Chocolate-Peanut Ice Cream Cake

Ingredients:

• 2 cups purchased chocolate cookie crumbs
• 1/2 cup butter, melted
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 quart vanilla ice cream
• 1-1/2 cups chocolate-covered peanuts, chopped
• 1 quart chocolate ice cream
• Chocolate and Peanut Butter Sauce
• Chocolate-covered or plain peanuts, chopped
  

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. For crust, in a medium
bowl, combine cookie crumbs, melted butter, and sugar.
Press crust mixture onto the bottom and 1 to 2 inches
up the side of a 9x3-inch spring form pan. Bake for 8 to
10 minutes or until crust is set. Cool on a wire rack for
15 minutes. Freeze for 30 minutes.

2. Let vanilla ice cream stand at room temperature for
15 minutes. In a large bowl, use a wooden spoon to stir
vanilla ice cream just enough to soften. Spoon softened
ice cream into frozen crust, spreading ice cream evenly.
Sprinkle with the 1-1/2 cups chocolate-covered peanuts.
Freeze about 1 hour or until firm.

3. Let chocolate ice cream stand at room temperature
for 15 minutes. In a large bowl, use a wooden spoon to
stir chocolate ice cream just enough to soften. Spoon
softened chocolate ice cream on top of chocolate-covered
peanut layer, spreading ice cream evenly. Cover and freeze
for 4 hours.

4. Using a thin metal spatula, loosen crust from side of
pan; remove side of pan. Let ice cream cake stand at room
temperature for 20 to 25 minutes to soften slightly.

5. To serve, cut the ice cream cake into wedges and top
with Chocolate and Peanut Butter Sauce. If desired,
sprinkle with additional chocolate-covered peanuts.
Makes 12 servings.

6. Chocolate and Peanut Butter Sauce: In a small sauce-
pan, combine one 12-ounce jar fudge ice cream topping
and 3 tablespoons creamy peanut butter. Cook and stir
over medium-low heat until heated through.

7. Make-Ahead Tip: Prepare ice cream cake as directed.
Wrap in moistureproof and vaporproof wrap and freeze
for up to 1 week. Loosen cake from pan and remove side
of pan. Let stand at room temperature for 20 to 25
minutes to soften slightly. Cut into wedges and serve
as directed.