How to Share A Little “Leftover Ice Cream”

Leftover Ice Cream sounds like an oxymoron doesn’t it, but that is what this post is all about!

In my book, Creative Ways to Use Up Leftovers, I explained that for my purposes the term ‘leftovers’ covers a variety of situations which are …

1. Genuine leftovers – either the tail end of a made up dish or the last few scraps of ingredient which are surplus to the requirements of a recipe.
2. By-products of cooking – for instance a Parmesan rind or potato skins.
3. Storecupboard scraps – things that have been forgotten and are lurking at the back of the cupboard, such as a tablespoon of marmalade or half a packet of peanuts.
4. Excess – too much of something having been over enthusiastic when picking blackberries or due to two for one offers.
5. Snippets – small quantities of things you wish you had more of e.g. two squares of chocolate and four friends
6. Accidents – for instance what to do with the packet of biscuits you sat on!

It is the Snippet situation to which I am referring here; small quaitities of something you wish you had more of. Here are my ideas for …

Leftover Ice Cream

Affogato

This is a cross between a drink and a dessert. Affogato is Italian for “drowned” and in the foodie world usually refers to ice cream ‘drowned’ in coffee, in which case its full name is Affogato al Caffe.

Ice Cream Truffles

This is a good way to use up bits of leftover ice cream and impress people at the same time.

~   Have equipment and ingredients other than ice cream ready before you start.
~   Work quickly.
~   Get ice cream out of the freezer and scoop into small balls.
~   Immediately coat in something delicious and complimentary eg. cocoa, melted chocolate (not too hot!), crushed biscuits, crushed caramel, chopped nuts, sprinkles, grated chocolate and so on.
~   Immediately refreeze till needed.

To be even more impressive serve with a little dish of chocolate sauce for dipping purposes.

 Ice Cream Filled Profiteroles

I used to have a husband that called these “poovy boirays” – no idea why, bless him. Traditionally, of course, these little choux pastry puffs are filled with cream and topped with chocolate but why not replace the cream filling with ice cream and drizzle the tops with a complimentary sauce of your choice?

Ice Cream Sandwich

~   Choose a very crisp and crumbly cookie/biscuit or one that is soft and cakey as these will both be edible from the freezer. Chewy biscuits might freeze too hard.
~   If purpose baking cookies slightly undercook to keep the texture right when frozen, and …
~   … sandwich while still warm with very cold ice cream which will slightly melt and soak into the cookie before setting solid in the freezer – even more goo-some!
~   Fill generously.

Here’s one I made earlier.

Ice Cream Cake

This is kind of a last minute thing.

~   Shortly before serving use a softened complimentary ice cream to fill and top a cake.
~   Pop back into the freezer for a few minutes for the ice cream to firm up. 
~   Slice and serve.

Ice Cream French Toast

5 thick slices of bread – something soft and white is best
250ml (give or taake) of melted ice cream – if you haven’t got enough leftover ice cream
add a little cream
butter for frying
whatever toppings you fancy that go with the flavour of the ice cream

~ If the ice cream isn’t fully melted give it a hand over a low heat No boiling allowed!
~ Dip the bread in the ice cream and turn to coat.
~ Melt a knob of butter in a non-stick pan.
~ Fry in the butter till crisp and golen on each side.
~ Serve immediately with appropriate toppings of your choice – butter, cream, clotted cream, flavoured syrups, maple syrp, honey, jam, fresh fruit, etc. as appropriate.

Milkshakes – of course

Basic milkshake per person …

2 scoops vanilla ice cream
250ml milk
½ teaspoon vanilla extract – the real thing

~   Blend together in a liquidiser or food processor.

As I say, it is basic but of course you can do what you like with it, e.g. …

~   Use different flavour ice cream.
~   Add honey, maple syrup, flavoured syrups or whatever would go well with the ice cream flavour.
~   Add fresh fruit.
~   Add fresh herbs or maybe a bit of chilli syrup (particularly good with mango and/or lime).
~   Use less or more milk depending on how thick or runny you want it.
~   Top with whipped cream and/or chopped nuts, grated chocolate etc.
~   Add an appropriate alcohol – best if it’s a spirit, lager probably wouldn’t be that yummy! We used to call these Adult Milkshakes on our menus

Ice Cream Soda

Or Float, which is also known as a Spider in Australia! 

So now, if your little darlings are about to go back to school, leaving you with the responsibility of using up leftover ice cream you now have some ideas for what to do with it.

Make your Own Ice Cream!

Please tweet this post to help others share their leftover ice cream!