Almost No Sugar Ice Cream Grahamwiches
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In this post, I’m going to show you how to make these delicious Grahamwiches with the only sugar being the scant amount present in the graham crackers. They are not only delicious but another great treat ready from your freezer anytime! They are also great to make with your kids! Before I do that though, I want to take a few moments to tell you why today is so special.
Ten years ago today, I became a mother. July 6, 1999, my little Bradybug came into this world and it will truly never be the same. I had wanted to be a mother all of my life, for as long as I could remember. I had dreamed of it, having visions of being every ounce the kind of mother that mine was. Motherhood had always seemed to come naturally to her. She knew just how to nurture us, talk to us, care for us, and make every single day special. I just knew that, having always been the spitting image of her in everything else, motherhood would be no different.
I took parenting classes, childbirth classes, infant cpr, and several early childhood education classes in college. I had taught preschool and babysat more hours than I could count. I felt certain that I was ready.
One of the funny things about parenthood is how it seems to take delight in knocking us flat on our rears when we think we’re at the top of our game. If nothing else, Parenthood requires a sense of humor.
Around day two in the hospital, I realized that I had no idea what I was doing. Not just minor insecurities, mind you, but full blown out “If the hospital finds out how unqualified I am for this, they’ll never let me take him home!”.
I remember that day so vividly. Brady needed changing and my first thought was “Well, I’ll wait til Mama gets back from the gift shop so she can help me”. Then I became indignant with myself. “Hmph, I’m his mother, I can do this.” Ten minutes later I had a pile of wipes a mile high. Brady was crying, I was crying, and we had our first ever conversation. “Brady baby, I’m sorry, but I’m the only mother you’ve got so you’ll just have to make do with me”. His response was to scream louder. Can’t say I blamed the little fella.
I watched the door nervously during my entire stay, just waiting on a nurse to come into the room and cluck her tongue before whisking my baby away to someone infinitely more qualified to raise him – one of those mothers who instinctively knew how to care for him, who could change a diaper in two wipes while humming and mentally constructing the perfect college fund.
The next year was a blur of colic, milestones, scrapbook pages, stage three lasagna splattered on the walls, and this incredibly amazing bundle of cuteness and energy who charmed and won everyone over in a single glance.
There was a bit of a learning curve but Brady was patient with me and I had lots of help learning the ropes.
By the time he is twenty, I feel confident I’ll know what I’m doing.
Has it really been ten years? Am I even old enough to have a ten year old child? (Y’all feel free to say “no” to that last question). Matchbox cars and dinosaurs have been replaced with the weather channel and science experiments. This kid is the only one in the house who knows how to set up a wi-fi connection and operate all DVD players, video game systems, and VCRs. He is brilliant, articulate, and an incredibly personable boy but the thing I am proudest of is his heart. My Brady is a very kindhearted person who, despite all of the material things he is blessed with, still places the highest value on people and small moments, sentiment and friends.
Maybe I got lucky or maybe I’m not so bad at this motherhood thing after all. My money is on luck.
Years ago, Brady and I were talking right before he fell asleep. We talked about taking a trip one day when he grew up and where we’d go. Even then, I knew time was slipping away fast and I found myself longing for a little more time just between the two of us. We went over possibilities of things we could do together, what we’d like to see and where we’d like to go. Somewhere amidst all of that we came up with going somewhere in the desert and riding camels along with seeing pyramids (do they even have camels near pyramids? I suppose so.). We made our plans to go and mentally sent Katy on a two week cruise with her Daddy during our time away.
Now as I sit here, my little boy (who eats everything in the house and still manages to have ribs poking out through his skin) is standing in his rapidly growing body that is struggling to keep up with his overly large feet and playing Guitar Hero. I can steal a hug or kiss from time to time and even coax him into my lap if no one is looking but the moments are fleeting. He’s too busy growing and learning and experiencing every moment of his fast forward life.
But when things settle down in the evenings, sometimes he’ll curl up next to me and we’ll both whisper about our dreams of riding camels together in the desert and I know it means as much to him as it does to me, even if we never make it there. Even if we only go there in our minds during these stolen moments on quiet evenings – me and the ever growing spirit whose magical presence in this world turned me into a mother.
Thank you so much, Brady. I sure do love you.
~sighs and looks at the screen as the photos of grahamwiches come back into focus~
~~~~~~~~
Today’s recipe has nothing to do with Birthdays but my tangents seldom do have anything to do with the dish. Y’all are so lenient with me!
