Indulge in Homemade Bliss: The Ultimate Gluten-Free Cookies & Cream Ice Cream Recipe
Craving the classic chocolate and vanilla symphony of cookies & cream ice cream but need it to be gluten-free? Look no further! Our incredibly easy homemade gluten-free cookies & cream ice cream recipe brings all that beloved flavor right to your kitchen, simply by using your favorite gluten-free chocolate sandwich cookies. Forget the endless search for a good store-bought option; making your own is not only simple but yields a far superior, creamier, and more satisfying treat.
This Classic Ice Cream Flavor Has Never Been Easier to Enjoy!
For those living a gluten-free lifestyle, finding a truly satisfying gluten-free cookies and cream ice cream at the grocery store can be a significant challenge. Many options fall short on flavor or texture, or simply don’t exist. That’s why making it yourself is a game-changer! Our recipe ensures you get that rich, creamy goodness with delightful cookie bits in every scoop. Here’s why you’ll absolutely adore this classic ice cream recipe:
- Effortless Preparation: This homemade cookies & cream ice cream recipe uses just 7 simple ingredients and is incredibly easy to make. If you can chop cookies and stir a few ingredients, you already possess all the culinary skills needed to create this delightful dessert. No complicated techniques or obscure ingredients required!
- Unforgettable Flavors & Textures: True cookies & cream is all about that perfect harmony of rich vanilla and decadent chocolate. With every bite, you’ll experience a luscious, creamy ice cream base perfectly complemented by satisfying chunks of gluten-free chocolate sandwich cookies. The contrast in textures—smooth ice cream and crunchy cookie pieces—is simply delightful.
- Essential Tips for Success: For the best results, remember these crucial steps: always ensure your ice cream maker’s bowl is thoroughly frozen (at least 24-48 hours in advance!) and the ice cream base is completely chilled before churning. These steps are vital for proper freezing and a wonderfully creamy consistency. And a friendly reminder: use gluten-free Oreos ONLY (or another certified gluten-free chocolate sandwich cookie brand)!
Happy cooking! xo, Emily
Gather Your Essential Ingredients for Gluten-Free Cookies & Cream Ice Cream
Crafting the perfect homemade gluten-free cookies and cream ice cream starts with a selection of high-quality, simple ingredients. Each component plays a vital role in achieving that rich, creamy texture and unforgettable flavor. Here’s a closer look at what you’ll need and why each element is important:
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Heavy Cream. This is the cornerstone of any truly rich and creamy ice cream. Heavy whipping cream provides the high fat content necessary for a luscious, smooth texture. Please, no low-fat substitutes here! Using a lighter cream will result in an icy, less enjoyable ice cream, and trust us, you’ll want the full indulgent experience this recipe delivers. -
Whole Milk. Complementing the heavy cream, whole milk adds to the creamy base without making it overly rich. Just like with the cream, opt for full-fat whole milk. The fat content is absolutely critical for achieving the smooth, velvety consistency that defines truly great homemade ice cream. Avoid skim or low-fat milk, as they will lead to a hard, icy, and disappointing result. -
Granulated Sugar. Our recipe uses just the right amount of sugar—3/4 cup (150 grams)—to provide sweetness without overwhelming the classic vanilla and chocolate flavors. We’ve meticulously tested various quantities to find this perfect balance. Whether you use organic cane sugar or regular white granulated sugar, it will work beautifully to sweeten your base. -
Corn Syrup. Don’t be alarmed by this ingredient! Corn syrup plays a crucial role in preventing the formation of large, hard ice crystals, which are the nemesis of creamy homemade ice cream. Its unique structure helps keep your homemade cookies & cream ice cream soft, scoopable, and wonderfully uniform in texture. Trust us, it’s worth using for that professional-quality creaminess. Without it, your ice cream will likely freeze much harder and develop an undesirably icy texture. -
Vanilla Extract. A touch of high-quality vanilla extract elevates the entire flavor profile of this cookies & cream ice cream. It brightens the base and complements the chocolate from the cookies beautifully. For an even more intense vanilla experience and beautiful flecks throughout your ice cream, you can substitute vanilla bean paste. -
Salt. A pinch of salt might seem unexpected in a sweet dessert, but it’s a secret ingredient that enhances and balances all the other flavors. It prevents the ice cream from tasting one-dimensionally sweet, allowing the vanilla and chocolate notes to truly shine. Use kosher salt for best results, or adjust the quantity if using finer table salt. -
Gluten-Free Oreo Cookies. This is where the “cookies” in cookies & cream come in! It is absolutely crucial to ONLY use Gluten-Free Oreos (identifiable by their white package) or another trusted brand of gluten-free chocolate sandwich cookies to ensure your recipe remains Celiac-safe. Excellent alternatives include Goodie Girl, Glutino, or Kinnikinnick. Remember, traditional Oreos contain wheat and are NOT gluten-free.
