Tart Cherry Crisp with Panko-Pistachio Topping

I just returned home from a lovely week in Northern Michigan. My family visits the Traverse City area every year, and one of our favorite activities is cherry picking. We always seem to be overly ambitious with our picking, and this year we came back with around 50 pounds of cherries. We picked a combination of dark sweet cherries and tart cherries, specifically Balatons.

I have been very eager to start baking with the tart cherries. The first thing I made was cherry crisp! It just screams summer comfort. The warm, jammy fruit. The golden, buttery topping. The contrast of tart and sweet in every bite. And while there are many versions of this classic dessert, this tart cherry crisp with a panko-pistachio topping has become a staple in my kitchen—for its texture, flavor, and the way it makes the whole house smell like something magical is about to come out of the oven.

Let’s Talk Cherries

There are so many varieties of both sweet and sour cherries out there. Montmorency, Balaton, Morello, Rainier, Bing—each brings its own nuance. But this recipe is written specifically for tart cherries, which offer a bright, tangy flavor that balances beautifully with the sweet crumble topping. You can absolutely use frozen tart cherries if that’s what you have—just make sure to thaw them fully and drain off any excess juice before starting the recipe.

Why We Macerate

The first step in the recipe is to macerate the cherries, which is just a fancy way of saying I toss them with sugar, cornstarch, and a splash of almond extract and let them sit for a bit—at least 10 minutes, or up to an hour. This step draws out the natural juices in the cherries and creates a luscious syrup that enhances the flavor and softens the fruit. 

A Note on Thickening

No one wants a cherry crisp that’s more like cherry soup. To keep the filling from being too runny, I use cornstarch as a thickener. One tip: mix the cornstarch with the sugar before adding it to the fruit. This helps prevent any clumping. And here’s the important part: for cornstarch to do its job, the filling needs to bubble in the oven and reach around 203 degrees Fahrenheit. So don’t pull it out too soon! If the topping starts to get too dark before the filling is cooked all the way, tent the crisp with aluminum foil.

The Crisp Secret: Cold Butter

The topping starts with cold butter. Why cold? Because when small pieces of butter melt during baking, they create steam, which gives you that dreamy crisp and crumbly texture. If the butter is too soft, it just melts into the topping and leaves you with a greasy topping instead of a crisp one.

Why Panko?

Now for the fun twist: panko breadcrumbs. Unlike flour traditional breadcrumbs, panko stays light and crunchy even after baking. It resists sogginess better than flour-based toppings, adding a texture that holds up beautifully against the juicy fruit.

The Magic of Pistachios

To finish it off, I add chopped pistachios to the topping. They bring a sweet, buttery, and slightly earthy flavor that plays perfectly with the tart cherries, plus they add extra crunch. Don’t love pistachios? Feel free to swap in your favorite nut—or leave them out altogether.

This cherry crisp is best served warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, but my husband has been known to sneak a spoonful cold from the fridge the next morning, too. However you serve it, it’s one of those desserts that just feels like summer—no matter the season.

Tart Cherry Pistachio Crisp

Yield: 8–10 servings

Prep time: ABout 15 minutes

Bake time: About 40 minutes

Ingredients

For the filling

• 3/4 cup (150 grams) granulated sugar 
• 4 tablespoons (32 grams) cornstarch 
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• 6 cups (900 grams) pitted fresh or frozen tart cherries
• 1 teaspoon almond extract

For the topping

• 1 cup (80 grams) rolled oats 
• 1 cup (60 grams) panko bread crumbs 
• 3/4 cup (160 grams) brown sugar
• 1/4 cup (30 grams) shelled, unsalted pistachios, chopped 
• 3/4 teaspoon ground cardamom
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• 6 Tablespoons (85 grams) cold unsalted butter, diced
• Optional: Sparkling sugar for added crunch

Directions

For the filling

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Lightly grease an 8x8-inch or 9-inch pie pan.
2. Mix together sugar, cornstarch, and salt.
3. Add cherries and almond extract and mix well to combine. Set aside to let cherries macerate while making topping.