I love to have cool treats in the summer and I also love to have things in my freezer handy should unexpected guests drop by. This recipe is the kid’s version of Granny Jordan’s frozen cranberry banana salads on both counts. They are easy to make (of course) and the only sugar involved is the scant amount in the graham crackers and what is on the sprinkles (if you use sprinkles). I use nuts on mine or leave them plain, saving the sprinkle ones for the kidders. If you make these, you’ll end up with at least thirty. I quit after thirty and started passing out spoons for all of us to lick what was left in the bowl. ~smiles~
They taste just like ice cream sandwiches, but with a bit more flavor to them and a lot less guilt.
I don’t split hairs when it comes to calling a recipe low sugar or sugar free. In this recipe, I am using sugar free pudding mix and sugar free whipped topping, the only sugar I count is the small amount added to the graham crackers. I realize there is some natural sugar in the milk but I count sugar in my recipes as sugar added in so milk in its natural form is alright in my book as is fruit which is naturally sweet. If I tried to keep up with the FDA’s labeling practices with regards to sugar, my eyes would cross after day one.
Be sure you check at the end of this post for a listing of other recipes on Southern Plate for those of us watching our sugar. There are several!
You’ll need: Graham Crackers, whipped topping, milk,and a large box of instant pudding mix.
Scary that I have all name brand here, isn’t it? I’m kind of spooked by it myself.
You really need two or three boxes of graham crackers to make sure you have enough since I generally don’t use the broken ones for these. Broken ones are eaten immediately ~grins~. I do tend to get name brand at times when I need to make something like this because the generic ones tend to have a lot more broken crackers whenever I’ve gotten them in the past. I guess the more expensive ones get upgraded to first class during the shipping process.Those little snobs…
Lets get to making goodies!
Add your pudding mix to the milk, using the amounts called for on the package.
Mix that up for about two minutes, until well blended.
When your pudding is all mixed up, add whipped topping and mix again until well blended.
There we go, all whipped up! This will be smooth and creamy, the perfect “faux ice cream” for our grahamwiches!
This really is delicious and I hope you try it.
Make them with your kids or grandkids or save ‘em all for yourself, whatever cranks yer tractor.
I’ve been known to make these and keep them all to myself for a least a month before letting other folks know they exist.
Break graham crackers in half and place on a plate to get ready to make these.
This is just the amount I started out with, I ended up using about double this.
Put a dollop of cream on half of a cracker.
Top with another.
For the kids, I pour out some sprinkles on a plate and just gently press each side into them.
I love the crushed nuts on them for me. You get the whole salty, chocolaty, sweet thing goin’ on!
Plain is also delicious though!
You can smooth the sides with a butter knife or the back of a spoon if you like.
I put each one in a cheap little sandwich baggie and then place all of the baggies in the freezer until we need them.
They will be frozen in an hour or so. This is important to know because Katy kept coming to “check”on them.
With sugar free pudding, sugar free whipped topping, and naturally low in sugar Graham crackers, these are Grahamwiches for everyone!
Ingredients
- Approximately 30 graham crackers, broken in half
- Large box sugar free Instant Chocolate Pudding
- 8 ounces sugar free or lite whipped topping*
- Milk
- Sprinkles and nuts, optional
Instructions
- Prepare pudding with milk, according to package directions. Whip in whipped topping and blend until smooth.
- Place a large dollop on a graham cracker and top with another. Dip each side into sprinkles or nuts if desired.
- Place in individual zipper seal sandwich bags and freeze until firm.
*Can use regular pudding and regular whipped topping
Print This Recipe
Don’t sweat the petty stuff and don’t pet the sweaty stuff.
~Southern Plate Reader Lynn from GA. Fill me up! Click here to leave your quote and make my day!
Happy Birthday Brady!
Brady and his traditional Birthday Biscuit!
Every person in my family gets a biscuit with a candle for breakfast, then phone calls pour in of folks singing to them!
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Great Recipes Modified For Folks With Sugar Issues:
*Read each post for how I modify them
Sweet Tea: Elixir Of The South
THIS ORIGINAL POST INCLUDED A CONTEST THAT IS NOW CLOSED
CONGRATULATIONS TO LESLEY IN ALABAMA FOR WINNING!
Related posts:
Posted by Christy Jordan
on Jul 6 2009. Filed under Breakfast, Dessert, Southern Plate Kids.
