Category: Holidays

I whipped up this ice cream dessert for my son’s birthday party on Saturday and it did not disappoint.  The pictures aren’t great; it’s difficult to photograph your food while also feeding a group of hungry ten year old boys!  By the time I got the camera out it was getting a bit drippy.


With a gingersnap crust and layers of pumpkin ice cream, caramel, and vanilla bean ice cream, everyone loved it.  It’s a fun alternative to a traditional cake, and perfect for the season.

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups crushed gingersnap cookies 2 Tb. sugar 1 tsp. ginger 6 Tb. melted butter 1.5 quarts pumpkin ice cream (I used Dreyer’s) 1.5 quarts vanilla bean ice cream (Dreyer’s again) 1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk 1/2 cup sugar 1/4 cup plus 3 Tb. Karo syrup 1/4 cup butter 1 tsp. vanilla To make the crust, combine crushed crackers, 2 Tb. sugar, ginger and 6 Tb. melted butter in a small bowl and stir until combined.  Press onto bottom of cheesecake pan and bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes.  Remove from oven and cool completely.

When crust is cooled, scoop 1.5 quarts pumpkin ice cream over crust and spread evenly in the pan.  Put pan in freezer.

To make the caramel, combine sweetened condensed milk, 1/2 cup sugar and Karo syrup in small saucepan.  Cook until soft ball stage (about 5 minutes).  Remove from heat and add vanilla and 1/4 cup butter.  Stir until butter is melted.  Allow to cool.

Spread cooled caramel over pumpkin ice cream.  Spread 1.5 quarts vanilla bean ice cream over caramel and place cake in freezer to set for at least 2 hours.

To serve, remove sides of pan for easy slicing.  Enjoy!


Have a great day!
Hopeful Homemaker

Aah, pumpkin.  The word alone conjures thoughts of cool evening air and warm cozy homes, of rich jewel-toned colors and a feeling of being safely gathered in.  And baking.  These pumpkin dessert squares are another simple yet favorite pumpkin recipe.  They’re quick to make and always taste moist and yummy.  I’ve found it’s easy to keep the ingredients on hand in case I need to make something last minute, and the layers make it seem fancier than it really is.  Because it uses a cake mix the prep is fast and easy to understand, making it a great recipe for kids to help with or manage on their own.


Pumpkin Dessert Squares Ingredients:
1 box yellow cake mix 3/4 cup butter, divided 1 cup pumpkin 2 tsp. cinnamon, divided 1/4 tsp. cloves 1/4 tsp. ginger 1/4 tsp. nutmeg 1/4 tsp. allspice 3 eggs 3 Tb. milk 1 Tb. flour 1/4 cup sugar Reserve one cup cake mix and set aside.

Mix remaining cake mix with 1/2 cup of melted butter and 1 egg.  Press mixture lightly into the bottom of a 9×13 inch pan.


In another bowl, mix pumpkin, 1 tsp. of the cinnamon, and remaining spices together.  Add 2 eggs and 3 Tb. milk and mix until fully incorporated and smooth.  Pour over cake mixture in pan.


Combine reserved cake mix with 1 Tb. flour, 1 tsp. cinnamon, 1/4 cup sugar and 1/4 cup softened butter until it resembles coarse crumbs.  Sprinkle over the top of the pumpkin layer.


Bake 35-40 minutes at 350 degrees or until golden.


Cool completely before serving.  Slice into squares and enjoy!


I hope you’re enjoying this Thanksgiving season.  What a wonderful time of year it is!  And if you love pumpkin flavored baking at this time of year, click here for a list of favorite pumpkin recipes.

Jennifer