For the topping

1. Combine oats, panko bread crumbs, brown sugar, pistachios, cardamom, cinnamon and salt.
2. Add butter and rub into dry mixture until combined and crumbly.
3. Sprinkle topping evenly over cherries. Sprinkle optional sparkling sugar on top.
4. Bake 45-50 minutes or until fruit is bubbling and topping is golden brown. Filling should register around 200 degrees Fahrenheit.
5. Rest for 15 minutes before serving. Enjoy room temperature or warm with vanilla ice cream.

Storage Instructions

• Room temperature: Cover and keep for 1 day.
• Refrigerator: Store covered for up to 4 days; re-crisp in a 350 degrees Fahrenheit oven for 10 minutes.
• Freezer: Freeze unbaked crisp for up to 1 month; bake from frozen with 10–15 extra minutes.

S'mores Cookie Dough Ice Cream Sandwiches

This is a sponsored post by Hudsonville, but the text and opinions are all mine. Thank you for supporting brands that make Kylee's Kitchen possible!

Is there anything more nostalgic than a classic s’more? The toasted marshmallow, the melty chocolate, the graham cracker crunch—so many of my favorite summer memories involve this dessert. But when the temperatures rise and a campfire feels a little too ambitious, s’mores ice cream sandwiches are a cool way to satisfy the craving.

Dough much fun

Instead of cookies, I use edible graham cracker cookie dough as the base. Why? To start, it comes together quickly, and there's no baking required. Also, it’s softer than a cookie, so every bite is easy to enjoy (no squeezing ice cream out the sides). Plus, it channels all the graham flavor you expect in a s’more with the indulgent feel of cookie dough.

Regular cookie dough isn’t safe to consume raw because it contains uncooked flour and eggs. Both have the potential to cause food poisoning and bacterial infections like Salmonella. I did two things to ensure the cookie dough is safe to eat raw: I omitted the eggs, and I heat-treated the flour. The easiest way to heat treat flour is to put it in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave it in 30-second intervals until the temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit. This should take about one to one and a half minutes.

Toasted marshmallow fluff

No s'more is complete without a toasted marshmallow, and that includes s'mores ice cream sandwiches. Instead of using whole marshmallows, I opted to use store-bought marshmallow creme, which makes for a more even layer than whole marshmallows. I lightly toasted the creme with a kitchen torch for that golden, campfire-kissed flavor. This part is crucial to the final flavor.

The star of the show: Hudsonville Ice Cream

Of course, the star of any ice cream sandwich is the ice cream. I used Hudsonville Ice Cream because it holds up beautifully between the dough layers, and the quality makes this dessert shine. Hudsonville is a family-owned Midwest company. They make their products with fresh milk and cream from local farms to ensure the ice cream is as creamy as possible.

So now the question is which flavor to use?

Classic Chocolate: Classic and lets the marshmallow and graham flavors shine

Brownie Batter Cookie Dough: Enjoy a textural contrast with brownie and cookie dough pieces 

Mackinac Island Fudge: Best of both worlds—vanilla with fudge pieces and a fudge swirl

Traverse City Cherry Fudge: Extra swirls of fudgy decadence with a cherry twist

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough: Cookie dough pieces sandwiched inside a cookie dough base? Say less.

The ultimate summer dessert

These s’mores cookie dough ice cream sandwiches are the perfect no-bake, make-ahead treat for everything from pool parties to backyard BBQs to laid-back weeknight treats. This recipe has "summer" written all over it.

Use this Scoop Locator tool to find Hudsonville Ice Cream near you. You can find them at Walmart, Meijer, Kroger, and Fresh Thyme stores in the Indianapolis area.

