ICE CREAM SANDWICHES WITH CHOCOLATE ALMOND CAKE AND MARCEL'S CARAMEL-BANANA-CHOCOLATE CHIP ICE CREAM

Ice Cream Sandwiches with Chocolate Almond Cake and Marcel's Caramel-Banana-Chocolate Chip Ice Cream image

Our homemade ice-cream sandwiches get raves when we serve them for lunch at the Workshop. We assemble them with cake instead of cookies to make them easier to eat. You can use any homemade or store-bought ice cream, but this caramel-banana-chocolate chip invention from pastry chef Marcel Desaulnier, who participated in the 1989 Workshop, is beyond delicious.

Yield serves 10

Number Of Ingredients 14

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Ingredients

1 tablespoon melted butter, for brushing
1 3/4 cups sifted powdered sugar
6 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
2 cups plus 2 tablespoons almond meal
12 large egg whites, at room temperature
Kosher salt
5 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 pound ripe bananas
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1/8 teaspoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
2 cups half-and-half
1 cup heavy cream
4 large egg yolks
1/2 cup chocolate chips or coarsely chopped bittersweet chocolate

Steps:

For the cake: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a 12 by 17-inch rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper and brush the sides of the baking sheet with melted butter.
In a large bowl, sift together the powdered sugar and cocoa powder, then stir in the almond meal.
In an electric stand mixer or in a large bowl with handheld electric beaters, whip the egg whites until frothy, then add a pinch of salt. Whip the whites to soft peaks, then add the sugar gradually. Continue whipping until the peaks are firm yet glossy. Gently fold in one-third of the dry ingredients, then fold in the remainder.
Pour the batter onto the prepared baking sheet and spread evenly. Bake until the cake springs back when touched, 12 to 15 minutes. Let cool completely, then place the baking sheet in the freezer until the cake is cold.
For the ice cream: Peel the bananas and mash them roughly with a wooden spoon. Cover with plastic wrap, pressing the wrap directly against the mashed bananas, and set aside.
In a saucepan, combine 6 tablespoons of the sugar, the lemon juice, and 1/4 cup water. Cook over medium heat, swirling the pan until the sugar dissolves. Bring to a boil and cook until the syrup begins to turn a rich caramel color, about 3 minutes. Once it begins to change color, it darkens quickly, so watch carefully, swirling the pan so the caramel cooks evenly. Remove the pan from the heat and add the half-and-half and cream-carefully, as they will splatter. Stir in another 6 tablespoons sugar and return the pan to medium heat. Bring to a boil, stirring with a wooden spoon to dissolve the caramel.
In a large bowl, whisk together the egg yolks and the remaining 6 tablespoons sugar until thick and pale. Whisk in about 1 cup of the hot caramel mixture to warm the egg mixture, then pour the combined mixture into the saucepan of caramel and cook, stirring, until it visibly thickens and reaches 178°F on an instant-read thermometer. Pour over the bananas and stir well. Chill quickly in an ice bath. When cold, stir in the chocolate chips.
Churn in an ice-cream maker according to the manufacturer's instructions. Transfer to a freezer container and freeze until the ice cream is firm enough to spread without melting.
Take the cake from the freezer. Put a sheet of parchment paper and a cooling rack on top, then invert the cake. Remove the baking sheet and top sheet of parchment, and cut the cake in half across the middle of the long side. Spread one half with ice cream, making an evenly thick layer. Invert the other half, including the parchment sheet under it, over the ice cream. Return the cake to the freezer for at least 2 hours.
To serve, take the cake from the freezer and remove the top sheet of parchment. With a serrated knife, trim the edges of the cake neatly. Cut the cake in half lengthwise, then cut each half into 5 triangles. Transfer the triangles to a serving platter, lifting them away from the bottom sheet of parchment. Serve immediately.