Pumpkin Ice Cream Sandwiches

Updated Date:
January 4, 2026

So, the afternoon before the hurricane struck (sorry, no more talk of hurricanes after this post), I decided to make chocolate chip cookies. I imagined spending a cozy evening nestled on the couch reading by candlelight, drinking tea and nibbling on cookies.

But of course, we ended up not losing our power at all. So there was no need to pull out the candles, we didn’t end up boiling water for tea, and the cookies were ultimately forgotten. (Who forgets about freshly-baked chocolate chip cookies, you might be wondering? Not us, usually.)

The next day, I had the bright idea of making ice cream sandwiches from the cookies, which meant the cookies were off-limits until the pumpkin ice cream had been made. And ice cream-making always turns into a multi-day process, what with the making of the custard, and cooling it, and churning it, and finally freezing it.

All the while, the cookies sat on the counter tempting Chris, whose sweet tooth, though not as legendary as his dad’s (the man has been known to douse his Swedish pancakes with powdered sugar so that the pancake all but disappears), is quite acute. Every time he reached for one, I swatted his hand away. “Stay back,” I snarled.

Before you feel too bad for him, remember that I was making pumpkin ice cream sandwiches. He was going to be rewarded for his patience! I didn’t feel too cruel.

Let me tell you a little bit about the cookies, because they’re actually my favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe ever (no, not the Cook’s Illustrated version I made earlier this year).

The recipe is actually from Kim Boyce’s Good to the Grain, a book I like very much. The cookies are made completely with whole wheat flour, so their texture is much richer and nuttier than cookies made with all-purpose.

They’ve got so much dimensionality and… dare I say it…complexity. I could eat the dough without the chocolate, and it would only be slightly less delicious. That’s saying a lot, since chocolate is usually integral to my enjoyment of any dessert.

I quickly became hooked on baking with whole-grain flours after this cookie (although this pound cake helped a lot, too).

The pumpkin ice cream recipe, on the other hand, I’m not particularly attached to. It does make a decent-tasting batch, however. Not too rich, very pumpkin-y, no complaints at all. But of course, my mind was salivating at the idea of pairing it with the chocolate chip cookies. The two together fulfill some sort of dessert fantasy of mine.

And after the ice cream sandwiches were made, I told Chris to have at them. But of course, he’s barely touched them. I guess his anticipation must’ve soured. Or maybe they’re just too much dessert (he commented that each one was the size of a small burger, haha).

WHOLE WHEAT CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

From Good to the Grain Makes about 12 cookies:

Ingredients:

1-1/2 cups whole wheat flour
3/4 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
3/4 tsp kosher salt
1 stick cold unsalted butter, cut into 1/2″ pieces
1/2 cup dark brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
4 oz. (2/3 cups) bittersweet chocolate chips

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Sift the whole wheat flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt into a medium bowl. Add the butter and sugars to the bowl of a standing mixer with a paddle attachment. On low speed, mix just until the butter and sugars are blended, about 2 minutes.

Scrape down the sides of the bowl. Add the egg and mix until combined. Mix in the vanilla. Add the flour mixture and blend on low until barely combined, about 30 seconds. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl.

Add the chocolate all at once and mix on low until evenly distributed. You can also use your hands to incorporate the chips.

Scoop mounds of dough about 2 Tbsp onto the baking sheet. You might want to flatten the dough a bit for a flatter cookie. Bake 16 to 20 minutes, rotating the sheet halfway through, until the cookies are evenly dark brown. Transfer the cookies onto a cooling rack.

PUMPKIN ICE CREAM

Adapted from Williams-Sonoma Ice Cream
Makes 1 quart

Ingredients:

1 cup canned unsweetened pumpkin puree
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 cup heavy cream
1 cup whole milk
3/4 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
5 egg yolks
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp. ground ginger
1/4 tsp. salt
Pinch of freshly grated nutmeg

Directions:

In a bowl, whisk together the pumpkin puree and vanilla. Refrigerate.