S'mores Cookie Dough Ice Cream Sandwiches

Yield: Makes about 9 ice cream sandwiches

Time: About 20 minutes active time, 6-8 hours freezing time

Ingredients

• 1 cup (120 grams) all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup (75 grams) graham cracker crumbs
• 1 cup (240 grams) cookie butter
• 3/4 cup (150 grams) brown sugar
• 1/2 cup (113 grams) unsalted butter, melted
• 2 Tablespoons (30 milliliters) milk (cow or nondairy)
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• 6 ounces marshmallow creme
• 1 1/2 pints (24 ounces) Hudsonville Ice Cream

Directions

1. Place flour in microwave-safe bowl. Heat in microwave in 30-second intervals until temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit. This should take about 90 seconds. Mix with graham cracker crumbs. Set aside.
2. In large bowl, combine cookie butter, brown sugar, butter, milk, vanilla extract, and salt.
3. Slowly stir in flour/graham cracker crumbs and mix until smooth.
4. Line 8x8-inch baking pan with parchment paper. Press half the dough into even layer on parchment paper.
5. Top dough with second layer of parchment paper and press remaining dough into even layer.
6. Move baking pan to freezer. Freeze dough for at least 1 hour.
7. Remove pan from freezer. Separate top layer of cookie dough from bottom.
8. Working quickly, spread marshmallow creme over cookie dough in the pan and toast with kitchen torch.
9. Spread Hudsonville Ice Cream over marshmallow and place remaining dough layer on top of ice cream.
10. Cover top of cookie dough with parchment paper and return to freezer. Freeze at least 6-8 hours, but preferably overnight.
11. When ready to serve, remove pan from freezer, run knife under hot water, wipe dry, and cut into equal squares. 

Tips for making the best grilled kabobs

Few things epitomize "summer" like the sizzle of kabobs on the grill. Whether you're hosting a backyard cookout or just craving something fresh and flame-kissed for dinner, kabobs are a quick, versatile option that delivers big flavor. But getting them just right takes more than skewering meat and veggies. Here's your go-to guide for mastering juicy, charred kabobs on the grill.

1. Choose the right skewers

Start with the basics: the skewers.

• Metal skewers are reusable and conduct heat, which can help cook food from the inside.

• Wooden skewers are inexpensive and readily available, but they need to be soaked in water for at least 30 minutes before grilling to avoid burning.

2. Cut ingredients uniformly

Consistent sizes mean even cooking. Aim for:

• Meat chunks should be about 1 to 1.5 inches thick. Larger cubes will take longer to cook and may result in burnt exteriors with a raw center.

• Vegetables like peppers, onions, eggplant and zucchini must be cut to match the meat's size.

3. Marinate for maximum flavor

A great marinade transforms your kabobs from basic to bold. Marinate proteins like chicken and beef for at least 30 minutes or up to 24 hours for maximum flavor. Avoid over-marinating seafood. 30-60 minutes is enough. You cal also marinate tofu and veggies like mushrooms, zucchini, and eggplant. These are the key components of a marinade:

• Acid (lemon juice, vinegar) to tenderize.

• Oil to keep things moist, help distribute flavors, and prevent sticking.

• Seasoning like herbs, garlic, and spices to amp up the taste.

Note: You can combine raw meat and vegetables in the same marinade if you're going to cook the vegetables to 165°F before eating, as is the case with kabobs.

4. Building your kabobs

You can either put meat and vegetables on separate skewers or on the same skewers. 

Separate skewers will help you manage cook times better. You can cook meat longer without burning your vegetables.

Same skewers are more visually appealing and easier to portion out, but it can lead to uneven cooking.

Regardless, choose ingredients that cook at a similar rate, such as onions, bell peppers, and zucchini.

5. Don't overcrowd

Overcrowding the skewers prevents proper airflow around each piece of meat and vegetable. By leaving a small 1/4-inch gap, heat can circulate more effectively, leading to more even cooking. This helps ingredients retain their moisture and results in tender, juicy kabobs.

6. Mind the cook time

Grill times vary depending on the ingredient:

• Chicken: 10–12 minutes or 165°F

• Beef/lamb: 8–10 minutes for medium or 135–145°F

• Shrimp: 5–7 minutes or opaque and firm

• Veggies: 8–10 minutes

Turn skewers every few minutes to cook evenly on all sides.

7. Finish with flair

Once your kabobs are off the grill, give them a finishing touch:

• A squeeze of lemon juice

• A brush of garlic butter

• A sprinkle of fresh herbs

Let them rest for a couple of minutes before serving so the juices redistribute.

