These Chocolate Covered Ice Cream Sandwiches with oatmeal cookies are just like homemade Snack and a Half bars.
What are Snack and a Half Bars?
Who here remembers Snack and a Half bars? They were individually packaged Chocolate Covered Ice Cream Sandwiches made with oatmeal cookies that were popular in the '80's and '90's. They were my absolute favorite and I loved them.
I have no idea if they were only available in Canada, or if they were sold in the US too. All I know is that the little gas station store in my neighborhood had them and I always picked one when I got the treat of my choice.
They seemed to fall off the map after my teens, but I do remember seeing them once in the tiny little corner store near my last house in Edmonton. I just assumed they must be really old and never bought one. A recent Google search told me that they rebranded under the name "Super Snack" made by Scotsburn Milk, but they were discontinued a few years ago.
How to make Chocolate Covered Ice Cream Sandwiches
Whether or not you're trying to recreate the ice cream treat of your childhood, like I was, making homemade sandwiches is a delicious endeavor. It's also easy, but can be on the messy side.
Chocolate Covered Ice Cream Sandwiches Ingredients:
- your favorite oatmeal cookies (these can be homemade or store-bought)
- vanilla ice cream or frozen yogurt
- semisweet chocolate chips or melting chocolate
- canola or coconut oil
I made my own oatmeal cookies, 'cause that's just what I do, but you can easily use store-bought. You will need to be kind of picky with the cookies you use to get the right cookie-to-ice cream ratio.
First, make sure the cookies aren't too big or too small - about 3" is just right. You also need to make sure the cookies aren't too thick. If they're too thick you either won't get enough ice cream in, or the sandwich will end up too big to fit in your mouth. Mine were even a bit on the thick side. Next time I'd flatten them a little before baking.
As for ice cream, just use whatever vanilla ice cream is your favorite, or you can get wild and use a different flavor. I used my super easy No Cook Three Ingredient Ice Cream. You will want to let it soften on the counter for a little while before you assemble the sandwiches for easier scooping and squishing.
To assemble the ice cream sandwiches, place a scoop of the softened ice cream on the bottom of one of the cookies. Place another cookie bottom/flat side towards the ice cream and squish down lightly. Clean up around the edges and scrape off any excess ice cream with a spatula or butter knife. Place on a baking sheet and repeat with remaining cookies/ice cream. When they're all done, put the baking sheet in the freezer and freeze them completely.
When they're totally solid, melt your chocolate with a little oil to thin it out. Dip the sandwiches in the chocolate and place them on a baking sheet that's lined with parchment or a non-stick baking mat or parchment.
When you're dipping, the chocolate might melt a bit of the ice cream and have trouble sticking. Not to worry, although they might not look as perfect as you'd hoped, they will still taste absolutely amazing. Once they're all dipped, freeze them again until the chocolate is solid, than transfer to a freezer bag to store.
Want more ice cream treats?
Chocolate Covered Ice Cream Sandwich Nutrition Notes:
The nutrition information for these ice cream sandwiches will vary depending on what type of oatmeal cookies and ice cream you use.
The nutrition information in the recipe below is an approximation for one ice cream sandwich using homemade oatmeal cookies and store-bought regular (not premium or light) vanilla ice cream.
To make these chocolate covered oatmeal cookie ice cream sandwiches gluten-free, make sure to use gluten-free oatmeal cookies (and make sure that the person you're serving them to can tolerate oats).
Chocolate Covered Ice Cream Sandwiches
Ingredients
- 12 of your favorite oatmeal cookies storebought or homemade; about 3" across
- vanilla ice cream or frozen yogurt of your choice slightly softened
- 8 oz semisweet chocolate chips or melting chocolate
- 1 tablespoon canola or coconut oil
Instructions
- Place one scoop of softened ice cream on the bottom of a cookie. Place a second cookie (bottom side in) on top of the ice cream and lightly press together. Smooth edges of ice cream with a cake spatula or butter knife. Repeat with remaining ice cream and cookies.
- Place ice cream sandwiches on a baking sheet and freeze until completely solid, 1-2 hours.
- Melt chocolate and oil together in a small saucepan over medium low heat. Quickly dip each ice cream sandwich into the melted chocolate to coat. Return chocolate coated ice cream sandwiches to a baking sheet lined with parchment or a non-stick baking mat and freeze until chocolate is solid.
- Transfer ice cream sandwiches to an airtight container or zipper bag and store in the freezer until ready to use.
Leann says
These look so good, I will definitely have to make them! My husband and I took a vacation to Nova Scotia in April and I found snack and a half bars up on the Bay of Fundy, in Advocate Harbor. Delicious!
Carissa says
Thanks! Hopefully you got a chance to eat at Wild Caraway when you were in Advocate Harbour. So GOOD!
Shannon says
TOTALLY! The Snack and a Half was my favorite too! Nice work 😉
Leann Doyle says
Sadly we didn't! We were up in april before their season started. A very good excuse for a return trip!
Katy G says
Check out It's-It's from San Francisco (my home-town)--they look the same as Snack and a half and are AMAZINGLY GOOD! The Chapmans are good, and help satisfy the craving, but It's-It's are better (buy sadly unavailable in Vancouver).
Carissa says
I went to San Francisco about a year ago, and I did try It's-It's there! You're right, they're great! But unfortunately not available in Wisconsin. I've found a pretty good (but not chocolate covered) chocolate chip ice cream sandwich at Trader Joe's, which satisfies my craving when I don't feel like making my own.
Earl C Williams says
I instantly thought of San Francisco's "It's It." I want to make the cookie correctly because I have had some experience with that and I could not make the right cookie for the ice cream. When you bit the sandwich, the ice cream would slide right out the back.
I did search your site for a proper recipe but did not find one. Do you have a link to a cookie recipe that would work for this fabulous dessert?
Carissa says
I used an America's Test Kitchen recipe to make oatmeal cookies. However, I beleive that the actual cookie recipe matters less than how frozen the sandwich is. When you bite into an ice cream sandwich, and the ice cream is softer than the cookie, you will get the ice cream squishing out the sides. You want a cookie that is on the thinner side, but I think many recipes, or store bought cookies will work as long as you freeze the entire sandwich after it is assembled so that the ice cream is firm.
Earl C Williams says
Thank you for your advice. I am super excited about making these.