Snack: Pumpkin Ice Cream with Ginger Molasses Cookie Dough

This recipe includes superfoods such as:

Cinnamon

Health benefits of Pumpkin Ice Cream with Ginger Molasses Cookie Dough

Cinnamon is one of the best ingredients that someone with insulin sensitivity can eat. Half a teaspoon of cinnamon per day has been shown to be very effective at normalizing blood sugar levels. Cinnamon contains hydroxychalcone, which is thought to enhance the effects of insulin. It has also been suggested that Cinnamon prevents post-meal blood sugar spikes by slowing the gastric emptying rate - meaning that food digests slowly. (Reference: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11506060).

Ingredients

2 to 3-pound sugar pie pumpkin
1/2 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 tablespoon rum
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 quarts your favorite plain ice cream base recipe
Ginger Molasses Cookie Dough, recipe follows

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
Cut the pumpkin in half and roast for 20 to 25 minutes. When cool enough to handle, scoop out the pumpkin and puree in a food processor with the cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, rum and vanilla. Mix the spiced pumpkin puree into the ice cream base and freeze as per your home ice cream machine instructions.
After the ice cream has reached its partially frozen state, layer it with the Ginger Molasses Cookie Dough in 18 small or 12 large ramekins (for individual servings) or a 13-by-9-inch pan (for multiple servings). Fill your container halfway, crumble the cookie dough balls over the top and then fill the container to the top with the rest of the ice cream. Freeze for 45 minutes to an hour prior to serving.
This recipe was provided by a chef, restaurant or culinary professional and may have been scaled down from a bulk recipe. The Food Network Kitchens chefs have not tested this recipe, in the proportions indicated, and therefore, we cannot make any representation as to the results.
Cream the softened butter and sugar. Add the molasses, cream and oil and blend well. Mix in the flour, salt, ginger and cinnamon. Refrigerate until firm enough to form into balls. Form into 1-inch balls.
Cook's Note: This is an eggless dough intended to be eaten "raw" and is not suitable for baking.