Yield: 3 dozen cookies, 2.25 gallons of ice cream, 2 quarts chocolate sauce
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 35-40 minutes
Inactive Prep Time: 3 hours
Ease of Preparation: easy

Recipe courtesy Chef Charles Dale, Range Restaurant, Aspen, Colo.

Ingredients:

For ice cream:
6 quarts half-and-half
2 vanilla beans
48 egg yolks
1 3/4 lb. granulated sugar
2 bananas, roasted

For Ginger Molasses Cookies:
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
7 oz. unsalted butter
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup dark molasses
2 Tbs. cold coffee
1 Tbs. powdered ginger
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp. ground cloves

For chocolate sauce:
2 cups pasteurized yolks
6 cups whole milk
2 cups hreavy cream
1 1/2 cups sugar
8 oz. milk chocolate
1 vanilla bean

Instructions:

To make the ice cream:

1. Scald half-and-half with vanilla beans.
   
2. Combine eggs and sugar. Temper with half-and-half mixture. Continue to cook at low heat until the mixture coats the back of spoon.
   
3. Process ice cream in an ice cream maker according to manufacturer's instructions.
4. Fold in roasted bananas and keep chilled.

To make the Ginger Molasses Cookies:

1. Preheat the oven 375F.
   
2. Combine dry ingredients.
   
3. Cream together butter and sugar.
   
4. Add dry ingredients, then wet. Finish by adding spices. Be careful not to overmix.
   
5. Form in 1-inch balls and place on greased cookie sheet 2 inches apart. Bake for 8-10 minutes.

To make the chocolate sauce:

1. Prepare an ice bath, strainer and container.
   
2. Combine yolks in a bowl.
   
3. Bring milk, cream, sugar, chocolate and vanilla bean to a boil.
   
4. Temper egg yolks and return to low heat, stirring constantly until thickened. Strain into a container placed in an ice bath.

To serve, spoon desired amount of ice cream on top of a cookie and sandwich. Drizzle with chocolate sauce and serve immediately.

This recipe was provided by professional chefs and has been scaled down from a bulk recipe provided by a restaurant. Fine Living has not tested this recipe in the proportions indicated and therefore cannot make any representation as to the results.