Ingredients

  • 2 pints coffee or dulce de leche ice cream
  • Molasses-Ginger Cookies (recipe follows) or Chocolate Cookies (recipe follows)
  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
  • 2 teaspoons ground ginger
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
  • Pinch of freshly ground white pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 3/4 cup firmly packed light-brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon molasses
  • 1 large egg, room temperature
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar, for rolling
  • (makes 2 dozen)
  • 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 1/4 cups sugar, plus more for coating
  • 2 tablespoons corn syrup
  • 3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 1 large egg, room temperature
  • (makes 2 dozen)

Method

  • Using a 1/4-cup-capacity ice cream scoop, place a ball of ice cream on an upside-down cookie.
  • Top with a second cookie, right side up.
  • Press the cookies together until the ice cream reaches the edges.
  • Repeat with the remaining cookies.
  • Freeze until firm, at least 30 minutes.
  • To store, wrap in plastic.
  • Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
  • Into a medium bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, pepper, and salt.
  • In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter, brown sugar, and molasses until light and fluffy.
  • Beat in the egg until smooth.
  • Add the flour mixture; beat until combined.
  • Wrap the dough in plastic, flattened into a disk.
  • Chill until firm, about 1 hour or overnight.
  • Preheat the oven to 375F.
  • Make 1 1/2-inch balls of dough; roll each in sugar.
  • Place them 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets.
  • Chill 20 minutes.
  • Bake the cookies, rotating baking sheets halfway through, until firm around the edges and slightly soft in the center, 12 to 14 minutes.
  • Let cool on a wire rack.
  • Store in an airtight container up to 3 days.
  • Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper; set aside.
  • Into a medium bowl, sift the flour, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder, and salt; set aside.
  • In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the sugar, corn syrup, and butter until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.
  • Add the egg, and beat to combine.
  • Slowly add the flour mixture; beat until combined.
  • Preheat the oven to 375F.
  • Pour enough sugar for coating the cookies into a small, shallow bowl.
  • Make 1 1/2-inch balls of dough, and roll each in sugar until completely coated.
  • Place the balls of dough 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets.
  • Refrigerate 20 minutes.
  • Bake the cookies, rotating the baking sheets halfway through, until firm around the edges but still slightly soft in the center, 12 to 14 minutes.
  • Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.