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Since I couldn't buy my favorite San Francisco treat in Iowa, I had to create my own Copycat It's-It Ice Cream Sandwiches. Creamy vanilla ice cream surrounded by two oatmeal cookies and coated in rich chocolate that are just as delicious as the original!
Have you ever tried It's-It Ice Cream Sandwiches? If you have never been to California, you probably have no clue what I am talking about. You will also not understand the disappointment when the ice cream truck showed up for the first time after we moved to Iowa, and they looked at me like I was an alien from another planet when I asked for an It's-It! You want a what's-a-what?
You can find It's-It Ice Cream Sandwiches in most convenience stores, on ice cream trucks, and sold in 3 packs in the grocery stores in California. Outside of California, you are out of luck...unless you make your own! That's where I come in. I have tried several times over the years to make a copycat version, and this is the closest that I have ever gotten to the original!!
The cookies could be a bit thinner, but these are some seriously delicious ice cream sandwiches!
How to make Copycat It's-It Ice Cream Sandwiches
We are going to start by placing 1/2 a cup of {California} raisins into a blender with 1/3 cup of water.
Blend until thoroughly pureed.
Set it aside. Beat the softened butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar in a large bowl together with a hand mixer.
Add the eggs and continue beating until creamy.
Mix in the raisin puree and vanilla.
and then the flour, salt, and baking soda, just until thoroughly combined. Stir in the oats.
Cover and chill for 1 hour.
Line baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Scoop dough and place 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets.
They will spread when they cook. Bake for 10 to 11 minutes until lightly browned around the edges, but still soft in the center. They will look under-cooked, but we want these to stay soft and not get hard or crunchy.
Move cookies to a wire cooling rack, and allow to cool completely!! I made mine the night before so they would be ready.
If you are going to use homemade Vanilla Ice Cream, now would be a good time to make it.
You want the ice cream to be solid enough to not smoosh out the sides, but not too hard to scoop. Mine was in the freezer for about 3 hours. If using commercial ice cream, allow to sit on the counter until it can be scooped out.
To assemble the ice cream sandwiches
Place a scoop of ice cream in the center of an Oatmeal Cookie {I used a #16 scoop}.
and then top with a second cookie.
Press down just enough to push the ice cream to the edges of the cookie. Place them in the freezer for about an hour to harden. I put them in the freezer uncovered, on a baking sheet like you see above. I would suggest putting parchment paper on the baking sheet, because you will need it later.
To make the chocolate coating
Place bittersweet chocolate and sunflower oil in a bowl and microwave on HIGH for 1 minute. Stir, and microwave for an additional minute. Stir chocolate together until completely melted, placing back in the microwave in 15 second increments just until it is melted and smooth. Do not over heat the chocolate, or you will have to start over.
Remove the ice cream sandwiches from the freezer. Use a wire scoop {or any scoop that you have} to hold the ice cream sandwich.
While pouring chocolate over the top with a large spoon. Smooth the top with the spoon to remove the excess chocolate.
Yes, you could use your hands and dip them into the chocolate, I just do not like sticky hands!
Place on the parchment covered baking sheet and place back in the freezer until hardened, about an hour.
I tried dipping the bottoms in chocolate while still on the wire scoop, but did not end up evenly coated. Not that they really needed any extra chocolate, but I just thought I would let you know.
Voila! Delicious Copycat Its-It Ice Cream Sandwiches to share with your family and friends.....
Tools used to create this recipe:
- Mini Blender
- Large Mixing Bowl
- Silicone Spatula
- Hand Mixer
- Cookie Scoop
- Ice Cream Scoop
- Parchment Paper
- Baking Sheets
- Spider Strainer
- Raisins
- Vanilla
You can see the rest of my favorite kitchen tools and gadgets here in my Amazon Affiliate Page. I earn a small commission when you purchase through my links, at no cost to you, so I can keep bringing you more delicious recipes!
More frozen treat recipes:
- Tiramisu Ice Cream
- Pistachio Ice Cream
- S'mores Ice Cream Pie
- Touchdown Sundae Ice Cream Pie
- Blueberry Cheesecake Ice Cream
If you love this recipe, please rate it five stars and help me share on facebook and to help other readers in our community!
