Pumpkin Bread Ice Cream Sandwich

Marissa Sertich Velie is a New York based pastry chef…
Two slabs of moist, cake-like pumpkin bread filling with a generous layer of caramel ice cream. There’s your new favorite festive season treat.
By Marissa Sertich
In October, we playfully cut smiling, spooky faces into our pumpkins, but then November hits and we begin eating Mr. Jack-O-Lantern, rather than befriending him. I suppose someone has to be the pie and pumpkin is the man for the job. I’m not even convinced I’m in love with pumpkin, but as a responsible citizen, it is my seasonal duty to consume festive holiday snacks – a burden I will happily carry. A pumpkin donut or two? Yes. Pumpkin risotto for dinner? Sound delicious. A pumpkin spice latte to start the day? Venti, please.
While pumpkin seasonal beers will always be at the top of my list during this festive season of all things pumpkin, my new favorite concoction is the Pumpkin Bread Ice Cream Sandwich. Two slabs of moist, cake-like pumpkin bread filling with a generous layer of caramel ice cream – the sandwich can be eaten on its own, but if you’re feeling especially celebratory, reduce a few cups of apple cider until it thickens to become a sticky, sweet syrup.
The pumpkin bread recipe itself I’ve stolen from my sister-in-law – what can I say? – Sometimes the pastry professional needs a fabulous home-style recipe. The, doctored it up. In addition to cider syrup, I whip up fresh cream and caramel apples to complete the dessert. Venti Pumpkin Spice mochachino soy lattes – eat my pastry dust.
- 1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin puree
- 4 eggs
- 1 cup vegetable oil
- ⅔ cup water
- 3 cups white sugar
- 3 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 ½ teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ½ teaspoon ground cloves
- ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
- Preheat oven to 325°F
- Grease and flour a jelly roll pan (or cooking pan)
- In a large bowl, mix together pumpkin puree, eggs, oil, water and sugar until well blended.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and ginger.
- Stir the dry ingredients into the pumpkin mixture until just blended and pour into the prepared pans.
- Bake for about 20-30 minutes, or until golden, or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
Marissa Sertich Velie is a New York based pastry chef and graduate of the Culinary Institute of America. She passionately documents her adventures of baking and eating her way through the fascinating (and sometimes nutty) underbelly of the American pie. Velie has a Master's degree in Food Studies from NYU.