A creamy, delicious no-churn masala chai ice cream sandwiched in between the nation’s favorite biscuit – Parle-G. This easy recipe is the perfect summer dessert and will absolutely make you fall in love. It’s quick, simple, easy, and ridiculously good.
Hello there. Your local chai addict is reporting for duty once again, and this time she is back with yet another chai rendition of a classic dessert – chai ice cream.
If there is one thing you should know about me, I absolutely LOVE chai. No, not “chai tea” (the most questionable phrase in the English language), “English tea,” or any of that stuff. I’m talking about the REAL South Asian chai, made almost entirely of thick milk and aromatic tea blends, cooked for ages to perfection. That’s my kind of chai.
If you are as chai obsessed as I am, you will like these recipes.
My chai time is my favorite part of the day. Nothing makes me feel better than getting cozy on the sofa, turning on my favorite TV show, and sipping my hot cup of chai and biscuits after a long day. In fact, I am so particular about my chai that I use a measuring scale to make mine every single time. Just like you measure the ingredients for baking every time so that you get perfect results, I measure my chai ingredients every time so that I get the same delicious flavor each time.
Given how much I love chai, I naturally try to make as many chai-flavored desserts as possible. I want to make sure that the world is consuming as much chai in as many forms as possible 😏.
So recently, while I was getting steamed and roasted in the Dubai heat, I thought to myself – how does one enjoy chai even more in the summer? And then it hit me, CHAI ICE CREAM!
Sounds wild? It really isn’t. It’s just simple, chai-flavored ice cream, that’s all! It’s like turning your favorite cup of chai into a cold, creamy, and delicious treat. And it really is the best way to enjoy chai when you can’t take the heat anymore.
And, of course, no chai is complete without Parle-G biscuits, so to add to that perfect chai flavor, the masala chai ice cream is sandwiched between two Parle-G biscuits, turning it into the perfect Chai Ice Cream Sandwich!
The best part about this ice cream recipe is that it's: a. Made with 5 ingredients b. No churn c. Needs no fancy equipment!
Cause let’s face it, no one wants to spend more than 10 minutes in the kitchen during summer. Thankfully, this recipe does not take you any longer.
Let’s take a deeper look into the recipe
The ice cream base is quite simple and is made with 2 pantry-staple ingredients – condensed milk and whipping cream, and you add cooked chai for flavoring, and that’s the entire ingredient list. So even if you have 0 cooking or baking experience, this chai ice cream recipe is going to be child’s play for you.
Here’s how to make the chai ice cream base.
- Make the chai and let it cool. You can follow my recipe or make your own, make sure not to add any water to the chai base.
- Whip the whipping cream until it’s almost fully whipped. You will further mix it with the condensed milk, which is why we don’t mix it all the way to stiff peaks.
- In a separate bowl, mix the cooled chai with the condensed milk until combined. Pour the condensed milk mixture into the cream mixture and mix until fully combined.
- The mixture will be quite liquid, so let it cool and thicken in the freezer for 40-50 minutes before pouring it on the Parle-G biscuits.
A few tips for making the chai ice cream
- Make the chai ONLY with milk and no water. Adding water to the chai will make the ice cream icy.
- Add any masalas you like to the chai.
- As it’s no-churn ice cream, it will melt quicker than regular ice cream, so keep it frozen until you’re ready to eat it.
How To Assemble The Ice Cream Sandwiches.
There are two ways to assemble the ice cream sandwiches with the Parle-G biscuits.
- Method 1: Line a rectangle 11×7″ dish with parchment paper. Make sure to leave an overhang so that you can easily pick the ice cream slab up. Create a layer of the Parle-G biscuits at the bottom, then pour a layer of the cooled and thickened chai ice cream on top. Let it set for another 30 minutes, then place another layer of the chai ice cream on top. You can also do this with a pastry frame like I did; you would not need to line it with baking paper.