8. Plate the kabobs

Arrange the kabobs neatly on a large flat surface like a ceramic platte or wooden cutting board.

Line the platter with garnishes life fresh herbs (mint, dill, parsley) to add color and aroma. Also, lemon wedges or great for color and a hit of acid.

Include several ramekins of dipping sauces, like tzatziki, chimichurri, garlic aioli, or harissa labneh.

Top with a touch of color like pomegranate seeds, crumbled feta, and a sprinkle of sumac or smoked paprika. These finishing touches enhance both visual appeal and flavor.

Grilled Kabobs with Citrus Garlic Marinade

Yield: Enough for about 6 people

Prep Time: 20 minutes (plus 2 - 24 hours marinating)

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Ingredients

For the marinade

• 20 garlic cloves
• 3 lemons, zest and juice
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 2 Tablespoons Dijon mustard
• 2 Tablespoons dried oregano
• 2 teaspoons sweet paprika
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• Optional: 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes for heat

For the kabobs

• 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into 1 1/2-inch cubes
• 6 bell peppers (red, yellow, or orange), cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces
• 1 large red onion, cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces
• Vegetarian option: Substitute halloumi or tofu for chicken

Directions

For the marinade

1. Combine all marinade ingredients in blender and blend until smooth. Pour into large bowl or zip-top bag. 
2. Add chicken and vegetables and mix to coat everything in marinade.
3. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or up to 24 hours.

For the kabobs

1. Thread chicken onto skewers. Thread peppers and onion on separate skewers. Leave about 1/4 inch between each piece to ensure even cooking.
2. Preheat grill to medium-high heat (about 400–425°F).
3. Grill kabobs for 10–12 minutes, turning every few minutes, until chicken is cooked through (internal temp registers 165°F).
4. Let kabobs rest for a couple minutes. Serve hot with dipping sauces, pita, and/or salad.

Sundae in a bun: The sweetest hack for your backyard cookouts

This is a sponsored post by Hudsonville, but the text and opinions are all mine. Thank you for supporting brands that make Kylee's Kitchen possible!

There’s nothing quite like a backyard cookout—the sizzle of the grill, the laughter and chatter of family and friends, and the smoky smell of meats and vegetables. After piling your hot dog buns high with grilled sausages and brats, don't put the extras away just yet! You'll want to keep the remaining buns out for dessert.

Yes, dessert.

Those same buttery brioche buns that elevated your main course can double as the perfect base for a next-level ice cream sundae. 

Why brioche hot dog buns?

Technically, regular white buns will work for these sundaes, but they won't have the same effect. Brioche is beloved for its soft texture and subtle sweetness. It's kind of like a donut, and when it comes in hot dog bun form, it is the perfect vessel to cradle a few scoops of ice cream. Toast it lightly, and it becomes a warm-meets-cold, crispy-meets-creamy dessert experience.

The type of ice cream matters

When you're turning something as simple as a hot dog bun into a decadent dessert, the quality of your ice cream matters, and that’s why I use Hudsonville Ice Cream. Hudsonville is a Midwest company based out of Holland, Michigan, which is just about 3 hours north of Indianapolis. Their flavors are rich and well-balanced with a velvety smooth texture, which is ideal for scooping and sandwiching between warm, toasted brioche.

Flavor combination possibilities

The sundae flavor combination possibilities are endless, but I want to share a few ideas to help you get started.

PB&J: Spread raspberry jam on the inside of the bun, fill with Peanut Butter Waffle Cone ice cream, and sprinkle chopped peanuts on top.

Black Forest: Add chocolate hazelnut spread to the inside of the bun, fill with Black Cherry ice cream, and top with chocolate shavings.

Tropical: Spread pineapple preserves on the inside of the bun, fill with Toasted Coconut ice cream, and sprinkle chopped macadamia nuts on top.

Sweet Cherry of Mine: Spread cherry preserves on the inside of the bun, fill with Traverse City Cherry Fudge ice cream, and top with dark chocolate shavings.

S'mores: Add Biscoff spread to the inside of the bun, fill with Double Chocolate Almond ice cream, and top with mini marshmallows.

