you scream, I scream, we all scream for: Strawberry Shortcake ice cream crunch

This recipe is very sentimental to me for one reason and one reason only: Red Bone Alley’s Ice Cream Truck in Florence, South Carolina.

For those who were not blessed and privileged enough to grow up in the Pearl of the Pee Dee, otherwise known as the Magic City, but more commonly refer to as Florence, South Carolina, then my apologies.

My hometown, Florence, South Carolina, is a quaint small southern town that has a very special restaurant, Red Bone Alley, that transients time and space. When you walk into Red Bone Alley, you immediately forget you are in Florence, South Carolina. You are transported to Charleston, South Carolina’s rainbow row. As a kid, I was not only transfixed on the multi-story landscape of Charleston, South Carolina, but also their seating area by an Ice Cream truck.

Red Bone Alley had sets, like from your high school theater department but a million times better, for each seating area. My favorite was by  *in all caps to signify importance* The Ice Cream Truck. This was a vintage Ice Cream Truck with a freezer in it for kids to freely get ice cream.

I remember many times getting more than one ice cream bar, and I would always get the strawberry crunch bar by Good Humor. My apologies to former owner of Red Bone Alley and neighbor, Dale Barth, for being a kid with limited impulse control and childhood obesity. Regardless, this recipe is inspired by my childhood. I hope y’all try it and create your own special memories to this sweet dessert that screams summer :)

Ingredients:

-              1 28 oz. tub of Strawberry Ice cream (Good quality, I prefer Häagen-Dazs)

-              1 28 oz. tub of Vanilla Ice cream

-              2 packages of Golden Oreos

-              1 stick of unsalted butter

-              ½ cup of strawberry preserves (good quality, less sugar)

-              1 bag of freeze-dried strawberries

-              Fresh strawberries

1.        Line a springform pan with plastic wrap (this helps with clean-up and ease of removal for serving)

2.        Melt stick of butter in microwave, covered, for about 45 secs or until melted!

3.        Put one package of the Golden Oreos in a bag and crush until texture is fine, sand like (I used a mallet but if you are mad at your boyfriend, use your fists)

4.        Once Golden Oreos are crushed (more than your hopes and dreams), add melted butter and mix until incorporated.

5.        Place mixture in lined springform pan, pressing down to make a crust.

6.        Add ¼ cup of strawberry preserves on top of crust.

7.        Add your slightly melted strawberry ice cream to pan until even. The trick is to let ice cream sit out for about 15-30 minutes to become soften and spreadable.

8.        Once strawberry layer has been achieved, add freshly chopped strawberries and preserves!

9.        Get another bag, crush Golden Oreos and Freeze-Dried Strawberries together (no butter though) until texture looks like pebbles or small rocks.

10.  Sprinkle the strawberry crunch layer on top of strawberry preserves and chopped strawberries!

11.  Add vanilla ice cream (again, make sure its soft enough to spread on-top)

12.  Lastly, add your remaining strawberries, strawberry preserves, and strawberry crunch.

13.  Freeze for 6-8 hours, thaw for 10 minutes before serving and enjoy!