Today’s Spotlight is shining on Ice Cream Pie.

Ice cream pie is a frozen dessert made with a sweet crust, creamy ice cream, and whipped cream topping. The crust can be made from a standard pastry, crumbled cookies, or graham cracker. The ice cream can be filled with your favorite flavors and topped with hot fudge or more whipped cream.

The term “pie a la mode” is said to have originated when a guest at Delmonico’s restaurant in New York City asked if a slice of apple pie with ice cream had a name.

 

History

The first pies were invented by the ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans. The ancient Egyptians created the first pies that resemble what we know today. The ancient Greeks are believed to have invented pie pastry around the 5th century BC. The Greeks made pie pastry by combining water and flour. The Romans may have been the first to create a pie with a top and bottom crust.

The earliest record of ice cream-like treats dates back to 500 BC during the Achaemenid Empire in Persia. During this time, sweetened ice was crushed and mixed with flavors, fruits, and toppings. Early references include Roman emperor Nero who ordered ice to be brought from the mountains and combined with fruit toppings, and King Tang of Shang, China, who had a method of creating ice and milk concoctions. The ice cream recipe came to North America 250 years after it was discovered by Christopher Columbus. American colonists were the first to use the term “ice cream”.

One story says that “Pie à la Mode” was invented in the late 1800s at the Cambridge Hotel in Cambridge, New York. According to the story, a visiting professor named Charles Watson Townsend ordered a slice of pie with ice cream. Another guest asked if the dessert had a name, and when told it didn’t, dubbed the concoction “Pie à la Mode.”

The term “à la mode” comes from French and means “in the style of” or “the fashion of”. It’s typically used to describe a pie or dessert topped with a scoop of ice cream.

But Ice Cream Pie doesn’t just have a scoop or two of ice cream. It is an entire pie filled with ice cream.

It is believed that ice cream first appeared about 2,500 years ago in Persia. The modern version of the dessert, however, was probably invented by Italian immigrants. Modern Ice cream pie was likely developed in the United States in the mid-20th century when freezers became available in homes and restaurants.

 

Here are some things to watch out for when preparing an ice cream pie:

• Ice cream: Let the ice cream partially thaw before spreading it.
• Crust: A soft cookie crust will be easier to slice.
• Topping: Make sure the fudge topping cools to room temperature before spreading it over the pie From.
• Layers: Place the pie in the freezer for about 30 minutes between each ice cream layer addition.
• Slicing: If the pie is frozen overnight, let it sit at room temperature for about 10 minutes to soften before slicing.
• Softening: Soften the ice cream in the fridge while the pie is freezing between stages.
• Knife: To get a nice, clean slice, dip your knife in a glass of very hot water for a few seconds before slicing.

 

Here is an Ice Cream Pie Recipe for you to Try:

Ingredients:

• half gallon (2 quarts) favorite ice cream or sorbet
• 1 (9 inch) pre-made cookie or graham cracker crust
• Favorite toppings (chocolate chips, chocolate syrup (or Magic Shell), sprinkles, chopped fruit, candy bars, etc.)

 

Instructions:

1. Let ice cream thaw until slightly soft and scoopable. Then gently spread a layer in the pie crust, approximately 1″ thick. Add in a light layer of toppings on top. Then add one more 1″ thick layer of ice cream and add more toppings on top. Freeze the pie until it is firm again, then slice and serve.
2. Top with whipped cream if you’d prefer.
3. Enjoy!

 

The average American eats roughly 20 pounds of ice cream each year, or about 4 gallons. This works out to about 23.2 quarts of ice cream, ice milk, sherbet, ices, and other commercially produced frozen dairy products. 60% of this ice cream is consumed outside of the home.

 

Here are some fun facts and world records about ice cream:

The world’s longest ice cream dessert is 4,549 feet and 3.36 inches long, which is almost a mile.

• The world’s largest ice cream cake weighed over 22,000 pounds and was made at the Dairy Queen in Toronto, Ontario, Canada in 2011.
• The first flavor of ice cream was a dessert made with snow, nectar, and honey, which was enjoyed by Alexander the Great.
• The ice cream cone was invented by accident at the St. Louis World’s Fair in 1904 when an ice cream vendor ran out of bowls.
• It takes 12 pounds of milk to make one gallon of ice cream.
• The average number of licks to finish a scoop of ice cream is 50.
• The Guinness world record for the most varieties of ice cream displayed together is 521.
• It takes 12 pounds of milk to produce just 1 gallon of ice cream.

 

National Ice Cream Pie Day is celebrated on August 18. This is a great excuse to eat something cool and delicious, have a cheat day or pay homage to this celebrated dessert. Let us know in the comments what kind of ice cream pipe you like best.