The word ‘seasonal’ gets bandied around a lot in food blogging circles. I’m all for it – seasonal cooking means freshness, creativity, working with what you have and varying your diet. It’s maximising nutrition in the produce you buy and going with the flow of Mother Nature.
What it’s not is ice cream in winter.
What can I say? I’m a rebel and I’m ok with that. Come and join me in some ruckus-causing ice cream making.
Strawberry Cheesecake Ice Cream with Smashed Oreos
This recipe was inspired by my first ever Baskin Robbins experience. I was in year 12 and went to the city with my bestie to see an M15+ film. Significant because I had a learners permit stating my age – I looked about 12 and had been refused M15+ entry in the past. Like all good 16 year olds we binge-ate lollies in the film and followed it up with ice cream for lunch.
Ice cream had always been a ‘spirit food’ (like a spirit animal y’know) but I had never paid that much for a scoop before – I come from a thrifty family. Ice cream to me had previously meant bulk-buy four litre tubs of Neopolitan and arguments over whether the bowl distribution of the pink (I’m pretty sure that is the official flavour title, it doesn’t taste like much else) and chocolate flavours were fair. At Baskin Robbins, that perfect scoop of creamy goodness with a strawberry ribbon and tiny chunks of cheesecake, plumped into a waffle cone that was crunchy with caramelised sugar, changed my life forever. Think that’s hyperbolic? You, my friend need to go get yourself a really good scoop right now and then we’ll talk. Or, just whip this baby up for dessert…
There is a significant lack of Baskin Robbinses in Melbourne so it is now a holiday treat for me. I still order Strawberry Cheesecake (usually with a second scoop of Peanut Butter Chocolate #balance) but holidays are most definitely not frequent enough. It was time to recreate strawberry cheesecake ice cream at home. With Oreos.
This recipe is so easy and does not require any churning. It is as simple as beating some strawberries and cream cheese together, whipping up cream and condensed milk and folding it all together with smashed Oreos.
You won’t regret it. Even in winter 😉
Do you remember your first gourmet ice cream experience? And does anyone still buy Neapolitan? 
- 600ml thickened cream
- 1 can (395g) sweetened condensed milk
- 125g/4 oz cream cheese, softened
- 100g/3 oz strawberries
- 100g/3 oz oreos
- Roughly chop Oreos
- Lightly mash strawberries with a fork in a medium bowl
- Add cream cheese to strawberries and beat until combined. Don't worry if there are little chunks of strawberry and cream cheese in the mix.
- In a large bowl whisk cream and condensed milk together until soft peaks form
- Carefully fold strawberry mixture and 3/4 of Oreos through condensed milk mixture - keeping as much air in the mixture as possible and allowing the strawberry mixture to just swirl through.
- Scoop into a freezer-safe dish or loaf tin, top with remaining Oreos and freeze for four to six hours or until firm.
Swah
June 8, 2015 at 1:41 pm (11 months ago)Oh wow Nicole this ice cream looks sensational! Be still my beating heart
Nicole Bilson
June 15, 2015 at 7:21 pm (10 months ago)Thank you, it’s so easy too, rather dangerous. I have made it a couple of times since.
Gary Lum
June 8, 2015 at 1:48 pm (11 months ago)Oh man…I’m going low carb at the moment to avoid buying new trousers. This ice cream looks fabulous.
Nicole Bilson
June 15, 2015 at 7:22 pm (10 months ago)Oh that’s miserable. Still, your low-carb recipes do look pretty delicious
Gary Lum
June 15, 2015 at 8:21 pm (10 months ago)Thanks Nicole. I really need to learn how to eat in moderation and get better and cooking less.
