Ice Cream Grahamwiches
The scrumptious filling used in this ice cream sandwich recipe with graham crackers is a combination of sweet sugar-free whipped topping and sugar-free chocolate pudding, for a less-guilty version of this summer treat.
In this post, I’m going to show you how to make what I call ice cream grahamwiches. They’re lower in sugar than their ice cream sandwich counterparts, but that doesn’t mean they’re less flavorful.
In the summer, I love to have tasty treats in my freezer handy should unexpected guests drop by. This recipe is the kid’s version of Granny Jordan’s frozen cranberry banana salads on both counts. They are easy to make (of course) and the filling’s made with a sweet and creamy combination of sugar-free whipped topping and sugar-free pudding instead of ice cream. That means the only sugar is the small amount you’ll find in the graham crackers and the sprinkles if you use them.
Personally, I use chopped nuts on mine or leave them plain; saving the sprinkled ones for the kidders. If you make these, you’ll end up with at least 30. I quit after 30 and started passing out spoons for all of us to lick what was left in the bowl. ~smiles~
This ice cream sandwich with graham crackers recipe is a game-changer. They taste just like ice cream sandwiches, but with a bit more flavor to them and a lot less guilt. Who can resist that? I’ve included some options below on how you can adapt these faux ice cream sandwiches to suit you and your family. Let’s go!
Recipe Ingredients
- Graham crackers
- Sugar-free whipped topping
- Milk
- Sugar-free instant pudding mix
- Optional: sprinkles and chopped nuts
How to Make Ice Cream Sandwiches With Graham Crackers
Add your chocolate pudding mix to the milk in a medium bowl; using the amounts called for on the package.
Mix that up for about two minutes, until well blended.
When your pudding is all mixed up, add whipped topping and mix again until well blended.
There we go, all whipped up! This will be smooth and creamy, the perfect “faux ice cream” for our grahamwiches! This really is delicious and I hope you try it. Make them with your kids or grandkids or save ’em all for yourself, whatever cranks yer tractor. I’ve been known to make these and keep them all to myself for a least a month before letting other folks know they exist.
Break graham crackers in half and place them on a plate to get ready to make these.
This is just the amount I started out with, I ended up using about double this.
Put a dollop of cream on half of a graham cracker.
Top with another.
For the kids, I pour out some sprinkles on a plate and just gently press each side into them.
I love the crushed nuts on them for me. You get the whole salty, chocolaty, sweet thing goin’ on!
Plain is also delicious though!
You can smooth the sides with a butter knife or the back of a spoon if you like.
I put each one in a cheap little sandwich baggie and then place all of the baggies in the freezer until we need them.
They will be frozen in an hour or so. This is important to know because Katy kept coming to “check”on them.
With sugar-free pudding, sugar-free whipped topping, and naturally low in sugar graham crackers, these ice cream grahamwiches are for everyone!
Storage
When stored as directed, these ice cream sandwiches with last for up to 6 months in the freezer.
Recipe Notes
- You can also make these with regular pudding and regular whipped topping if you prefer.
- For something different, use chocolate graham crackers instead.
- Another option is to mix the sprinkles or chopped nuts into the whipped topping before spreading it onto the graham crackers. Other mix-in ideas are mini chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, mini M&Ms, or toffee bits.
- Use whichever instant pudding mix you prefer. You might opt for sugar-free instant vanilla pudding mix, lemon pudding, or strawberry pudding instead.
- To make this a gluten-free ice cream sandwich recipe, use gluten-free graham crackers and gluten-free instant pudding.
Check out these other irresistible ice cream treats:
Homemade Peach Ice Cream (No Eggs Needed)
No Churn Cherry Vanilla Ice Cream
Ingredients
- 30 graham crackers broken in half
- 1 large box sugar-free instant chocolate pudding mix
- 8 ounces Cool Whip Lite
- milk according to pudding package
- sprinkles and chopped nuts optional
Instructions
- Prepare pudding with milk according to package directions. Add whipped topping and blend until smooth.1 large box sugar-free instant chocolate pudding mix, 8 ounces Cool Whip Lite, milk
- Place a large dollop on a graham cracker and top with another. Dip each side into sprinkles or nuts if desired.30 graham crackers, sprinkles and chopped nuts
- Place in individual zipper seal sandwich bags and freeze until firm.
Nutrition
Don’t sweat the petty stuff and don’t pet the sweaty stuff.
~Southern Plate Reader Lynn from GA. Fill me up! Click here to leave your quote and make my day!
I made these and I also had a consistency problem. It’s in the refrigerator right now and I hoping it will thicken. Maybe the mixer isn’t the best tool.
I am having the same problem. While I kept on going and made the sandwiches anyway, it was a huge mess and certainly not “spreadable”. In the end, I ended up stacking 4 crackers (cracker, pudding, cracker, pudding, cracker, etc) to get them to a desired size because no matter how much filling I put in, it all squished out when I pushed the crackers together. I then used my finger to smooth out the edges as much as possible and then rolled them in sprinkles. Lined the sandwiches in a metal cake pan and covered with foil to freeze. That got me thinking……if the filling remains too liquidy to spread, next time I will make more of a graham cracker “cake,” and line my pan with crackers, spread the filling, more crackers, etc and stack the ingredients before adding some sort of topping (choc chips, nuts, sprinkles, whatever). I think it will still taste great, but maybe be less messy to prepare.
I used half the milk; the filling stays in the cracker better. Also, I modified the vanilla with lime zest, lime juice, and a hint of Margareta Chrystal Light; these Sami’s taste like key lime pie. Thanks for sharing, I made these for my diabetic Dad and he loved them.
I bet these would be great with the Oreo pudding mix and chocolate graham crackers….mmmmm
I had the same problem, the consistency did not come out right it was too liquidy. I am bummed, was really looking forward to having for dessert tonight with friends.
When I make these, I only use half the milk called for on the pudding mix box. I also don’t beat them with a mixer. Just stir pudding mix and milk together with a spoon for 2 minutes (per pudding instructions), and then stir in cool whip. Hope that helps. 🙂 These are really yummy with vanilla pudding mix.
I just tried making the ice cream graham cracker sandwiches and as simple as it sounds, mine did not reach the right consistency! Mine was more liquidy and I even put it in the freezer for a little to make it thicker. It just did not want to work, I am super bummed 🙁 Help!
When I make these, I only use half the milk called for on the pudding mix box. I also don’t beat them with a mixer. Just stir pudding mix and milk together with a spoon for 2 minutes (per pudding instructions), and then stir in cool whip. Hope that helps. 🙂 I like to use vanilla pudding, too. YUMMY!
Just tried making these, and wouldn’t you know it, the most simple recipe and I still had trouble with it.
Wondering what happened….I was left with more of a liquid mix than that thicker kind you have! Can you help me figure out what I did wrong Christy??
When I make these, I only use half the milk called for on the pudding mix box. I also don’t beat them with a mixer. Just stir pudding mix and milk together with a spoon for 2 minutes (per pudding instructions), and then stir in cool whip. Hope that helps. 🙂
Colleen, I wonder if you maybe used a ‘Cook & Serve’ pudding mix instead of Instant?
I made these yesterday! OH MY GOSH! So good! I couldn’t find any sprinkles at Dollar General, but I found some Toffee covered Sunflower seeds! They were perfect! So good! Thanks for the recipe I read this last year and had plans on fixing it then, and forgot! Glad I decided to try it now! Thanks Christy!