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Yum! Those look delicious! Maybe I can make those and save a little money instead of my husband going out and buying box after box of ice cream cookies…
I am always looking for new and inventive ideas. My kiddos will love these!
Love the mixer too!
Looks simply delicious can’t wait to give it a try!
Thank you for sharing.
Happy Birthday Brady!
These kids grow so fast, mine will be 2 in less than a month! I know how you felt, I kept thinking the same things, and that the nurses would take her from me cause I wasn’t qualified.
These look so nummy and with the sugar content so low, I would love to fix these today!
Oh yes, must tell you we tried the Asian Slaw on the 4th and it was a HUGE hit.
I’d love to win this mixer. With 4 kids, I do a lot of cooking! I like that you can store everything together instead of digging around in drawers.
Also can’t wait to try this recipe. I know the kiddos will love it and it’s a great snack idea with less sugar. I can always use new ideas for healthier options for my family.
Thanks!
Happy Birthday Brady! Just came across your website last week. I have already made 2 of your recipes twice! Lovin’ the flavor! Hogs & Kisses, Christy
Hey – I’ve been out of town, but I just saw the post and hope I’m not too late to enter!
Happy Birthday to Brady! I have the fixins for several recipes that I’m dying to try…it’s just that I don;’t feel like cooking much in the summer. Thanks for all the ideas…
Hope the birthday boy had a great day! I absolutely love your blog and am so glad I found it! I have tried several of your recipes and have loved them all!
Thanks for all you do! from a fellow Diet Dr. Pepper addict! =)
I just recently found your site and can’t wait to try out some of the recipes! Everything looks so good!
I can’t wait to make these yummy concoctions!! Yippee for sugar free!!
Thanks for having a contest that doesn’t require me to have a blog to post on. It’s getting to where every site I visit requires that you post on your blogt about the contest and I don’t have a blog. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE your site and I use it several times a week as a reference when cooking dinner!
Was recently diagnosed with diabetes and your “almost” sugar free recipe will be a treat for me – thank you for sharing. Just signed up to receive your e-mail/blog and I’m looking forward to each one.
Happy belated Birthday, Brady – have a good life! Living in the South and raised on biscuits, I just love the idea of birthday biscuits.
“If you ain’t the lead dog, the scenery never changes.” Quote from the late, great Lewis Grizzard.
I LOVE this. Had to call my son on the phone and tell it to him. LOL
I am with you. As much as I lust for the Kitchenaid, it is not in the budget. I will have to look into this mixer.
I like the fact it stores it’s own beaters. Very handy.
Yay! Brady sounds like an awesome kiddo! Happy Birthday to him and Happy Mommaday to you!
How precipitous that you posted this of all days!! Today my hubby was diagnoised as a diabetic(I’m a typeII already). This proved he can still have yumminess in his life as a diabetic.
Happy B-day to the little one…..time does fly- (for you- not for them.)
I wish mine were babies again.
This is such a cute idea! I can be creative if people provide me with a starter slap to the rear and I think this recipe did that for me
I hope your little (err, not so little anymore) guy had a great birthday!
I’ll be making these goodies today. I usually decrease the milk, fold in the whipped topping and serve in ice cream cones (there is something fun about licking pudding). My 9 yr old has chosen this treat for his school b-day party 3x. I never thought to freeze, I know he’ll love it.
These look super yummy. I think I will let my kids make them up alone. My daughter will be getting the “Jr” bake kit you talked about for her birthday this year. Thanks soo much for the idea!!Winning the mixer would be soo great! I have my moms leftover one thats over 10 yrs old and starting to die on me. I love baking, so its super important to me!!!!
I am currently using a hand mixer with one beater… sad.. A new mixer would be fab..
Love all your recipes and commentary..
Oh my these are going to be wonderful! My hips and thighs thank you!
First of all I do hope that you had a wonderful Happy Birthday Brady. Boy does your Mama keep tempting us with all of these goodies. My hips aren’t very happy with me at the moment but oh well this too will pass. Keep up the good work Christy.
Happy Birthday to Brady!!!
These sound scrumptious! I’m a diabetic, so I’m always looking for sugar-free desserts. I plan to make up a batch of these this weekend!
I have a daughter who shares a birthday with Brady. Sara was born on July 16, 1988, so she was 11 the day he was born. She will be 21 next week! Hard to believe, but they do grow up fast.
Just found this site, the recipes look yummy. Can’t wait to try these on my kids.