Salted Caramel Brownie: Spread caramel on the inside of the bun, fill with Brownie Batter Cookie Dough ice cream, and top with chopped pretzels.

Sundae in a bun

Yield: 4 sundaes

Time: 5 minutes

Ingredients

• 4 brioche hot dog buns
• 2 Tablespoons melted butter
• 4 Tablespoons of your favorite spread (caramel, jam, Biscoff, etc.)
• 2-3 scoops of your favorite Hudsonville ice cream per bun
• 1/2 cup of your favorite toppings (nuts, marshmallows, chocolate shavings, etc.)

Directions

1. Preheat grill to medium heat.
2. Lightly butter inside of hot dog buns.
3. Place buns cut-side down on grill.
4. Grill for 1–2 minutes, or until they’re golden with visible grill marks. 
5. Flip to briefly warm outside, but don’t over-crisp.
6. Remove from grill and let cool for about 30 seconds.
7. Place the grilled buns on plates or serving trays and cover insides with desired spread.
8. Nestle 2–3 scoops of ice cream inside each bun.
9. Add your favorite toppings and serve.

Tot-ally delicious potato salad

Potato salad is a staple of picnics, barbecues, and family gatherings. As part of culinary school, I was required to take a "garde manger" class, which a class that focuses on the preparation of cold dishes, like salads and appetizers. I made so much potato salad in that class. Boiling, cooling, peeling, and chopping potatoes is such a pain, not to mention very time consuming.

If you want a simpler approach that is sure to wow friends and family, here’s a clever shortcut: use tater tots instead of traditional potatoes.

Why use tater tots?

Tater tots are a surprisingly efficient and flavorful substitute for boiled potatoes in potato salad. Here’s why:

1. Convenience

Tater tots come pre-cooked and frozen, so they're ready to go straight into the oven. Skip the washing, peeling, chopping, and boiling. With about 25 minutes of (hands-off) baking time, you’re free to prep the rest of your salad while they crisp up.

2. Texture

One of the challenges of traditional potato salad is maintaining a good texture—soft but not mushy. Tater tots naturally crisp on the outside while staying tender inside, creating a nice contrast in texture that holds up well when mixed with dressing and other ingredients.

3. Flavor Boost

Tater tots are typically seasoned before freezing, often with a bit of salt and oil. This adds built-in flavor. Their golden, fried exterior also adds richness that complements creamy or tangy dressings.

A few important notes

After smashing the tater tots, bake them until they're extra crispy. It may take 15 minutes, or it may take up to 20 minutes depending on the brand.

You can make the dressing and mix everything except the tater tots ahead of time. But I don't recommend cooking and adding the tater tots until you're ready to serve it. As you can imagine, the tater tots will lose their crispiness as they soak up the dressing. This happens after about an hour. I think it's still really tasty even when the tater tots are soft, but I just want to make sure you're aware of this ahead of time.

I like to add even more herbs (fresh dill, chives, parsley) on top before serving.

Tot-ally delicious potato salad

Yield: About 8 servings

Time: About 45 minutes

Ingredients

For the dressing

• 3/4 cup mayonnaise
• 1 lemon, juiced (about 3 Tablespoons)
• 2 Tablespoons apple cider vinegar 
• 1 Tablespoon dijon mustard

For the salad

• 1 (32-ounce) bag frozen tater tots
• 3 dill pickle spears (3 ounces), chopped
• 3 garlic cloves (0.5 ounces), minced
• 3 stalks celery (4 ounces), chopped
• 1 shallot (2 ounces), minced
• 1/4 cup dill (10 grams), chopped
• 1/4 cup chives (10 grams), chopped
• Salt and pepper to taste

Directions

For the dressing

1. In large bowl, combine the mayo, pickle brine, and dijon mustard. Set aside.

For the salad

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit and divide tater tots between 2 lined baking sheets.
2. Bake for 10 minutes. Remove from oven.
3. Use bottom of cup to gently press down and slightly flatten tater tots. 
4. Return to oven and cook about 15 more minutes until golden and crispy.
5. Remove from oven and set aside.
6. Add chopped pickles, garlic, celery, shallot, dill, and chives to bowl with dressing and mix until well combined.
7. Gently stir in tater tots and serve.

