size.

Did you know that there are blue popcorn kernels? The blue (or purple) corn tastes similar to standard popcorn and is fluffy with very little crunch. Some would say it has a sweeter taste with a milder popcorn flavor. I recommend this Amish Country popcorn that comes in a 3lbs bag. If you have never had it you should give it a try!


On a side note - did you know Home Depot sells popcorn? Weird (but totally awesome) right? I discovered this the other day when my husband and I were there shopping for some plumbing parts. I love wandering around the store just looking at things! That is when I discovered popcorn! Here is one of my favorites - a 4 lb. Yellow Popcorn in a plastic container with a screw-on lid! Keeps it fresh and 4 lbs should last a little while.

Other Popcorn Toppings

Since I am a huge fan of popcorn it won't surprise you that I've tried a variety of different toppings as well.  Right now my favorite flavors are white cheddar, cheddar and ranch. I've lost count as to the number of times I've ordered these flavors on Amazon but I haven't tired of them yet. 

What is your favorite popcorn topping? The fact that you can put just about anything on popcorn as a topping makes this treat so much fun! 

Enjoy your popcorn, I know I will.

10 Easy Popsicle Recipes You WIll Love

Popsicles are the number one requested treat my kids beg for on a hot summer day. I have to admit I love them too!

Just the other day my sons and three of their buddies were over playing outside. After an active game of basketball I asked it anyone wanted a Popsicle - their hands shot up so fast you think they were hailing a cab. After they each had picked out their favorite flavor I grabbed one for myself. The boys' friends stared at me amazed that an adult would want to enjoy a "kid's" treat. 

I don't really have a favorite flavor - I like them all. Since we go through so many Popsicles throughout the summer the same old flavors can get a little boring to my kids so I thought it might be fun to try some new flavors and make them ourselves. 

Years ago when I was a kid my mom had this great Tupperware Popsicle mold that she would pour in some Kool Aid, freeze and make our own Popsicles. I loved the "stick" that came with her set - it was just a plastic stick with a small lip just above where you held on so that the melted Popsicle juice would drip into it instead of on your hand. When you were all done eating the Popsicle you could sip up the juice that was left behind. 

I found a similar Popsicle mold to try at home but I have to say there are WAY more options now a days than there used to be! If you're old school and love wooden sticks in your Popsicles here is the gadget for you:

I've gathered some great Popsicle recipes to share with you so you can have just as much fun experimenting with different flavors beyond the four main flavors you get in a box from the store (cherry, grape, orange, lime). Have fun and enjoy making some cool summer treats!

#1 - Sour Worm Popsicles

via: a moms take

These Sour Worm Popsicles are so fruity and flavorful they will be an instant hit with the whole block!

#2 - Pink Lemonade Popsicles

via: jojotastic

A refreshing and light treat for those really hot summer days!

#3 - Natural Mango Popsicles

via: homemadeinterest

No sugar added - can't beat that right?!!

#4 - Orange Creamsicles

via: belly full

A mixture of creamy ingredients (yogurt & ice cream) plus orange juice and honey frozen together to make a wonderful summer treat.

This Lekue Popsicle molds are fabulous for making homemade Popsicles.

#5 -  Mint Chocolate Chip Greek Yogurt Popsicles 

via: marshas baking addiction

Minty goodness meets homemade magic shell! Yum.

#6 - Dairy Free Fudge Pops

via: happy healthy mama

Just 3 ingredients to make this dairy free (and vegan) treat. 

Looking for a plastic free (bpa free) Popsicle mold? Here is a great option - stainless steel:

#7 - Blueberries & Cream Popsicle

via: a simple pantry

A very simple (4 ingredients folks!) recipe with amazing results. Don't they just look decadent?

#8 - Funfetti Pudding Pops

via: rachel cooks

The word FUN is in this recipe so of course it is a no-brainer and should be made, eaten and repeated many times over!

These were made using the reusable Ozera Popsicle molds. 

#9 - Raspberry Popsicles

via: premeditated leftovers

The fresh raspberries make this such an inviting treat to eat in the summer.

#10 - Jello Popsicles (no drip)

via: poofy cheeks

My kids love Jello - so this will be a hit at our house!

Not interested in Popsicle mold but still need some sticks to make the homemade treat? How about these chunky wood sticks that you could stick into paper cups to make your own Popsicles!

Stay cool this summer and enjoy a good homemade Popsicle! 

The Best No-Bake Peanut Butter Pie Recipe

print recipe

The Best No-Bake Peanut Butter Pie

by mommysuburbia.blogspot.com 
July-6-2017

Easy no-bake recipe with smooth semi sweet chocolate ganache and creamy peanut butter with a graham cracker crumb crust.

Ingredients

• 10 whole graham crackers
• 1 cup butter, divided (16 tablespoons)
• 1 1/2 cups + 2 tablespoons creampy peanut butter, divided
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream

Instructions

1. Finely crush the graham crackers with a food processor, blender or in a Ziploc bag. Stir graham cracker crumbs together with 8 tablespoons of melted butter until well combined. Press into the bottom of 9" x 9" pan or pie pan. Place crust in freezer for 10 minutes until set. 

2. Add remaining 8 tablespoons of softened butter, 1 1/2 cups creamy peanut butter, and 1 cup powdered sugar to a large mixing bowl. Beat on low speed until smooth and creamy. Spoon the peanut butter mixture over the crust into a smooth layer. Place back in freezer. 

