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Did Someone Say Ice Cream Sandwich?

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What would the world be like without cold treats on hot summer days? That’s why we are especially excited to celebrate National Ice Cream Sandwich Day on August 2nd every year. It’s a perfect excuse to cool off and chill out with a frozen treat.

As the 20th century began, ice cream was a special delicacy served to the wealthy at dinner parties. Home refrigeration didn’t exist before 1913, and ice cream was sold as street food by pushcart vendors.

In 1899, one enterprising vendor was credited for inventing the ice cream sandwich. A news article described customers crowded around a NYC Bowery pushcart, eager for small slabs of ice cream pressed between two thin wafer crackers. Handmade to order in a tin mold, demand was so high; there was no time to count out change.  The initial price of several cents apiece was lowered to just a penny per treat so customers could give exact payment.

Ice cream sandwiches quickly became a trending taste and are still popular today. Did you know?

  • Americans eat an average of 48 ice cream sandwiches per second
  • Commercial ice cream sandwiches, placed end-to-end, would circle the earth three-and-a-half times
  • 30-to-44-year olds buy the most sandwiches

 Food historians say the modern chocolate wafer and vanilla ice cream sandwich was invented in 1945 by Jerry Newberg and first sold in Pittsburgh at Forbes Field. In its second century, this taste treat continues to transcend generations and cultures with its endless combinations.

Why is the ice cream sandwich perhaps the best food invention ever?

  • It’s the only type of sandwich you can lick in public (and not be chastised for doing so)
  • It can certainly qualify as a substitute for lunch (calorie and satisfaction-wise)
  • There are no rules on mixing and matching the components of each sandwich
  • It’s shareable (only if you choose to do so)
  • It’s a simple and satisfying dessert

 

Consider all the possibilities for ice cream sandwiches! One might swap the traditional thin chocolate wafer for cookies, homemade brownies, waffles, doughnuts, muffins, churros, taco shells, and even hand pies.

How many ice cream flavors do you want to choose from? Alternatively, healthy fillings include gelato, frozen yogurt, or frozen bananas blended until creamy and folded with fruit. To complete each masterpiece, dunk the composed sandwich in melted chocolate, drizzle on chocolate, press in chocolate chips, cereal bits, chopped nuts, or multicolored sprinkles.

 This sweet treat is easy to make at home with the kids and think how surprised guests will be with a custom creation for a special occasion.

 One of the most nutritious treats we found is also the simplest, using just three ingredients: bananas, strawberries, and graham crackers. This family-friendly Healthy Ice Cream Sandwich is from Divas Can Cook (https://divascancook.com/healthy-ice-cream-sandwiches-recipe-strawberry-banana).

 For a dinner party-worthy, make-ahead treat weighing in at 202 calories per serving, check out Sunset Magazine’s Blueberry Cheesecake Frozen Yogurt Sandwiches (https://www.sunset.com/recipe/blueberry-cheesecake-sandwiches).

 Need more inspiration? Take a look at these 39 ice cream sandwich recipes and photos (https://www.delish.com/cooking/g2135/ice-cream0sandwich-recipes/)!

 Spend a day in the kitchen with the family and freeze these fabulous treats to eat later. There are still many hot summer days left to savor the wonderful ice cream sandwich!

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