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This Copycat Ice Cream Sandwich recipe is an easy homemade cookie ice cream sandwich made with chocolate chip cookies, vanilla ice cream, and mini chocolate chips. Basically, it’s a copycat Chipwich! This semi-homemade version is much faster than making everything from scratch but tastes exactly like the original treat you remember from the campground grocery store.
I have such fond memories of Chipwich ice cream sandwiches – I’d always get one at the little grocery store at the campground we stayed at. I would always manage to eat all the ice cream and save the cookies for last.
The beauty of this copycat ice cream sandwich is the mix and match versatility. You can use refrigerated cookie dough, your favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe from scratch, or even soft cookies from the grocery store bakery. By using a semi-homemade approach, you can spend less time in the kitchen and more time enjoying the perfect summer dessert.
This easy copycat chipwich recipe yields an ice cream sandwich using chocolate chip cookies, vanilla ice cream, and mini chocolate chips. The semi-homemade method allows for using refrigerated, store-bought, or scratch-made dough. For best results, sandwiches should be frozen for at least 3 hours until firm and can be stored for up to 3 months.
Ingredients
- Fresh-baked chocolate chip cookies cooled to room temperature – from scratch or homemade.
- When choosing cookies for sandwiches, always opt for refrigerated dough or bakery-fresh cookies rather than pre-packaged, shelf-stable ones. Packaged cookies are too dry and will become rock-hard once frozen, making the sandwich difficult to eat without the filling squeezing out the sides.
- Use your favorite flavor softened ice cream. Vanilla ice cream is traditional for Chipwiches!
- Use mini chocolate chips specifically for the edges of your Chipwich. Because of their smaller surface area, they adhere much better to the soft ice cream than standard-sized chips, providing that classic crunch in every bite without falling off during storage.
Click to see the recipe card below for full ingredients & instructions. See below the recipe card for even more information: process shots, variations, FAQ and more.
Dorothy’s Expert Chipwich Tips
- These ice cream sandwiches don’t work well with packaged cookies – they’re too crunchy. Fresh-baked soft and chewy chocolate chip cookies are the best!
- Wait to assemble the sandwiches until the cookies are thoroughly cooled. You can bake your cookies a day ahead to make it easier and keep them in an airtight container until you’re ready to assemble the ice cream sandwiches.
- It helps to soften the ice cream beforehand. I just leave it out at room temperature for five to ten minutes or until it’s easy to scoop.
- To prevent a messy assembly, work in small batches of 2 or 3 sandwiches at a time. Keep the rest of your cookies and ice cream in the freezer, and place completed sandwiches into the freezer immediately after rolling them in chocolate chips to ensure the ice cream stays firm.
Copycat Ice Cream Sandwich Recipe
Recipe Video
Ingredients
- 24 chocolate chip cookies baked and cooled (see note)
- 3 cups vanilla ice cream
- 2 cups (340g) mini chocolate chips
Instructions
- Allow ice cream to soften for 5-10 minutes, or until easily scoopable.
- Place a cookie sheet or container in freezer to place your ice cream sandwiches as you assemble them.
- Place chocolate chips in a shallow bowl.
- Place half of cookies upside down on a cookie sheet covered with parchment or wax paper.
- Working in batches of 2-3 cookies at a time, scoop ¼ cups of ice cream on top of each cookie and sandwich with a second cookie. Roll each sandwich in the chocolate chips to adhere. Place in freezer.
- Continue until all sandwiches are assembled and in freezer. Freeze for at least 3 hours, or until firm.
- Transfer to an airtight container and freeze for up to 3 months.
Recipe Notes
- You can use refrigerated cookie dough, store bought (check the grocery store bakery – don’t use packaged as they won’t be soft), or you can make one of my favorite chocolate chip cookie recipes.
- It’s best to work in small batches so the ice cream doesn’t melt. Freeze as you go so you don’t have a mess.
Recipe Nutrition
How to Make a Chipwich
- Once you have your cookies baked and cooled according to the directions in the recipe or on the package, place them on a parchment lined baking sheet.
- Turn half the cookies over and add a scoop of ice cream on top.
- Sandwich the cookies. Roll in coating. Freeze until hard.
Variations
- Use peanut butter cookies, toll house cookies, or double chocolate chip cookies! Even cake mix cookies or homemade oreo cookies would work!
- Homemade cookies OR refrigerated cookies work!
- Use your favorite ice cream flavor – even homemade – like my no churn vanilla ice cream.
- For toppings, chopped nuts or mini chocolate chips, sprinkles or anything like that would work.
BEST Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe
These soft-and-chewy easy chocolate chip cookies deliver bakery-level flavor at home. You ll get plush centers, golden edges, and melty pools of chocolate without complicated steps. Below you ll find the why-it-works tricks, clear substitutions, and exact bake-from-frozen directions so your cookies turn out perfect every time. THIS chocolate chip cookie recipe is the only…
FAQs
Yes, but be sure to buy soft cookies from the grocery store bakery. Avoid hard, packaged cookies as they become too difficult to bite into once frozen.
You should freeze the assembled sandwiches for at least 3 hours, or until they are completely firm, before serving or transferring them to an airtight container.
Once firm, transfer the sandwiches to an airtight container and keep them in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Absolutely! This recipe is a perfect blank canvas. You can mix and match with different cookie flavors, ice cream varieties, or even swap the chocolate chips for sprinkles or nuts.
