Nutella Ice Cream Sandwiches

Source: by Mary Ellen 6:06:26pm 4/27/03

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons instant espresso (or coffee) powder
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
1/4 cup shortening
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup light brown sugar
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup Nutella, divided use
6 ounces white chocolate bar, coarsely chopped
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1 cup dry-roasted cashews, coarsely chopped
2 pints vanilla ice cream

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Sift together the flour, baking soda, salt and espresso (or coffee) powder.

In a medium bowl, using a hand-held mixer, beat together the butter and shortening for 1 minute. Add the sugars and beat on medium high speed for 3 minutes. Lower the speed, scrape down the sides and add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each. Stir in the vanilla extract, 1/3 cup Nutella and the flour mixture. Add both chocolates and cashews and mix in. Place 2 tablespoons of batter per cookie on a sheet pan, allowing for 3 inches between each one, and bake for 8 to 10 minutes. Cool cookies completely.

To make sandwiches: Spread one cookie with 1/2 tablespoon Nutella. Place a large scoop of ice cream on another and sandwich the two together facing the ice cream and Nutella in. Continue with the remaining cookies.

Makes 8 ice cream sandwiches.