Our Favorite Ice Cream Maker: A Must-Have for Homemade Treats
Investing in a reliable ice cream maker is the first step to unlocking a world of delicious homemade frozen desserts. We’ve proudly owned and used our Cuisinart ice cream maker for years, and it continues to perform beautifully. It’s a fantastic choice for several reasons:
- Compact Design: This model is more space-efficient than many other ice cream makers, making it ideal for kitchens of all sizes.
- Generous Capacity: Despite its compact footprint, it’s large enough to handle most homemade ice cream recipes, including this decadent cookies & cream version.
- Consistent Results: It consistently produces creamy, perfectly churned ice cream, making the process simple and enjoyable.
If you’re ready to start your homemade ice cream journey, we highly recommend this model for its durability, ease of use, and excellent performance. It truly makes a difference in the quality of your finished ice cream!
How To Make Gluten-Free Cookies & Cream Ice Cream: A Step-by-Step Guide
As always, you can find the full recipe, with precise ingredient amounts, detailed instructions, and helpful tips in the recipe card below.
Creating your own delicious gluten-free cookies & cream ice cream is a straightforward process, provided you follow these simple steps. Patience, especially during chilling, is key to achieving that perfect creamy texture.
- Prepare Your Ice Cream Maker Bowl (24-48 Hours in Advance): This is a critical first step. Most home ice cream makers require their bowls or inserts to be thoroughly frozen before use. Plan ahead and place your ice cream maker bowl in the freezer for at least 24, but preferably 48, hours. A super-chilled bowl is essential for the ice cream to churn properly and achieve the desired consistency. Without this pre-freezing, your ice cream will not set correctly.
- Craft the Creamy Ice Cream Base: In a medium-sized saucepan, combine the heavy cream, whole milk, granulated sugar, and a pinch of salt. Place the saucepan over medium-low heat. Whisk the mixture continuously until the sugar is completely dissolved. It’s not necessary for the mixture to come to a boil or even get very hot; the goal is simply to ensure the sugar crystals have fully dissolved into the liquid. Once dissolved, remove the saucepan from the heat and stir in the vanilla extract.
- Thoroughly Chill the Base: Transfer your freshly made vanilla ice cream base into a large liquid measuring cup or a sturdy glass container. This step is crucial for achieving a perfectly smooth and scoopable ice cream. Refrigerate the mixture for a minimum of 2-3 hours, or until it is very cold all the way through. An insufficiently chilled base will not churn properly in your ice cream maker, leading to a runny or icy result.
- Churn Your Ice Cream to Perfection: Following the specific instructions for your ice cream maker, begin the churning process. For most models, this involves placing the pre-chilled freezer bowl into the machine, turning it on, and then slowly pouring the cold ice cream mixture into the churning bowl. Cover the machine and let it churn for approximately 20-30 minutes. The ice cream should reach a consistency similar to rich, thick soft-serve ice cream.
- Incorporate the Gluten-Free Oreo Pieces: In the final minute or two of churning, gradually add your chopped gluten-free Oreo cookies through the opening in the ice cream maker lid. The machine will gently mix them into the semi-frozen ice cream, ensuring they are evenly distributed throughout. This timing is perfect to prevent the cookies from breaking down too much, maintaining their satisfying texture.
- Final Freeze for Optimal Firmness: Once churned, transfer the soft ice cream mixture into a freezer-safe container. For an extra touch, you can sprinkle additional chopped gluten-free Oreo pieces on top. Place the container in the freezer for at least 4-6 hours, or until the ice cream is firm enough to scoop easily. The longer it freezes, the harder it will become.
- Serve and Store with Care: Once your homemade gluten-free cookies and cream ice cream has reached its ideal scooping consistency, it’s time to enjoy! Scoop generously into bowls or cones. Any leftover ice cream should be stored in an airtight, freezer-safe container in the freezer. While it will remain delicious for up to 1 week, please note that homemade ice cream tends to harden over time.