sassydrcil
June 8, 2015 at 7:15 pm (11 months ago)Oh good heavens yes
JJ - 84thand3rd
June 8, 2015 at 11:54 pm (11 months ago)evil, evil, evil ;D
Nicole Bilson
June 15, 2015 at 7:23 pm (10 months ago)I’ll take that. Evil is so much more fun that saintly-good though right? 😉
Cate
June 9, 2015 at 1:44 am (11 months ago)I whole heartedly agree with you that ice cream is an anytime (everytime) food, I am in fact eating a delightful kit kat number as I read (although it is summer here)! If I don’t count the Cornish specialty of ice cream with a massive dollop of clotted cream as gourmet (still gluttonous though), then I think BR was my first gourmet ice cream experience too, some kind of white chocolate and cherry affair, be still my beating heart! Your recipe sounds delicious, and excitingly something I can currently make (recipes containing egg being out due to having a bun in the oven!) I might have to give it a go when I get a kitchen of my own again! X
Nicole Bilson
June 15, 2015 at 7:28 pm (10 months ago)Oh my goodness! I can’t believe I didn’t see this earlier. Huge congratulations on your bun. I am in Brisbane this week visiting my new nephew and am so smitten. How exciting.
You see, we are kindred ice cream spirits. I quite like the sound of the Cornish speciality.
Rebecca@Figs and Pigs
June 9, 2015 at 5:02 am (11 months ago)Nicole this looks wonderful who cares if its winter there when ice cream looks that good it doesn’t matter about the weather.
Nicole Bilson
June 15, 2015 at 7:28 pm (10 months ago)I agree:)
Sammie @ The Annoyed Thyroid
June 9, 2015 at 7:43 am (11 months ago)Far out! I used to love that Strawberry Cheesecake flavour at Baskin Robbins. I nearly drooled over my phone when I saw the picture in my Instagram feed. You are a Gelato Genius, you really are!
Nicole Bilson
June 15, 2015 at 7:30 pm (10 months ago)Aww shucks, thank you. It’s a skill I have been cultivating for many years. I often base day trips around some excellent ice cream purveyors.
Emma
June 9, 2015 at 10:05 am (11 months ago)This looks so luscious and creamy! I don’t make ice cream that often but when I do sweetened condensed milk makes the best sort.
And haha I eat ice cream all year, winter be damned 😀
Amy
June 9, 2015 at 11:03 am (11 months ago)Ice cream is a staple food, like broccoli or apples, and must be consumed all year round for good health 😉
We live dangerously close to a B&R at the moment, and their movie popcorn flavour is my current favourite, especially with sprinkles
I can’t wait to try this strawberry cheesecake and oreo version at home soon – and I even found GF oreos recently so I can eat it too!
bakeplaysmile
June 9, 2015 at 12:52 pm (11 months ago)Haha I’m definitely happy to be a rebel with you! I love ice cream at any time of the year!!! This version sounds very delicious!
Samantha
June 9, 2015 at 6:41 pm (11 months ago)This, Nicole, is why I love you.
Jem @ Lost in Utensils
June 11, 2015 at 5:51 pm (11 months ago)Ice cream is definitely a seasonal food lol
Jean | Holy Smithereens
June 13, 2015 at 10:18 am (10 months ago)This is just amazing! I love the addition of Oreo
Nicole Bilson
June 15, 2015 at 9:28 pm (10 months ago)Thank you
Oreos are always a good addition.
Lauren @ Create Bake Make
June 13, 2015 at 8:43 pm (10 months ago)I think ice cream is perfect all year round.
Nicole Bilson
June 15, 2015 at 9:24 pm (10 months ago)*Fist pump*
Jess - A Little Part of the World
June 14, 2015 at 7:18 am (10 months ago)Ice cream at any time of year is acceptable… In fact essential I would say. This looks so divine and super easy to make. My husband would be so impressed if I was able to whip this up for him. Jx
Nicole Bilson
June 15, 2015 at 9:24 pm (10 months ago)I am SO with you on that. Have you tried it yet? Won hubby bonus points?
Zamamabakes
June 17, 2015 at 10:52 pm (10 months ago)I say let’s eat it anytime of year! Especially when it’s as good as this little treasure of yours Nicole! Looks…….So……….Delicious!
Nicole Bilson
June 22, 2015 at 11:12 pm (10 months ago)Definitely a year-round food I say. Although, the weather is challenging me a little at the moment, 6 degrees last night!
Jess @Sweetest Menu
June 18, 2015 at 7:18 pm (10 months ago)How did I miss this one? I’m in love! Oreos too, what an awesome treat!