 

Brine and dandy: Pickling the season's best produce

Now that we’ve defrosted from the winter, the return of warmer weather means the return of fresh local produce. Spring produce is already a feast for the senses—crisp, colorful, and bursting with freshness. But if you soak those tender veggies in a tangy brine, they suddenly become the star of the plate. 

Quick pickling is the easiest way to add brightness, crunch, and a punch of flavor to just about anything you’re eating, from grain bowls and sandwiches to salads and charcuterie boards to cocktails and desserts. In just a few minutes, you can turn humble radishes, asparagus, and snap peas into bold, zippy toppings.

There are a lot of recipes for pickled ingredients online, but to keep things simple, I like to work off of a simple formula: equal parts water and vinegar, 1/4 part sugar (by volume), and 1/16th part kosher salt (by volume). In more basic terms, that’s 1 cup water, 1 cup vinegar, 1/4 cup sugar, and 1 tablespoon kosher salt. 

The acid in the vinegar helps inhibit the growth of bacteria and allows the brine to rapidly infuse the produce with flavor. The sugar balances the sourness, and the salt enhances the flavor. Once you have the basic formula down, you can play around with different herbs and spices, vinegars, and sweeteners to create different flavor profiles. 

You can pickle almost any produce. There are only a few foods that don't pickle well, including leafy greens, melons, avocados, and bananas.

I'm sharing a few of my go-to pickle recipes below, but feel free to change them up and make them your own.

Pickled Sugar Snap Peas

Ingredients

• 12 ounces sugar snap peas
• 2 garlic cloves, sliced in half
• 2 dill sprigs
• 1 teaspoon crushed black peppercorns
• 1/2 teaspoon mustard seeds
• 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 1 cup water
• 1 cup white vinegar
• 1/4 cup white sugar
• 1 Tablespoon kosher salt

Directions

1. Place sugar snap peas, garlic, dill, peppercorns, mustard seeds, and red pepper flakes in jar.
2. Heat water, vinegar, sugar, and salt until sugar and salt are dissolved.
3. Pour brine over peas. Make sure it's fully submerged.
4. Cool to room temperature, then cover and refrigerate.
5. Eat within 1 month.

Pickled Fennel

Ingredients

• 1 large (or 2 small) fennel bulb
• Peel from 1 lemon (peeled in wide strips with vegetable peeler)
• 5 thyme sprigs
• 1 cup water
• 1 cup white vinegar
• 1/4 cup white sugar
• 1 Tablespoon kosher salt

Directions

1. Trim stalks and tough outer layers from fennel bulb. Cut bulb in half lengthways and remove core. Save fronds but discard the rest. 
2. Thinly slice fennel bulb using mandolin (about 1/8-inch thick).
3. Stuff fennel slices, lemon peel, and thyme into large canning jar.
4. Heat water, vinegar, sugar, and salt until sugar and salt are dissolved.
5. Pour brine over fennel. Make sure fennel is fully submerged.
6. Cool to room temperature, then cover and refrigerate.
7. Eat within 1 month.

Pickled Blueberries

Ingredients

• 1 pound fresh blueberries
• Peel from 1 lemon (peeled in wide strips with vegetable peeler)
• 1 inch fresh ginger, peeled and thinly sliced
• 1 cup water
• 1 cup white wine vinegar
• 1/4 cup white sugar
• 1 Tablespoon kosher salt

Directions

1. Stuff blueberries, lemon peel, and ginger into large canning jar.
2. Heat water, vinegar, sugar, and salt until sugar and salt are dissolved.
3. Pour brine over blueberries. Make sure blueberries are fully submerged.
4. Cool to room temperature, then cover and refrigerate.
5. Eat within 1 month.

  

Tiramisu Coffee Chip Ice Cream Cake

This is a sponsored post by Hudsonville Ice Cream, but the text and opinions are all mine. Thank you for supporting brands that make Kylee's Kitchen possible!