Enjoy!!
Copycat It's-It Ice Cream Sandwiches
Ingredients
Oatmeal Cookies
- 0.5 cup raisins
- .33 cup water
- 1 cup unsalted butter softened
- 1.25 cups brown sugar
- .75 cups granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon fine salt
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1.5 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 3 cups old-fashioned oats
- 1 cup raisins or nuts optional
- 1 pint vanilla ice cream
Chocolate Coating
- 16 ounces bittersweet chocolate I used Ghirardelli
- 4 Tablespoons oil
Instructions
For the Cookies
- Place raisins and water in a blender and puree until smooth. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, beat together butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar.
- Add the eggs and continue beating until creamy.
- Mix in the raisin puree and vanilla extract.
- Mix in the flour, beating just until combined.
- Stir in oats and raisins or nuts if using.
- Cover and chill for 1 hour.
- Place parchment paper on baking sheets, set aside. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Scoop cookie dough and place on baking sheets. I used a #30 cookie scoop, about 2 Tablespoons.
- Bake cookies for 10 to 11 minutes, until edges are lightly browned and center is set. They will look under-cooked, that's okay.
- Place cookies on a wire cooling rack and allow to cool completely!
To Assemble
- Place a scoop of ice cream in the center of an Oatmeal Cookie {I used a #16 scoop} and then top with a second cookie.
- Press down just enough to push the ice cream to the edges of the cookie. Place them in the freezer for about an hour to harden. I put them in the freezer uncovered, on a parchment paper lined baking sheet.
For the Chocolate Coating
- Place bittersweet chocolate and oil in a bowl and microwave on HIGH for 1 minute.
- Stir, and microwave for an additional minute. Stir chocolate together until completely melted, placing back in the microwave in 15 second increments just until it is melted and smooth. Do not over heat the chocolate, or you will have to start over.
- Remove the ice cream sandwiches from the freezer. Use a wire scoop {or any scoop that you have} to hold the ice cream sandwich.
- While pouring chocolate over the top with a large spoon. Smooth the top with the spoon to remove the excess chocolate.
- Place on the parchment covered baking sheet and place back in the freezer until hardened, about an hour.
Claire @ A Little Claireification says
Well I am from FL and have never had an It's-It but I'm kind of thinking "You're It" (which means "you're the bomb diggity") for creating this deliciousness!! And with three boys I LOVE me some Wt Naps. Thanks for the coupon too! Pinned!!
Seana Turner says
Yes, I'm not from CA, and yes, I have never heard of these before. The presence of the raisin puree is definitely something I've never heard of before. NICE! I hate sticky fingers too. In fact, I don't like my hands being dirt for even a minute... I've got wet naps everywhere:)
marcie says
Oh do these ever look good! I love It's-It's, and I'd definitely need a container of those Wet-Naps to clean up during and after. 🙂
Julie says
Nothing to say about these except, YUM!! Love them!
Zainab says
I had no idea what you are talking about but I am up for an oatmeal cookie ice cream sandwich all covered in chocolate. Uhmm how can one go wrong. Clearly I need to move to California!
Cathy@LemonTreeDwelling says
I've definitely never tried these but I WANT to! It looks amazing!!
Carrie @Frugal Foodie Mama says
I have never heard of these before being more of an East coast gal, but these look amazing! And I love the addition of the raisin puree to the cookies! 🙂 See, I love the taste of raisins in baked goods, but not the actual raisins in baked goods, lol!
And it definitely looks like the Wet Naps were a good call with these! 😉
Jamie @ Love Bakes Good Cakes says
I have never heard of an It's-It until you shared a picture the other day on Facebook! Of course, you can't go wrong with cookies, ice cream and chocolate! 🙂 As a mom of 5, I love me some Wet-Naps! They are such a necessity!
Alyssa says
I have never heard of It's-It before, but they look amazing. You can't go wrong with cookies, ice cream and chocolate!
Kelly says
I have never tried these before but definitely want to now, they look amazing!