Who can resist an ice cream sandwich? What if I told you that you could eat an ice cream sandwich everyday and feel good about it? I don’t lie! With my zucchini “ice cream” yogurt sandwiches you are getting a dose of veggies, calcium and the perfect balance of sweetnes with a hint of brown sugar and cinnamon. What more could you ask for? A lot more huh? Well, the best I can do today are these sandwiches- take it or leave it! LOL! You may be wondering why I call these “ice cream” yogurt sandwiches? Word play my friends! Ice Cream is Yogurt- or haven’t your heard:) I have a 3 yr old- Nuh Said!
I got the idea because my son (like his momma) thoroughly enjoyed his cookies and cream ice cream sandwich we had as a treat one extremely HOT day last week. Although very very yummy it wasn’t the healthiest choice I could have chosen. So I decided to make my own version of an ice cream sandwich but replace the ice cream with sweet yogurt and the “cookies” with miniature zucchini cakes sliced really thin. It was perfect! My favorite part about an ice cream sandwich is those first few bites. The ones where the cookie part is so firm and cold and the ice cream is so icy that you get a little crunch factor by biting into it. That is exactly what I tried to mirror with my zucchini yogurt cakes and indeed I succeeded.
GO crazy! Use carrots instead of zucchini, cocoa along with the flour or even chocolate chips in the mix. The miniature cakes lend themselves perfectly to a variety of yogurt flavors like strawberry, pineapple, blueberry, even chocolate. The possibilities are endless.I stored the leftovers in ziploc bags and we have been eating a zucchini “ice cream” yogurt sandwich every morning and afternoon for the past week! Summer- I LOVE IT!
- 2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt (sounds like a lot, but you want it all)
- 1½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg
- 3 large eggs
- 1¾ cups granulated sugar
- 1 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 2½ cups grated zucchini
- 18 ounces of your choice of frozen yogurt- you may use refrigerated yogurt if you would like
- Preheat the oven to 350° F. Spray 2 8x8 pans with cooking spray then place parchment paper in the pan pressing so it sticks well to the bottom and sides.
- Whisk the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and spices into a medium bowl and set aside. In an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the eggs, sugar and olive oil together on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes, then beat in the vanilla extract. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed. Beat in the dry ingredients all at once on low speed until they are thoroughly combined, then switch to medium speed and mix for 30 seconds. Mix in the zucchini until completely incorporated.
- Pour the batter into the prepared pans, smoothing the top with a spatula. Bake the cakes for 40 to 45 minutes or until a tester inserted in the cakes comes out clean and the cakes have begun to pull away from the sides of the pans. Once the pans are cool, place them in the freezer for 15-30 minutes. Meanwhile, take out your frozen yogurt and allow it to come to room temperature so it evenly spreads.
- Remove one pan and spread the yogurt on top of the zucchini cake. You can do as much or as little yogurt as you prefer. Place the pan back in the freeze for an hour. Now remove both pans and pull out the second zucchini cake from the pan using the parchment paper to help you get it out. Invert it on top of the yogurt layer and press down slightly. Wrap the whole pan with plastic wrap and freezer overnight. You can either cut out your 'sandwiches' in the pan itself or remove the whole zucchini cake from the pan using the parchment paper and cut out your sandwiches.( That is what I did)
- Store in ziploc freezer bags for up to 2 week- if that last that long.
You are my official new best friend! These sound amazing!
Yum! This sounds AMAZING!
This looks amazing! I have received many compliments from the Zucchini bread I’ve made in the past, but people will just die if I take the extra step and make these. I love it! Thanks for sharing.
Honestly Jessica, this is the best recipe using zucchini in cake form that I have ever read. I’m seriously impressed and they do sound amazing.
Thanks Jed! I appreciate that!
A very nice treat, Jessica.
How adorable & I love your presentation with the paper and twine bow.
Sam
Ok, I have a two year old I trick by freezing yogurt in popsicle molds but you’ve taken it to a whole new level. Sandwich ice-cream, here I come to make some!
WOW! Love that! Looks so amazing!! I think I would probably eat 12 of those sandwiches in no time flat 🙂
What a clever thing to do! If I can talk myself into actually baking something I’ll give this a try.