Let me tell you a little something about moms. They want you to treat them to something special for Mother's Day, but they don't want to ask for it. And they especially don't want to clean up any messes.

Fortunately, I have the perfect recipe to help your mom feel extra special--tiramisu ice cream cake! It's easy enough for a child to make, but it's also really sophisticated and decadent.

Tiramisu is a classic Italian dessert with three primary flavors: cocoa, mascarpone, and espresso. The name literally translates to "pick me up." And if there's one thing you need to know about moms, it's that we're tired and always need a "pick me up."

The base of the cake is a layer of lady fingers, also known as savoiardi. These are light, crisp sponge cookies in the shape of, you guessed it, a lady's fingers. Traditionally, the lady fingers are dipped in very strong coffee or espresso. But those are water-based liquids, and water can cause frozen desserts to become icy. The best way to prevent that is to make espresso syrup with sugar dissolved in equal parts water and mixed with instant espresso powder.

The next layer is Hudsonville Coffee Chip ice cream. This is a new flavor created for coffee fans. It's a creamy, coffee-flavored ice cream with dark chocolatey chips mixed in. The flavor combo is perfect for tiramisu ice cream cake.

It's very important to use high-quality ice cream in an ice cream cake, which is why I always use Hudsonville Ice Cream. Hudsonville is a Midwest company based out of Holland, Michigan, which is just about 3 hours north of Indianapolis. The company uses locally sourced cream and milk. The high-quality ingredients give it a creamier, silkier texture as it softens, rather than becoming icy or slushy. This is important because you need to soften the ice cream before layering it in the dessert.

The best way to soften ice cream is to take it out of the freezer about 15 minutes before you want to use it. Then scoop the ice cream into a large bowl and stir it gently with a spoon or spatula. This helps it soften evenly into a creamy, spreadable texture. Once the ice cream is pliable, stop. Too much stirring can break down the texture and make it icy once it refreezes.

Once you've finished layering the ice cream and lady fingers, place the loaf pan in the freezer and freeze for at least 6 hours or overnight. I highly recommend making this one day in advance so it has plenty of time to set. Or if you like to prep things in advance, you can make it up to one week ahead of time.

Before serving, I like to spread mascarpone whipped cream over the top and add a dusting of cocoa powder. Mascarpone whipped cream is more stable than regular whipped cream, so this can be made up to 2 days in advance.

Tiramisu Coffee Chip Ice Cream Cake

Yield: About 10 servings

Prep time: About 45 minutes

Total time: About 6 hours 45 minutes

Ingredients

For the espresso syrup

• 4 ounces water
• 4 ounces granulated sugar
• 3 Tablespoons instant espresso powder

For the cake

• 1 (7-ounce) package lady finger cookies
• 1 (48-ounce) container Hudsonville Coffee Chip ice cream

For the topping

• 4 ounces mascarpone
• 6 ounces heavy cream
• 1 Tablespoon granulated sugar
• Cocoa powder

Directions

For the espresso syrup

1. Heat water, sugar, and espresso powder in microwave or small saucepan until sugar and powder are dissolved.
2. Pour espresso syrup into shallow bowl and set aside.

For the cake

1. Line a loaf pan with plastic wrap, leaving enough overhang to lift the cake out later.
2. Quickly dip lady fingers into espresso syrup, one second for each side.
3. Line bottom of loaf pan with dipped ladyfingers, trimming if needed to fit snugly.
4. Evenly spread 1 1/3 cup of ice cream over top of lady fingers.
5. Repeat 2 more times, alternating layers of lady fingers with ice cream.
6. Cover top with plastic wrap and freeze at least 6 hours or until completely firm.

For the topping

1. Add mascarpone to stand mixer bowl fitted with whisk attachment (or in large bowl with electric beaters or whisk) and beat on medium-low speed for about 30 seconds.
2. Slowly pour in heavy cream and sugar with mixer running.
3. Once everything is combined, increase mixer to high speed and beat until soft peaks form.
4. Remove frozen tiramisu from loaf pan and spread mascarpone whipped cream over top.
5. Dust with cocoa powder and serve.