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Frozen Lemon Ginger Snap Pie

This mix of refreshing lemon and spicy ginger snaps in the form of a frosty, zesty pie is perfect for spring parties. The ginger snap crust is ridiculously easy. Consider topping the pie’s creamy citrus with a sweet dash of raspberry sauce.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    Makes 8 to 10 servings

Ingredients

For crust

1 1/2 cups finely crushed ginger snaps (6 ounces)
5 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
2 tablespoons sugar

For ice cream

1 1/2 cups heavy cream
1 cup whole milk
3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar
4 teaspoons finely grated fresh lemon zest
1/8 teaspoon salt
6 large egg yolks
2/3 cup fresh lemon juice
Lemon slices, for garnish
Special equipment: 10-inch ceramic pie plate; ice-cream maker

Preparation

  1. Make crust

    Step 1

    Preheat the oven to 350°F.

    Step 2

    Toss together the cookie crumbs, butter, and sugar with a fork until crumbs are moistened. Press evenly onto bottom and up the side of a 10-inch glass or ceramic pie plate. Bake the crust in the middle of the oven 7 minutes, then cool on a rack.

  2. Make ice cream

    Step 3

    Bring the cream, milk, sugar, zest, and salt to a boil in a 2-quart heavy saucepan, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Whisk the yolks in a bowl until blended, then add the hot cream mixture in a slow stream, whisking. Transfer the custard back to the saucepan and cook over moderately low heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, until thick enough to coat back of a spoon and mixture registers 175° to 180°F on an instant-read thermometer, 3 to 5 minutes (do not let boil). Immediately pour the custard through a fine-mesh sieve into a clean bowl, then stir in the lemon juice.

    Step 4

    Cool the custard to room temperature, stirring occasionally, then chill, its surface covered with a round of wax paper, until cold, about 3 hours. Freeze the custard in an ice cream maker, following manufacturer’s directions.

    Step 5

    Spread the ice cream evenly in the crust and wrap the pie plate in wax or parchment paper, then in plastic wrap. Freeze until firm, at least 2 hours.

    Step 6

    About 20 minutes before serving, put the pie in the refrigerator to soften.

  3. Do ahead

    Step 7

    The ICE CREAM can be made 2 days ahead of assembling pie. Soften in refrigerator about 30 minutes before spreading in crust. Assembled pie can be frozen up to 3 days.

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