I am making these right now, have guests coming, and they may want a snack!
I’ve been making graham cracker “icecream” sandwiches for years – but with just a coolwhip filling. I am looking forward to making them with the pudding. I hope my Wal-Mart carries the sugar free Cool Whip.
I’m planning on picking up the stuff this weekend and making these! They look really, really good and I like how they can be an alternative to ice cream…which I don’t eat much of anyways!
Happy belated B-Day Brady! Hope you had a wonderful day and have many, many more to come!
So who won the awsome mixer? LOL
These look sooo good, can’t wait to make up a batch!
Hope you had a wonderful birthday Brady!
I teach 3 & 4 year olds in Sunday School & this will be a treat we can make together!
Christy,
Have you ever thought about writing a book? Not a cookbook, I know you’ve done that. This story about the birth of and life with your son is so beautiful. I copied it to a friend who has a 10 year old son also. Wonderful young man who sounds a lot like your Brady. You just have such a wonderful way of expressing yourself and I personally enjoy and look forward to the stories that you post along with your recipes. Just a little “food for thought”!
Cindy
Taylors, SC
I tried these a couple of days ago and my husband is hooked! He eats AT LEAST two each day, but would eat more if I would let him:)
I love your website and have shared it with many friends. Thank you so much for your hard work and great ideas!
I have given up on hand mixers because they always seem so flimsy. At home, I use a countertop Kitchen Aid, but I would really like to find a good hand mixer to use at the office when I cook for the staff of 35, which is about twice a month. I tried a hand blender and it worked for one salad dressing, then never powered up again. I would love to have one like this because it can be stored so efficiently and put away until needed.
Great fun to make….Delicious!!! Thanks
[...] Almost No Sugar Ice Cream Grahamwiches [...]
Oh, Christy! I know this post is a year old, but it brought tears to my eyes! My 7 year old son is right behind Brady in all those fun, imaginative things and I am DETERMINED to make this summer count with all my heart. We’re gonna start a new nightly tradition of dreams and plans after we read books at night, and will include these yummy treats beginning this weekend!
Another nightly tradition we all share as we sit around the dinner table is our individual lists of “Roses and Thorns”. What was your Rose today? What was your Thorn? My kids often mention getting good grades or having fun with a friend or a family adventure as their Roses. And they acknowledge their tougher times (disciplined, missed a goal at soccer) as their thorns. I love it, too, when something that the OTHER one has done well becomes their Rose for the day! <3
Thanks for centering me again on what's really important in this life! And low sugar graham cracker samiches make it just that much sweeter!
Christy, I wonder how these would hold up transporting them to the park? Do you think a cooler and ice would keep them for an hour or so?
Christy!
A cousin of mine was telling me about these little sandwiches a couple weeks back but couldn’t remember the exact recipe. I am so glad you shared it with us! I am on my weight loss journey and these sound so delish – I can’t wait to make some tonight!
Happy Birthday, Brady
and MANY, MANY happy returns!! I like your birthday biscuit. And happy natal day to you, Mom! Life is GOOD!
Your comments about cherishing each moment of the fast moving years with your Brady brought tears to my eyes as I thought of how very fast the years went by when I was raising my four little boys. All of whom are now grown men with their own families. Saw a quote the other day for all the young mothers. It said, “Remember the days are long now, but the years are short.” So very true!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BRADY!! This is “your” day. Enjoy!!
Just wanted Mom to know that you made me cry while reading your post today. (Remembering my firstborn delivery day.) I guess the feelings I felt (exactly like yours)are natural. I thought it was just me. Thanks for sharing. Love you Christy!!
Wow! These are great! I had to change it a bit, though. My husband is not a chocolate fan. So, I used sugar free banana cream pudding and pressed the sides into shredded coconut. We both love them!
Thanks for all the great stories and great recipes! I’m so glad I found my way here a few months back!
Christy,
These were so good! I used chocolate grams! Next time I am going to try chocolate grams with vanilla pudding.
Thanks for sharing!
Tracie
These are a huge Weight Watchers favorite!
Hi Christy. A friend is always looking for kid friendly kitchen projects to share with her grandchildren, and this seemed perfect. This past weekend, they all made grahamwiches (soon to be called “Gram”wiches in her family), and they were a big hit with young and old. Thanks for sharing.
great article
[...] Almost No Sugar Ice Cream Grahamwiches [...]
So easy! So cute!! Thanks!