In a heavy saucepan over medium heat, combine cream, 1/2 cup of the milk, and 1/2 cup of the brown sugar. Cook until bubbles form around the edges of the pan, about 5 minutes. Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, combine the egg yolks, cinnamon, ginger, salt, nutmeg, the remaining 1/2 cup milk, and the remaining 1/4 cup brown sugar. Whisk until smooth, and the sugar begins to dissolve.

Remove the cream mixture from the heat. Temper the egg mixture: gradually pour some of the hot cream mixture, about 1 cup, into the egg mixture, whisking the whole time. Pour the egg mixture back into the pan.

Cook over low heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, until it is thick enough to coat the back of the spoon and leaves a clear trail when a finger is drawn through it, 4 to 6 minutes. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve into a large bowl and let cool for about 10 minutes.

Remove the pumpkin mixture from the fridge and whisk it into the cooled custard until it is smooth. Cover and put the bowl into the fridge to cool, for 4 hours to overnight.

Transfer the custard to an ice cream maker and freeze according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Once done churning, transfer the ice cream into a container and freeze until it is your desired consistency.

To assemble the sandwiches, let the ice cream soften a little. I tried spreading it about 1″ thick on a baking pan so I could cut the ice cream into circles with a round cookie cutter. You can also use an ice cream scoop and scoop it directly onto a cookie, then flatten the ball with the other cookie.

Makes about 6 (enormous) ice cream sandwiches.

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Can You Eat Hail? Safety Tips and Risks

Food & Nutrition

Christiana George

Updated Date:
January 2, 2026

We are no strangers to hail falling during thunderstorms. And some of you might even be tempted to taste those tiny little ice pebbles. But not sure if eating those is possible.

So, here we resolve your question: can you eat hail?

Yes, you can eat hail. No serious harm is likely to happen when hail is consumed. However, it’s not recommended. Because during the formation hail gathers many dirt, bacteria, and pollution from the atmosphere. Often, there might be traces of toxic gas; you never know. So, it’s safer not to eat them.

Not sure yet? Do not sweat! Because, in this guide, we will answer all your questions and explain everything to you! You might not have any more confusion about eating hail after this.

So, just keep scrolling to find out!

Can You Eat Hail?

Hail may fall with violent force, yet it looks like these tiny ice cubes. Simply spreading on the ground. Some of you wonder whether hails are as safe as they look. Also, if it is edible.

Yes, hail is edible. You can totally eat them.

They are mainly just layers of ice. However, it may contain traces of pollution, dirt, and bacteria.

You are not likely to get sick if you consume it. Nevertheless, it is generally not recommended.

But, wait! Do not go into a panic mode now if you have already eaten hail.

But it will be useful if we take a deeper look into it.

There has been much research conducted surrounding hail. And it has been found that hail possesses thousands of varied chemicals. Also, various strains of bacteria.

It is reported that there are more than 3,000 compounds found in certain hailstones. Along with the 7 species of bacteria.

But these are some rare cases.

And it is no news that the atmosphere is not completely clean. Plus, precipitation can collect pollutants as well as microbes on the way to the ground.

It is also revealed that if the air in a certain area is too toxic. Such as, filled with excess amounts of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, as well as carbon monoxide.

Then, in those areas, when hail falls, it may contain a slight amount of all those emission gases. Or at least some traces of these gases. However, not a very big amount to be too dangerous.

Hail most often does not include anything harmful in a very large amount.

Nevertheless, it is still something that you might like to be aware of. At least before putting it into the mouth.

What Does Hail Taste Like?

Yes, sure, it is just ice falling from the sky. However, we tend to get more concerned about what hail tastes like.

Hail usually tastes similar to your regular ice cubes. However, the taste may vary a little based on what the hail masses during its formation process.

Here, let us give an example so you can understand better. Don’t waters from different sources slightly vary in taste? And it varies based on the various minerals present in it. The same goes for hail.

Most hail tastes similar. Yet there are certain areas where there are higher salt particles in the atmosphere. Or you can even find ash in the air.

These differences in atmosphere slightly change the taste of hail.

Nevertheless, there can be extreme circumstances. Such as when a thunderstorm comes upon in the form of a huge plume of smoke from fire.

