Ice Cream Social - Lavender Cookie Bars

Thanks to our wonderful hostess Suzy at Kitchen Bouquet for hosting an ice cream social! Just click here to see all the fantastic ice cream socials going on in blogland this weekend.

When I think of old fashioned ice cream socials, I think of a small town in my area that steps back in time each summer. The Millers Mills ice harvest each February is a community event where young and old pitch in to saw ice by hand into blocks to be drawn by horses to the ice house. The ice is then used to chill ice cream for the summer ice cream social. In 1983 Charles Kuralt came to Millers Mills to the Ice Cream Social for his show “On The Road”. That clip can still be seen today from time to time on the Travel Channel.



The inspiration behind the Lavender Cookie Bars that I served at my ice social came from the Garden and Herb Fest that I recently attended. At the fest, they had many different food items made with herbs, including the lavender cookie bars. I didn't have a recipe, and was surprised I couldn't find anything similar on the internet, so played around with a few recipes and had success. I baked mine a little longer than necessary since I was pre-occupied getting ready for work and not paying close attention to the oven. Here's a picture of the one I had at the fest, served ice cream sandwich style.






So, off I went to my lavender patch, and came up with this recipe.

Debbie's Lavender Cookie Bars
2 1/4 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cups soft butter
1 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup white chocolate chips
2 Tablespoons chopped lavender

In a medium bowl, mix together flour, baking soda and salt. In a large bowl, with electric mixer, beat together butter and sugar. Beat in egg and vanilla. Stir in flour mixture. Stir in chips. Spread evenly in an ungreased 15 x 10-inch shallow-rimmed pan. Bake at 350 for 25 minutes or until lightly browned. Let cool in pan. Cut into bars.

I topped my bars with black cherry ice cream which is my absolute favorite flavor (strawberry and chocolate are not too far behind). I opened the box of ice cream, and quickly cut it into slices. I placed the ice cream slices on a parchment lined cookie sheet, and put in the freezer until solid. Then I wrapped the slices individually with wax paper, and put in zip loc bags.

The chocolate sundae bowl that has been collecting dust became part of the floral arrangement for the bistro table. I realize that ice cream socials don't have floral arrangemments, but heck, the bowl was cute so I wanted to use it :-)


Please pull up a chair, I have more tables that I've set up in the backyard for you. We'll gather around and socialize, the day is balmy and the ice cream will melt quickly.





While we were enjoying the lavender bars, I started getting excited about what I would serve with herbs at an upcoming garden party hosted by Susan at Savoring Time In The Kitchen Check out her blog for details.



Thanks for stopping by!
Debbie