Go Back
+ servings
Print

Meaningful Eats

Ice Cream Crunch Bars

8 servings
Ice Cream Crunch Bars! Also called I Scream Bars! Any ice cream you liked topped with a toasty crispy coconut, crispy rice, cashew topping. Easy to make and so delicious! 
Course Snack
Cuisine American
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Chilling time 6 hours
Total Time 20 minutes

Ingredients

  • 3/4 cup unsalted cashews chopped
  • 2 cups crispy rice cereal be sure it's gluten-free
  • 1 cup sweetened shredded coconut
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup butter
  • 2 pints ice cream see note above

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350F. Set out the ice cream for 30 minutes to allow it to soften.
  • Place the cashews, crispy rice cereal, coconut, salt, brown sugar, and butter on a baking sheet. Toss everything to combine evenly. Bake for 15 minutes total, stirring every 5 minutes for even toasting. Watch the mixture carefully the last 5 minutes so it doesn't burn. The coconut should be nice and toasted.
  • Allow the mixture to cool. Place the softened ice cream in a bowl and stir until smooth.
  • Line an 8x8 inch pan with foil. Place half the crunch mixture on the bottom of pan. Add the ice cream in 4-5 dollaps over top, then carefully smooth. Add the rest of the crunch mixture on top and press slightly to smooth.
  • Chill the bars for at least 6 hours until set. Slice and serve. Enjoy! The bars will keep for 1 week in the freezer.

Notes

MAKE IT DAIRY-FREE/VEGAN: Use dairy-free ice cream. Swap out the butter for Earth Balance Buttery sticks.
To make these gluten-free, be sure to use gluten-free crispy rice cereal. I Erewhon Crispy Brown Rice Cereal or Nature's Path Brown Crispy Rice Cereal. (Just a note Rice Crispys are not gluten-free because they contain malt syrup.) You can use any ice cream you like here! My favorite is So Delicious Creamy Cashew Vanilla to keep these dairy-free. I've also made these with this homemade ice cream and they were unreal. Any kind you like, as long as there are not big chunky ingredients, will work.

Nutrition

Calories: 490kcal | Carbohydrates: 63g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Cholesterol: 40mg | Sodium: 382mg | Potassium: 268mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 33g | Vitamin A: 475IU | Calcium: 107mg | Iron: 1.4mg