Little Helpers & Holiday Traditions: Oreo Ice-Cream Pie

If you’ve been following along with us on social media, you may have already heard from my little helper earlier this week. W.O.W. has been bound and determined to help with just about anything she can get her hands on - from “sewing” (aka pressing the backstitch button), to laying out fabric for photos, to cooking down at Nana’s.

And while things might take a bit longer than usual, I couldn’t be happier to let her assist!

Watching her “stir, stir, stir” muffins with Nana got me thinking about our holiday traditions - especially our sweets and treats - and what she could help make this year. Almost immediately, our Oreo Ice-Cream Pie came to mind.

Like most family recipes, there isn’t an official version written down. My mom likes to say it’s “just a mix of a lot of people’s love and ideas thrown together to make a delicious tradition.”

So today, I’m sharing it with you - so your little helpers can lend a hand in the kitchen this holiday season too.

Oreo Ice-Cream Pie

You’ll Need:

• 1 quart vanilla ice-cream (we use Breyers)
• 1 container Cool Whip
• 1 graham cracker pie crust
• 1 package Oreos
• Chocolate syrup (optional)
• Large mixing bowl

Instructions:

1. Crush the Oreos into bite-sized pieces. We use a large ziplock bag and a rolling pin, but a mixer or food processor works too if you prefer a finer texture.
2. Let the vanilla ice-cream soften slightly to make mixing easier.
3. In a large mixing bowl, combine the softened ice-cream, Cool Whip, and crushed Oreos. Mix well.
4. Scoop half of the mixture into the pie crust, filling it to the top. Add the remaining mixture in top of container.
   
5. Place top of pie on the bottom, and seal.
   1. If the mixture feels too soft, place it in the freezer for a bit to firm up before adding the top layer.
      
6. Freeze until fully set.
7. Optional: Drizzle chocolate syrup on top before serving for a little extra sweetness.
   1. Hint: if the ice cream mixture will not release from the top once you stack it, use a hand towel that has been soaked with hot tap water and place it over the top to melt the mixture just a bit. Pull the cover  off  then smooth sides and top with a spatula or backside of a spoon.  

Whether you’re stitching quilts or stirring desserts, some traditions are just better when shared - especially with little hands helping along the way.💕