Then it may form black hail because of the smoke blending with the vapor in the clouds.

It is a rare case, however. But you can safely assume that it might have a hint of ash-y flavour.

And otherwise, in an area with comparatively cleaner air, hail just tastes like normal ice cubes.

What Is Hail Made of?

Has it ever made you wonder if there are any other components in hail other than ice? Let us take a glance at what hail is made of.

Hail is usually made of the moisture from clouds. These are the clouds that became cold enough to freeze into ice layers.

Though hail is wholly pure ice, it may pick up scraps of chemicals. And hail does it when forming and on its way down.

The original form of hail is the rain itself. And water vapor certainly requires the help of dust particles available in the atmosphere. This is to form rain droplets.

It is very easy for vapor to stick onto dirt, salt crystals, or ash. Rather than sticking to other vapor molecules.

That being it, the rainwater is mostly considered relatively safer to drink. Nonetheless, hail may grow a lot bigger, which leads it to contain more contamination.

Does Hail Contain Salt?

As you know, there is salt in the atmosphere. It might make you wonder if salt is also found in hail.

Yes, salt crystals are found in hail. Along with that, they are found in rain and snow as well. Because they actually help the rain droplets form. This is most generally found near an ocean.

It seems that the salt crystals are very easy for the water vapor to hook onto. And when combined, they develop a droplet. So, yes, there are salt particles in hail.

How Is Hail Formed?

Now you are getting deep into the topic of hail. So, you might be interested to learn how hail is made or formed.

Hail is usually formed when the raindrops freeze. Then they fall, yet are instantly forced back to the clouds by powerful updrafts. It takes place within a thunderstorm cloud.

When the ice is thrust back into the clouds, it clashes with even more moisture. Thus, it amasses in frozen layers.

Strong down and updrafts tend to keep the cycle running for some time. That is still a bigger hailstone that has formed.

The hails would then make their way to the ground. Just when they gather sufficient weight in ice. The weight should be enough to enable gravity to dominate the strength of updrafts.

With super-strong updrafts, the hails can be launched very high. They can even clash and freeze concurrently with the other chunks of hail.

The biggest hail ever reported was estimated to possess a diameter of about 8 inches. That is nearly the exact size of a regular coconut.

Just think about the kind of damage one hailstone of that size can cause. Also, hail that big can even hit the surface at a speed of 100 miles per hour.

So, this is your reason not to try catching it with your tongue. It can cause some serious damage.

Can Hail Kill You?

Most of you might have felt the effect of at least a little piece of hail. Or perhaps you have even nibbled on some.

Nevertheless, is it possible for people to really die from it? Or how deadly is hail exactly?

Yes, there are reports of people being killed by falling hail. However, the hail is not likely to kill you if you consume it.

Catastrophes from hail are not common. Because it is very rare where hail to get big enough to inflict actual physical harm.

But it is better if you do not eat it.

Now it’s time to move on to the FAQ section.

FAQs

Is hail healthy to eat?

No, it is not healthy to eat hail. It is reported that there are more than 3,000 compounds found in hailstones. Along with the 7 species of bacteria. Plus, it may gather various dirt elements from the air the time it is forming. And after formation, they never go away. So, it is a bad idea to eat them.

Is hail polluted?

Yes, hail can be polluted. As during the formation of rain forms, it gathers different dirt and chemicals from the atmosphere. Plus, some toxic gases from the air as well. And all of them combined turn into hail, often making it polluted.

Does hail melt?

Yes, hail being ice starts to melt quickly as soon as it tumbles into the ground. Here, the temperatures are above the freezing level. It quite be seen as settling a blow dryer on the ice. Warm temperatures can cause it to melt from the hailstone.

Wrapping Up

Hope we have resolved your question about whether you can eat hail.

Now you know the answer from reading this guide. So from now on, however tempting hail seems, try not to put them in your mouth. It is safer that way. Because, though very rare, you do not know what type of components it is carrying. So, it is better not to risk it and avoid consuming them.

That is all for now. Have an amazing day!