Serving Suggestions & Creative Mix-Ins to Try
Once your homemade gluten-free cookies & cream ice cream is ready, the fun doesn’t have to stop! Here are some fantastic ways to serve it and exciting mix-in ideas to customize your treat:
- Drizzle with Chocolate Shell! For a nostalgic and utterly delicious experience, top generous scoops of this classic ice cream with a magical chocolate ice cream shell. It hardens in mere seconds on contact with the cold ice cream, offering a satisfying snap that you’ll absolutely adore. It’s a simple addition that adds a professional touch and extra chocolatey goodness.
- Amp Up the Chocolate with Mini Chips! If you’re a true chocolate lover, consider adding some mini chocolate chips along with the chopped gluten-free Oreo bits during the last minute of churning. My kids especially love this crunchy addition, which adds another layer of chocolate flavor and texture to the creamy base.
- Enjoy in a Gluten-Free Cone! While you could certainly embark on making your own ice cream cones from scratch if you’re feeling adventurous, there are many excellent store-bought gluten-free cone options available. We particularly love the gluten-free cones from brands like Let’s Do Gluten-Free or Joy Gluten-Free. You can often find these at specialty grocery stores, Sprouts, Target, and many Kroger-affiliated stores like Fry’s. They provide the perfect vessel for your homemade masterpiece!
- Experiment with “Golden” or Other Flavors. One of the easiest and most fun ways to customize this gluten-free Oreo ice cream is by switching up the type of cookies you use. Instead of the classic chocolate sandwich cookies, try using Gluten-Free Golden Oreos for a vanilla-on-vanilla experience. You can also explore other gluten-free cookie varieties like Goodie Girl Mint Thins, or even crushed Gluten-Free Chips Ahoy chocolate chip cookies. These different cookie pieces can drastically change and enhance the flavor profile, allowing for endless creative possibilities!
FAQ + Expert Tricks for the Best Homemade Cookies & Cream Ice Cream
Making ice cream at home is a rewarding experience, but a few common questions and tricks can elevate your results from good to absolutely fantastic. Here’s what you need to know to ensure your gluten-free cookies & cream ice cream turns out perfectly every time:
Can I Use Low-Fat Milk or Cream? (Hint: Don’t Go Light!)
I understand the temptation to opt for lighter alternatives like half-and-half or low-fat milk, but for this recipe, I cannot stress enough: DO NOT DO IT! This is a Philadelphia-style ice cream, meaning it’s designed without egg yolks, relying heavily on the fat content from heavy cream and whole milk to achieve its signature creamy texture. Substituting with lower-fat dairy products will result in a significantly harder, icier, and watery ice cream that lacks the rich, melt-in-your-mouth quality you’re looking for. Stick to the full-fat ingredients for an authentic, delightful experience.
The Golden Rule: ALWAYS Stay Gluten-Free!
This is paramount for anyone with Celiac disease or gluten sensitivity. Let me reiterate: regular Oreos contain wheat and are NOT gluten-free. If you need this recipe to be gluten-free, you must ONLY use certified gluten-free Oreos (easily identified by their white packaging) or other reputable brands of gluten-free chocolate sandwich cookies. Excellent and safe options include Glutino, Kinnikinnick, or Goodie Girl. Always double-check labels to ensure they are certified gluten-free.
Achieve Perfect Cookie Texture: Aim for a Variety of Shapes & Sizes!
When you’re chopping your gluten-free Oreo cookies, don’t aim for uniformity. Instead, I highly recommend striving for a variety of sizes and shapes. Think about leaving plenty of larger cookie chunks, alongside smaller bits and even some fine crumbs. This medley of sizes creates a much more interesting and satisfying textural experience in every spoonful. Remember, the cookies will break down a bit more as they churn into the ice cream, so starting with larger pieces ensures you’ll still have distinct cookie chunks in the final product.
The Secret to Effortless Scooping: The Best Ice Cream Scoop
A good ice cream scoop can make all the difference, especially with homemade ice cream that tends to freeze firmer than commercial varieties. The classic Zeroll ice cream scoop is a legendary tool that will last a lifetime. What makes it so special? It features a non-toxic, heat-channeling mineral oil sealed within its handle. This ingenious design allows the warmth from your hand to transfer to the scoop, making it incredibly easy to glide through even the coldest, firmest ice cream. It sounds like crazy science, but as confirmed by numerous reviews and tests (it actually works!). Just remember one crucial care tip: Zeroll scoops are NOT dishwasher safe; hand wash them to preserve their unique properties.
