Ice Cream Sandwiches

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

Combine the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, salt, and baking powder in a large bowl. Mix well. In a small bowl, whisk together the milk, eggs, and vanilla extract.

Add the shortening to the flour mixture and cut into the flour using a pastry blender until it is incorporated. While stirring, slowly add the egg mixture to the flour mixture. Mix until blended.

Drop the cookie dough by teaspoons onto an ungreased baking sheet, leaving about an inch between each cookie.

Place the baking sheet in the oven and bake the cookies at 400 degrees F for 7-8 minutes. Remove the baking sheet from the oven. Let the cookies cool for 1 minutes on the baking sheet then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Meanwhile, soften the ice cream to where it is easily scoopable. Place a spoonful of ice cream on half of the cookies and top with the remaining cookies, pressing down gently to distribute the ice cream to the edges.

Wrap the ice cream sandwiches in plastic wrap and freeze until solid. If desired, the edges of the ice cream filling can be rolled in mini chocolate chips, graham cracker crumbs, chocolate sprinkles, etc.