3. In a small saucepan, bring heavy whipping cream to a rolling simmer over medium-high heat. Place chocolate chips and remaining 2 tablespoons of peanut butter in a large glass or heat-proof bowl. Pour the cream over the chocolate chips and peanut butter and let sit for 5 minutes, then whisk until completely smooth. Pour the chocolate layer over the peanut butter layer. Refrigerate, covered at least 1 hour until ready to serve.

Details

Prep time: 15 mins 
Cook time: 15 mins + 1 hour (chill)
Total time: 1 hour 30 mins 
Yield: 8 servings

10 Delicious Desserts to Serve on Easter

Looking for an Easter themed dessert to serve after your Easter dinner? Here are 10 delicious dessert ideas you can serve at your next Easter dinner. 

A few years ago my husband and I decided to try something different for one holiday - to celebrate with friends instead of a family party. Since Easter was the next holiday that was coming up on the calendar it only made sense to try this idea out on Easter. So we invited a few families over for a late afternoon dinner and dessert - it was a BLAST! Not to say it isn't fun to celebrate with family - cause it is - but it is just different with friends. 

All of the families who came to our house for Easter all agreed that taking one holiday to celebrate with friends was really fun.

So now our annual Easter celebration is a friends party! Our kids love it because their friends come over for the whole afternoon, we have a good dinner and then later on we indulge in some YUMMY dessert. I always ask everyone to bring a side dish and a dessert to share. I love seeing what everyone comes up with for dessert - my favorite part! I also make a dessert to share (I don't think you can have too many desserts, right?!)

Since I was doing some "research" (a.k.a - drooling over yummy pictures of desserts) I thought I'd share what I found with you to help inspire your sweet tooth.

This post contains affiliate links which means if you click on a link and make a purchase I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. Please see my disclosure here.

10 Delicious Easter Dessert Ideas

1 - M&M Blondie Brownies

via Inside Bru Crew Life

Who doesn't love a blondie? If you just add pastel colored m&m's it would really give this treat a spring/Easter look. 

I've frozen these before then thawed them out when I needed them - they tasted great. 

2 - Confetti Sprinkles Sugar Cookie Bars 

via Two Sisters Crafting

Bars are a wonderful dessert since you can slice them any size you need! These confetti sprinkle sugar cookie bars combine are topped with frosting which can be tinted to any color you want to make your Easter dessert look amazing (and taste great too!).

3 - Pineapple Cake

via The Gingham Apron

Here is a light and fluffy dessert to remind you of spring. The sweetness of the pineapple and the light yellow color of the cake just scream SPRING DESSERT! 

I think I could eat a whole pan of this cake by myself - yikes!

4 - Easter Peep Fruit Kabobs

via Amees Savory Dish

Maybe you are trying to keep the sugar under control this Easter - why not make fruit kabobs with a twist - or a peep bunny!

Make sure the fruit is dry after you rinse it so that the peep doesn't get mushy. 

Wouldn't they look cute on your table this Easter - might even get the kids to eat a little healthy dessert too!

5 - NO BAKE Strawberry & Cream Pie

via The Recipe Critic

Need a quick but amazing dessert - here is your winner! 

One tip though - after adding the cold water/ice cubes to the jello let it sit for a bit to set up before adding the cool whip otherwise it will not set up. 

Also, if you prefer a different fruit, say raspberries you can substitute them for the strawberries. 

6 - Carrot Cake Trifle

via A Step In The Journey

This recipe combines so much yummyness (is that even a word?) into one bowl! 

Oh, and it is a super simple recipe easy to whip up before a party or make ahead and put in the fridge - that is a winner in my book.

7 - Super Easy Lime Bars

via: Rock Recipes

This recipe has two of my favorite things - easy and lime! Spring flavors with a light custard texture make this a wonderful Easter dessert. 

I hope you are as inspired to bake something like this as I am. If you love this recipe you can buy cookbooks by Rock Recipes here on Amazon.

8 - NO BAKE Mint Chocolate Lasagna

via: inspiring cooks

I confess, I am a choc-aholic! 

Mint Oreo crumb crust + cook whip + cream cheese + chocolate pudding = satisfying chocolate dessert. 

This one can also be made ahead so you don't have to do all your cooking/baking all in one day. I guarantee this dessert wouldn't last long around my house. 

If you don't like mint you can always use regular Oreo cookies, leave out the mint extract and green food coloring.

9 - Easter Egg Fruit Pizza

via: Persnickety Plates

If you don't have a favorite sugar cookie recipe you can always use a sugar cookie mix - no shame there! Just roll the dough out and trim it into the shape of an egg (oval shape), bake it and then decorate it with a cream cheese frosting or regular frosting of your choice. 

Or you could use these cute Easter egg shaped cookie cutters to make individual cookies and then let the kids have fun decorating them with the fruit of their choice.

10 - Angel Lush with Pineapple

via: Dole Sunshine

I have made this recipe many times and it is always a BIG hit! It is simple and so pretty - you can decorate it with any fruit that is in season but my favorite are blueberries and strawberries. 

It just looks like Spring on a platter doesn't it? 

I hope you are as inspired by these recipes as I am! The tough part is choosing one (or two) to make for our friend's Easter dinner party. 

What are your favorite desserts to serve after Easter dinner?