I dont know how you do it but you always read my life. I am on a zucchini obsession right now and i love zucchini bread. This is a must add recipe
Ha! Never would have known you were on a zucchini kick but glad to be of assistance:) The three munchkins would love this as well@
How fun. My munchkin does love anything that I make fun. These look perfect. I was thinking of making some zucchini cakes soon, yogurt center sound fun!
What an absolutely cool (no pun intended) way to enjoy an ice cream sandwich-seriously, this rocks.
Velva
LOL! You crack me up
Such a great idea! Would I be naughty if I added chocolate 🙂
You are so creative all the time but now this recipe is amazing! Totally “healthy” ice cream sandwich that we’re allowed to eat every single day. 😉 I think I’ll even be addicted to your zucchini bread. Looks wonderful Jessica!
Thats the best part nami! The bread itself is so amazing that you can skip the yogurt and have one delicious breakfast treat!
Oooooh, this looks like a great invention Jessica! What a cool and yummy treat.
Oh WOW, what a truly awesome idea!
🙂 Mandy
amazingly gd! more reason to hv veges!
What a great idea! Good to know they “hold-up” well and the variations will suit just about anyone’s preferences.
Thanks for visiting! your right- this has something for everyone- sweet, veggies and icey yogurt. It actually held up better than i expected. Now if you leave them out in the heat for a while they will get a bit mushy but I would like to see someone not eat theirs in a matter of seconds!
You are brilliant, daughter. It’s an amazing thing when your kids grow up into people who impress you. Kiss my little boys for me.
Oh these look so healthy and delicious!! I would not have thought to put these two together but it sounds really good!!
Alicia, it was a strange combo to me at first but I just had to try it. Sometimes needing to use something (in this case my zucchini) has its rewards
A lovely delicious treat! You are extremely creative to come up with something yummy like this! Love it!
What a delicious and creative treat! Yum!
You are so creative! I think I’d rather eat these delicious treats than a cookies and cream ice cream sandwich…yum!
Yum! This looks so good. I don’t know why I’ve never thought of this before. Very creative.
Now how creative are you?! I never, ever, ever in a million years would have thought to make something like this! You are a genius.
Ahh! I’m blushing Kristy! I feel the same way though when I visit your site
Mmmm, these sounds heavenly. I need to take some inspiration from you and start making my own veggie breads and muffins again. The little man, at his ripe old age of 1, has decided that all things veggie must be thrown onto the floor. Gotta love this age! Time to trick him into eating something that’s good for him. 🙂
LOL! I am with you Ali! My first son did that and now my second son (9 months) has decided that he “can” pick up pieces of breads and muffins and snacks but its “SOOO HARD””” to pick up green beans and peas! LOL!
It is currently 11:31 pm and I think you’ve just successfully made me hungry again with this post lol.
How special of this ice-cream sandwich! I love the idea and it is so healthy! Your creativity is so amazing!
Wowsers these look great–and pretty brilliant too!
Such a smart idea, and pretty presentation too!
I have seen a lot of ice cream recipe this summer but this one is so different .. with zucchini in form of a sandwich! Brilliant!
What a great idea! I would love to bite into one of these. 🙂
What a brilliant and creative recipe, Jessica! Love the colorful layers!
Absolutely stunning! Such gorgeous layers and this sounds so healthy and I totally could go for that second helping without thinking twice!
These zucchini ice cream sandwiches are so sweet! Healthy and yummy at the same time; always looking for that combo! My husband will also love these treats!
hi jessica, i would never thought of making a ckae, freeze it and use some yogurt to turn them into a yogurt sandwich! it looks incredibly good! Inspiring!!
Hi there, Its always fun to see ur delish recipes. And this one is just looking amazing. I am so tempted to make it on my isle some day pretty soon. Enjoy your weekend. It is looking so good with all the lovely pictures and write up as well. I have been here after a while but enjoyed scrolling through your rest of the wonderful recipes. Have a wonderful week ahead. Thanks for sharing awesome recipes.
Best Regards, Sonia !!!
wow! This is totally awesome, Jessica! Healthy treats they really are!
You are genius My dear. This is one creative recipe of healthy sandwich.
What a creative idea for ice-cream sandwiches!! I love the healthy twist you created by introducing the zuchini cake and yogurt.Brilliant and so delicious:)
what a great idea~~~
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