PB&J Ice Cream

When I was in school, everybody used to always say high school and college were so great and that I would really miss them when they were over.  I was like, "Yeah, right.  I'm super cool and grown-up and I'm ready for the real world.  You don't know what you're talking about.  Seriously, I'm like a grown-up already." 

Flash forward a few years to me, sitting at home with my baby, reading Facebook statuses (like me!) about kids going back to school and there I was, getting nostalgic.  Ugh, someone pass the tissues.  Everybody-1, Natalie-0.  I guess I just have to wait a few years until I can live vicariously through my kids, right?  (Kidding!)

This treat is in honor of back-to-school.  A little late, yes, but still relevant!  I L-O-V-E love PB&J.  Love it.  Love it in all forms.  I especially love a cold PB&J.  (I've been known to steal cold PB&Js, so keep yours close, pal.)  A delicious cold PB&J is what inspired this ice cream.  Wouldn't this be the best after-school snack?

You will be the coolest parent if you welcome your kids with this treat after school.  But not every day, because I don't think getting your kids addicted to sugar makes you a very cool parent.  But I do support occasional treats.  Life is just a little happier with PB&J, you know?

PS- Just had a genius idea: this would make a great ice cream sandwich, between two PB cookies!  I must make one ASAP.  It could be the snack of my dreams.

PB&J Ice Cream

Oven Love

-1/2 cup peanut butter
-1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
-2 tablespoons light corn syrup
-1/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
-your favorite vanilla ice cream recipe (I use Dorie's.  Recipe posted here, or you can find it in Baking From My Home to Yours.)
-your favorite jam or jelly (I used grape here)

Make peanut butter sauce. Combine the peanut butter, 1/2 cup whipping cream, 2 tablespoons corn syrup, and the 1/4 cup of brown sugar in a saucepan. Heat over low heat, stirring, until smooth and sugar is dissolved. Chill thoroughly.

Prepare the vanilla ice cream in your ice cream maker.  In a freezer-safe container, layer the vanilla ice cream with spoonfuls of peanut butter sauce and jam.  Swirl with a knife or a skewer, and repeat another layer or two of ice cream, peanut butter sauce and jam.  Top with a final layer of ice cream and swirl.  Freeze until firm.