Cherry Coconut Ice Cream Sandwiches

Preparation

1. Make the Ice Cream

   1. Step 1

      Put cherries, ¾ cup/135 grams sugar and the salt in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir to dissolve sugar, add lemon juice, then simmer until softened, about 10 minutes. Set aside to cool.

   2. Step 2

      Put cream, the remaining ½ cup/90 grams sugar and the vanilla extract in a saucepan over medium heat, stirring to dissolve sugar. In a small bowl, mix egg yolks and tapioca starch together. Whisk a little hot cream into yolk mixture to temper, then add to saucepan, whisking well. Cook, whisking constantly, until mixture thickens slightly, enough to coat a spoon, about 5 minutes. Do not let mixture boil. Remove from heat.

   3. Step 3

      In a blender, working in batches, purée cherries and cherry juices until smooth. Add custard and coconut milk and blend mixture. Strain through a fine meshed sieve and chill in an ice bath (or refrigerate until chilled). Freeze in an ice cream maker according to instructions, then transfer ice cream to a covered container. Store in freezer until firm, preferably overnight. Makes 1 quart.

2. Make the Cookies

   1. Step 4

      Cream the butter and sugar, then beat in egg, vanilla extract and lemon zest and juice. In a separate bowl whisk together flour, salt and baking powder. Add dry ingredients to egg mixture and mix until combined. Form dough into 4 disks, wrap in plastic and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.

   2. Step 5

      Heat oven to 425 degrees and line baking sheets with parchment. Roll out dough carefully on a well-floured surface. Cut into 3-inch-diameter rounds and dock with tines of a fork. Bake until pale gold, about 6 minutes. (If desired, sprinkle cookies with a pinch of sugar before baking.) Let cool completely. Makes about 32 cookies.

   3. Step 6

      To assemble sandwiches, put a small scoop (3 to 4 tablespoons) ice cream between 2 cookies and carefully press together. Sprinkle edges with grated dried coconut. Store sandwiches in freezer until ready to serve. Dust with confectioners’ sugar.