Ice Cream Hearts Recipes

HIDDEN HEART CAKE

Steps:

• Line a loaf pan with plastic wrap, leaving excess on all sides to fold over the top. In a medium bowl, combine the sprinkles and 1/2 cup of crumbs from the Heart-Shaped Blondies. Set aside.
• Soften 1/2 cup of the ice cream and spread in an even layer on the bottom of the loaf pan. Freeze the layer of ice cream until set, about 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, place the 12 heart-shaped blondies in a row and press them together as tightly as possible.
• Soften all of the remaining ice cream until smooth and easy to spread. Remove the loaf pan from the freezer and spread another 1/2 cup of softened ice cream over the bottom. Carefully place the log of blondies, heart lobes down against the ice cream, in the center of the pan. There should be a 1/2-inch gap between both ends of the log and the ends of the loaf pan.
• Spread the remaining softened ice cream around the log, filling the loaf pan to the top. Work carefully to keep the blondies pressed together tightly. Top the loaf with the blondie crumb/sprinkle mixture in an even layer. Fold the plastic wrap over the cake. Freeze until set, about 4 hours.
• Invert the pan to remove the ice cream cake. Peel off the plastic wrap and discard. Slice the ice cream cake like a loaf of bread, revealing the hidden heart inside. Serve immediately.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• In a small saucepan, melt the butter. Put the sugar in a large bowl, add the butter and stir to combine. Cool to room temperature. Beat in the red food coloring, vanilla and eggs.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt. Add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing just until a smooth batter is formed.
• Transfer the batter to the prepared baking sheet and spread into an even layer. Lay another sheet of parchment paper over the batter and place an inverted baking sheet over the top. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 20 minutes. Cool the blondies in the baking sheet slightly before inverting them onto a cooling rack. Cool completely.
• Cut the blondies into 12 hearts using a small heart-shaped cookie cutter with straight edges. The hearts should be about 1/2 inch thick. Crumble the remaining blondies into coarse crumbs.

CHOCOLATE-COVERED ICE CREAM HEARTS

Steps:

• Lay a pint of strawberry ice cream on its side and cut into 1-inch-thick rounds with a large serrated knife; peel off the carton. Cut out hearts with a 2-inch cookie cutter, place on a rack set on a baking sheet and freeze 30 minutes. For the coating, combine 3 ounces chopped chocolate with 3 tablespoons coconut oil in a microwave-safe bowl; microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring, until smooth. Pour over the ice cream hearts. Freeze until set, then drizzle with melted candy melts.

MERINGUE HEART ICE-CREAM SANDWICHES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 175 degrees. Put egg whites, sugar, and cream of tartar in a heatproof mixer bowl set over a pan of simmering water. Whisk constantly until egg whites are warm to the touch and sugar is dissolved (test by rubbing the mixture between your fingers), about 3 minutes.
• Transfer bowl to mixer; beat on low speed, gradually raising to high, until stiff, glossy peaks form, about 10 minutes. Mix in vanilla.
• On parchment-lined baking sheets, pipe meringue into hearts; bake until firm but not brown, 1 to 1 1/2 hours. Let cool on sheets, about 20 minutes.
• Let ice cream soften about 5 minutes. Put 1/4 cup ice cream on the flat side of half the meringue hearts. Top with remaining hearts, and freeze sandwiches until ice cream is set, about 15 minutes.

MERINGUE HEARTS WITH MINT ICE CREAM AND FUDGE SAUCE

Steps:

• For sauce:
• Melt butter with corn syrup in heavy small saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally. Add chocolate, sugar and cream. Whisk until chocolate melts and sugar dissolves. (Can be made 1 week ahead. Cover; chill.)
• For Meringues:
• Preheat oven to 225°F. Line 2 baking sheets with foil; butter foil. Place 3 3/4-inch heart-shaped cookie cutter on foil-lined sheet. Using electric mixer, beat whites in large bowl to soft peaks. Gradually add 1 cup sugar; continuing beating until stiff and shiny. Spoon 1/4 cup meringue inside cookie cutter on sheet. Using back of spoon spread meringue evenly. Lift up cookie cutter; place on another section of foil-lined sheet. Repeat with remaining meringue, forming 6 hearts on each sheet.
• Bake meringues until crisp and dry, about 1 hour. Cool meringues on sheets 10 minutes. Peel meringues off foil. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cool completely. Store airtight at room temperature.)
• Mix ice cream, 1/2 cup crushed peppermint candy and extract in medium bowl. Cover and freeze until almost semi-firm, about 2 hours.
• Place meringues flat side up on baking sheet and freeze 15 minutes. Spoon 1/2 cup ice cream atop 1 meringue. Top with another meringue, flat side up. Press gently to flatten, forming sandwich. Run spatula around sides of ice cream to even sides. Freeze. Repeat with remaining meringues and ice cream. Cover and freeze at least 1 hour and up to 6 hours.
• Stir sauce over medium-low heat just until warm. Sift powdered sugar over tops of meringues, coating completely. Place on plates. Spoon sauce around. Sprinkle chopped candy over sauce.