Brownie Ice Cream Sandwiches

Fudgy brownie with a creamy ice cream center. I mean, what's not to love about this scenario?

First, let's talk about the brownies. They're amazing - incredibly chocolatey and chewy in the middle, with a perfect crackly top. Plus, they come together in ONE bowl with just a handful of ingredients. 

Now, for the ice cream - which flavor to choose? If that's your biggest decision today, it's a good day! I used mint chocolate chip - but you can use ANY flavor you want!

And now the pan - why coat it with cooking spray AND parchment paper? The cooking spray keeps the brownies from sticking to the sides of the pan, where the paper doesn't reach. Also, cooking spray UNDER the parchment paper keeps the paper from slipping as you spread out the brownies. 

Now, let's get cookin'!

Brownie Ice Cream Sandwiches

Cooking spray  1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, cut into pieces 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa 1 cup granulated sugar 2 large eggs 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1/3 cup all-purpose flour 1/4 teaspoon salt 1 1/2 cups ice cream, softened

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Coat a 9x13-inch baking pan with cooking spray and line the bottom of the pan with parchment paper (if you allow a little parchment paper to peek out of both ends, the brownies are easier to remove). Spray the paper with more cooking spray. 

Melt the butter and cocoa together in a large bowl (preferably stainless steel) set over a saucepan of simmering water. Remove the bowl from the heat and whisk in the sugar. 

Whisk in the vanilla. Whisk in the eggs, one at a time. Whisk in the flour and salt. 

Pour the batter into the prepared pan and spread out in an even layer. 
Bake for 18 minutes, until a wooden pick inserted near the center comes out clean or with little crumbs clinging to it. 

Cool completely on a wire rack. 
Using the parchment paper, remove the entire brownie from the pan in one move. Slice the brownie in half vertically, making two equal halves. Use scissors to cut the parchment paper underneath, separating the two halves (this makes the process so much easier and prevents the brownie from breaking). 
Top one brownie half with the softened ice cream and smooth the surface. Carefully place the second brownie on top (don't worry if the brownie breaks a little - you won't be able to tell when they're cut. 
Freeze until firm. 
Cut the frozen brownie sandwiches into 12 squares and serve!

Makes 12 brownies