Ice Cream...It's Not Just For Summer

It's been almost a year since I developed this recipe for my friends over at Indiana Dairy, so I thought it was about time I shared it here too. Especially since many of you (in fact thousands of new readers) have joined the EMM family since last October when I did.

We all know summer's favorite sweet treat is ice cream. It's an American classic that is almost a mascot of summer time. But with September upon us, does that mean we have to stop? I say heck no! Now, you are talking to an ice cream fanatic, so quite frankly, you'll find me in the Culver's drive through year round, but when I created this, I thought it was about time ice cream got an autumn flare added to it!

If ice cream is the flavor mascot of summer, then pumpkin and apple have to be the ones for fall. Pumpkin spice everything is every where; and trips to the apple orchard are a favorite pastime. And once you're back home with those bushels of goodies, it is time to put them to good use.

Think about a big piece of warm apple pie, with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream on it. That will get you in the mood for this. It has all the same flavors, but in a new, fun, yummy twist. They are perfect for fall time parties, bonfires and tailgating. If you make the sauce ahead of time, you could easily keep it warm in the slow cooker for all day/night fun.

It's time to say good-bye to summer and hello to fall. But no matter what the calendar says, I don't think we have to stop eating our favorite summer time foods quite yet, especially if we transform them just a little to incorporate fall favorites too!

Apple Pie Sundae

Originally Posted on Indiana Dairy

4 large apples, cored, peeled and sliced into 1/4" slices
1/4 c. butter
1/2 c. chopped walnuts, a few reserved for garnish
1/4 c. packed brown sugar
1 tsp. lemon juice
1/2 c. apple cider
1 TBS cornstarch
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/8 tsp. ground nutmeg
1/8 tsp. allspice
Vanilla ice cream
Waffle bowls

Melt butter in a large skillet over low heat. Add apples in a single layer. Sprinkle with lemon juice, brown sugar and spices. Stir to coat. Cover and simmer on low until tender, about 10 minutes. Remove apples with a slotted spoon. In a small bowl combine apple cider and cornstarch. Whisk well. Pour into skillet with drippings from apples. Increase heat to medium. Whisk continuously until thickened. Combine apples, sauce and walnuts in a large bowl. Stir gently to combine. Allow to cool slightly. Scoop ice cream into waffle bowls, spoon apple mixture over top. Add a few walnuts to top. *NOTE* You can serve this right after cooking, when it's very warm, but I find it works better when it's cooled slightly. You can also make it ahead of time and reheat in the microwave, for about 1-2 minutes until it's warmed through.

Shared at Weekend Potluck