More Delicious Ice Cream Recipes To Try
If you’ve enjoyed making this gluten-free cookies & cream ice cream, you’re in for a treat! Here are a few more fantastic frozen dessert recipes from our collection that we think you’ll love:
Lemon Ice Cream
Gluten-Free “Fried” Ice Cream
Easy 2-Ingredient Magic Chocolate Shell
Gluten-Free Cookie Ice Cream Sandwiches
🌟 Did You Make This Recipe?
We’d love to hear from you! Leave a star rating below and share your experience when you try our homemade Gluten-Free Cookies & Cream Ice Cream recipe. Your feedback helps us and other home bakers!
Gluten-Free Cookies & Cream Ice Cream
Emily Dixon, Sweets & Thank You
10 minutes
10 minutes
8 hours
8 hours
20 minutes
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1 Quart Ice Cream
Equipment
- 1 1-Quart Ice Cream Maker Make sure to freeze the bowl or insert, as needed!*
Ingredients
- 2 cups heavy whipping cream (NO low-fat substitutes!)
- 1 cup whole milk (NO low-fat substitutes!)
- Âľ cup granulated sugar (150 grams)
- 2 Tablespoons corn syrup * (See Notes)
- ÂĽ teaspoon kosher salt (use less if using fine table salt)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups chopped Gluten-Free Oreo Cookies * See Notes
Instructions
- At LEAST 24-48 Hours Before, Freeze Ice Cream Maker Bowl. If needed, make sure to freeze the bowl or insert for your ice cream maker in advance. Otherwise, the ice cream will not churn properly.
- Make The Ice Cream Base. In a medium saucepan, combine heavy cream, whole milk, sugar, and salt. Whisk over medium-low heat just until the sugar is dissolved. (It’s ok if the mixture doesn’t get hot, the sugar just needs to be dissolved.) Remove from heat and stir in vanilla.
- Chill. Transfer the vanilla ice cream base to a large liquid measuring cup or glass container and refrigerate at LEAST 2-3 hours, or until very cold all the way through. (Otherwise, it will not churn.)
- Churn Ice Cream according to your ice cream maker’s instructions. For me, that means placing the chilled insert into the ice cream maker, turning it on and pouring the cold ice cream mixture into the chilled insert. Cover and let it churn 20-30 minutes, or until the texture of rich soft-serve ice cream.
- Mix In Oreos. During the last minute or two of churning the ice cream, gradually add the chopped gluten-free Oreo pieces and let the ice cream maker mix them in.
- Freeze. Transfer the ice cream mixture into a freezer-safe container. Sprinkle with additional Oreo pieces, as desired, and freeze for at LEAST 4-6 hours, or until firm enough to scoop.
- Serve & Store. Scoop and enjoy! Leftover cookies & cream ice cream will keep up to 1 week in the freezer, though it will continue to harden with time.
Notes
- Corn Syrup. The structure of corn syrup helps prevent ice crystals from forming, which means your ice cream will be softer, easier to scoop, and more uniform in texture. You can substitute glucose syrup, or agave syrup in a pinch, but corn syrup will give you the best results.
- STAY GLUTEN-FREE! Regular Oreos are NOT gluten-free, so if you’re gluten-free you must ONLY use gluten-free Oreos (white package) or another brand of gluten-free chocolate sandwich cookies, like Glutino, Kinnikinnick, or Goodie Girl.
- Try For A Variety Of Shapes & Sizes! When you’re chopping the gluten-free Oreo cookies, I recommend aiming for a variety of sizes and shapes. Remember that the cookies will break down as they churn into the ice cream, so I leave plenty of pieces on the larger side, while also sprinkling in some smaller bits and crumbs.
- Mix-Ins & Serving Tips To Try. For extra texture, you can sprinkle in some mini chocolate chips along with the Oreo pieces or serve with chocolate shell!
Video
Dessert, Ice Cream
American
Gluten Free
cookies & cream ice cream, cookies and cream ice cream, gluten-free ice cream, gluten-free oreo ice cream
Find the recipe:
sweetsandthankyou.com/cookies-and-cream-ice-cream/