Berry Basil Waffle Ice Cream Sandwich

Serves 4 · 20 min prep · 15 min cook

Ingredients

• 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tbsp granulated sugar
• 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 cup whole milk
• 1 large egg
• 3 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tsp lemon zest
• 1 pint vanilla ice cream
• 1 cup fresh strawberries
• 1/2 cup fresh blueberries
• 10 leaves fresh basil leaves
• 1 tbsp honey
• 1 tbsp powdered sugar

Instructions

1. 1Preheat the waffle iron to medium heat. Whisk flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, and salt in a bowl until aerated and free of clumps.
2. 2In a separate bowl combine milk, egg, melted butter, vanilla, and lemon zest, whisking until the egg is fully broken up and the mixture is smooth. Fold the wet ingredients into the dry just until a thick batter comes together; stop as soon as no dry flour remains.
3. 3Grease the iron lightly. Portion batter onto the grids to make thinner, sandwich-friendly waffles, close the lid, and cook until pale golden and just set with light crisp edges, about 3 minutes. Avoid deep browning so the waffles stay pliable enough to sandwich.
4. 4Transfer cooked waffles to a wire rack and cool completely to room temperature, about 10 minutes; warm waffles will melt the ice cream too fast. Once cool, use a round cutter or knife to trim them into even circles or rectangles if desired.
5. 5While waffles cool, hull and slice the strawberries and toss them with the blueberries, torn basil leaves, and honey in a small bowl. Let the fruit macerate for 5 minutes so the basil perfume blooms and juices form.
6. 6Remove the ice cream from the freezer and let it soften on the counter for 5 minutes until scoopable but still firm. Place one waffle on a work surface, add a generous scoop of ice cream, and gently press a second waffle on top to form a sandwich.
7. 7Spoon a spoonful of the berry-basil mixture over or alongside each sandwich so some berries nestle into the ice cream edges. Dust the top waffle lightly with powdered sugar for a pretty finish.
8. 8Serve immediately on chilled plates, or wrap each sandwich tightly in parchment and freeze for 20 minutes if you prefer a firmer hold. The basil lifts the berries and keeps the whole dessert tasting bright and summery.