Ice Cream Fruit Pie,
& Cookie Crumb Crust

by Kathy
(SD)

This yummy ice cream pie and fruit has a special lower-fat cookie crumb crust. You can make it healthier by choosing more natural ingredients too. For instance, try Rice Dream instead of ice cream!

I’ve seen Rice Dream mentioned in your various recipes on this site, and I use it a lot and love it, personally. I especially like chocolate and chocolate chip kinds. Rice Dream is really good if you want low fat, because it doesn’t use cream, but a rice derivative instead. Really – give it a try, it is so good! You can get it in health food stores, or the healthy aisle in the grocery store. And I know there are many elderly dietary concerns for people, so this could give them a possibility for a healthy dessert!

What is the flavor theme of your dessert? This will determine what you use – including the little extras. Chocolate? Ginger? Pecan? Caramel? Mint?

First make the Cookie Crust

1 ½ cups of a naturally sweetened cookies (Barbara’s is a really good brand).
…(Keep in mind your flavor theme).
¼ cup butter or margarine (unsalted would be even healthier).

Make the cookies into crumbs in a blender or with a rolling pin.
Melt the butter or margarine (or substitute).
Mix together the cookie crumbs and the butter.
Press the mixture into a 9 inch pie pan. Bake at 325 F degrees for 5 to 6 minutes. Then cool the crust.

Filling

1 quart of natural ice cream, or Rice Dream, softened.
1/4 cupped crushed sugar-free candy of your choice (optional).
1 cup of fresh fruit – such as strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, peaches, kiwi, etc. -- or a combination of any of it! (Frozen fruit is ok too, but fresh tastes way better).
(Optional) - 1 Tablespoon of flavored liqueur – coffee, chocolate, raspberry, crème de menthe, etc.
½ cup ground pecans or walnuts (optional).
Whip cream topping (optional).

Soften the ice cream or Rice Dream in a bowl and mix until smooth. You could also put it in a blender. Mix in the fruit. If you don’t mind extra sweets, you can also stir in crushed candy into the ice cream. There are many candies that are sugar-free. Choose a candy that goes with your theme. You can also add in pecans. Another really good addition is the liqueur – especially for a party! Mix it all together, then gently put it in your pie crust. Cover it well with plastic wrap, and freeze.

When you’re ready to serve, you can top each piece of pie with a small amount of whipped cream and a few candy bits. This is also really good served with a dessert wine or liqueur. (Of course, at this point we’re veering from healthy…)