- Method 2: Freeze the slab of ice cream separately using the same technique as method 1, then cut it into perfect Parle-G-sized blocks and sandwich it between two Parle-G biscuits.
I prefer method 1 as it’s much easier to cut the sandwiches in the right size as you can just use the Parle-G biscuits to guide you. However, the biscuits will remain crisper with method 2.
How To Serve The Chai Ice Cream Sandwiches
The chai ice cream sandwiches should be served with a hot cup of chai. To enjoy the sandwich, dunk it into the hot chai cup and enjoy. Trust me; it tastes delicious!
So, are you ready to make the best, easiest dessert of the summer? Let’s get started!
PS: I always measure ingredients in grams, never in cups. Using a measuring scale is the only way to bake accurately. Cups are unreliable and can give different measurements, so I suggest you buy a measuring scale before you start baking! If you can’t get your hands on one, you can use the online tools for converting grams into cups; however, I do not guarantee their accuracy.
Parle-G Chai Ice Cream Sandwiches
Equipment
- Hand whisk
- 11×7 inches pan, dish, or frame
- Baking paper
Ingredients
Chai Mix
- 300 ml full-fat milk
- 8 gs tea leaves (increase or reduce to taste)
- 14 gs sugar (increase or reduce to taste)
- Cardamom pods
- Cinnamon stick (or any spices of your choice)
Ice Cream Mix
- 320 gs condensed milk
- 400 gs liquid whipping cream
- 3 packets Parle-G biscuits
Instructions
- Prepare the chai mix: Add the milk, tea, sugar, and spices (if using) in a saucepan Bring the mixture to a boil on high heat, then let it simmer on low heat for 10-15 minutes. Strain the tea and let it chill until ready for use.300 ml full-fat milk, 8 gs tea leaves, 14 gs sugar, Cardamom pods, Cinnamon stick (or any spices of your choice)
- Whip the liquid whipping cream on high speed until they almost reach stiff peaks.400 gs liquid whipping cream
- In another bowl, add the condensed milk and the prepared tea (make sure it’s not hot). Whisk the mixture until everything is well combined.320 gs condensed milk
- Pour the condensed milk mixture into the whipped cream and mix until fully combined. The mixture will be a little liquidy, so chill it in the freezer for 40-50 minutes until it thickens.
- Meanwhile, prepare the tray with the Parle-G Biscuits. Place the ice cream back into the freezer for 6-8 hours or overnight. Line the tray with baking paper, and make sure to leave an overhand to make it easy to pick up the ice cream once it's set. Add a layer of Parle G biscuits, face-side down, at the bottom of the tray. (read notes for alternative assembly method)*3 packets Parle-G biscuits
- Once the ice cream has thickened, pour it over the Parle-G layer, set it for another 20 minutes, then cover it with another layer of Parle-G biscuits. Set the ice cream overnight, then remove the ice cream slab from the pan by pulling it up with the baking paper overhang. Cut the sandwiches along the biscuits and serve.
- For serving, prepare a cup of chai your way, dip the ice cream sandwiches in the chai and enjoy.
Notes
- Do not use any water in the chai base, as it will make the ice cream icy.
- Flavor the chai with any masalas of your choice.
- Make sure the chai has cooled down before adding it to the condensed milk.
- The ice cream will be a little liquid because of the chai, make sure to let it cool and thicken in the freezer for about an hour before pouring it on the Parle-G biscuits, or it will seep through.
- Line the baking tray with baking paper and leave an overhang on both sides to make it easy to remove the set ice cream from the pan. You can simply pull it up using the overhang.
If you have grown up in a South-Asian household like me, this ice cream sandwich will be filled with nostalgia. I love it because it not only tastes delicious but comes together very quickly with minimum effort and almost no cooking.
It’s the perfect summer dessert!
If you give this recipe a try, let me know how you liked it in the comments. And, of course, don’t forget to share it with me on Instagram!
Until next time.
