Ginger Peach Ice Cream Sandwich at The Herb Box

SWEET SPOT

Bourbon caramel, juicy peaches and copious amounts of ginger and molasses – sounds divine, doesn’t it?  In the hands of The Herb Box Pastry Chef Brianne Day, these ingredients translate into a dessert that’s worth skipping the entrée for: ginger peach ice cream sandwiches ($11).

Let’s start with the boozy caramel sauce. We think they should bottle the stuff. Day boils sugar and bourbon until it’s dark amber, then adds a pat of butter to lend the sauce a glorious sheen, not to mention a flavor boost. Served in an oval cup, you could drink this dark, rich sauce and call it a day. But then you’d miss the sensory experience of dunking ice cream sandwiches in it.

Chunky peach ice cream – also infused with a touch of bourbon – is squished between two chewy, spiced cookies. We could happily eat these cookies alone, and sometimes you’ll find them for sale in the market just below the Old Town Scottsdale restaurant on Stetson Drive (or adjacent to the restaurant at the DC Ranch location in north Scottsdale).

Both fresh and ground ginger, cinnamon and allspice give the cookies a serious kick. There is just enough butter to offset the brown sugar and molasses, making the cookies chewy instead of crisp.

When May rolls around, Windels says, the peaches for the creamy ice cream will come from local Schnepf Farms. Carrie Schnepf says she’ll supply The Herb Box with the Florida Prince variety, a medium-size peach known for its sweetness and firmness.

With two sandwich cookies to an order, you could – and should – share this dessert. Why? It’s just too crazy good to keep to yourself, however tempting that may be.

DETAILS
The Herb Box
7134 E. Stetson Drive, Scottsdale
480-289-6160
(Other location: north Scottsdale)
theherbbox.com