A bowl of ice cream isn’t just dessert—it’s pure happiness in a dish, especially when it’s packed with all your favorite flavors and chunky surprises. That’s precisely why I fell in love with Ben & Jerry’s Tonight Dough Ice Cream.

How to make Tonight Dough Ice Cream

Tonight Dough Ice Cream is a flavor created by Ben & Jerry’s in collaboration with late-night talk show host Jimmy Fallon for The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.

Ingredients

For the Ice Cream Base

2 cups heavy cream
1 cup whole milk
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder (for the chocolate half)
1/4 cup caramel sauce (for the caramel half)
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon salt

For the Cookie Dough Chunks

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough

1/2 cup all-purpose flour (heat-treated)
1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons milk
1/3 cup mini chocolate chips
Pinch of salt

Peanut Butter Cookie Dough

1/4 cup creamy peanut butter
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1/8 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons flour (heat-treated)
2 tablespoons milk
Pinch of salt

For the Fudge Swirl

1/3 cup chocolate sandwich cookies, crushed (like Oreos)

Instructions

1. Prepare the Cookie Dough Chunks

For both cookie doughs: Heat-treat the flour—microwave for 1 minute or bake at 350°F (175°C) for 5 minutes to ensure it’s safe to eat.
In separate bowls, combine ingredients for each dough: Cream butter (and peanut butter for the peanut butter dough) with sugars. Add vanilla, milk, then mix in the flour and salt. Fold in chocolate chips for the chocolate chip dough.
Roll doughs into small, bite-size balls or lumps (~1/2 teaspoon each). Freeze while you make the ice cream.

2. Make the Ice Cream Base

In a large bowl, whisk together the cream, milk, sugar, vanilla, and salt until smooth.
Divide the mixture evenly into two bowls.
Bowl 1: Add cocoa powder for the chocolate base. Whisk until smooth.
Bowl 2: Add caramel sauce for the caramel base. Whisk until fully incorporated.

3. Churn the Ice Cream

Churn the chocolate ice cream according to the manufacturer’s instructions for your ice cream maker. Once done, transfer the mixture to a bowl and freeze while you prepare the caramel base.
Repeat the process for the caramel ice cream.

4. Assemble the Tonight Dough

In a large, freezer-safe container, layer and swirl the chocolate and caramel ice creams together.
Add frozen balls of both cookie doughs, sprinkling them generously between the layers.
Scatter crushed chocolate sandwich cookies throughout.
Use a spatula to swirl everything together, being careful not to over-mix.
Cover and freeze the assembled ice cream for at least 4 hours, or until firm.

Tips for Success

No Ice Cream Maker? No problem! You can use a no-churn base by whipping 2 cups of heavy cream to stiff peaks, folding in a can of sweetened condensed milk, then dividing and flavoring as above. Freeze as instructed.
Punch Up the Peanut Butter by adding a few extra streaks of peanut butter to the assembly step, or swirl in a peanut butter sauce.
Don’t Overmix the Swirls: Gently fold the two ice cream bases together for a marbled look.
Store Cookie Dough in the Freezer until you’re ready to fold it in—this helps the chunks stay intact.
Use High-Quality Cocoa and Caramel for a richer flavor.

What to serve with

1. Freshly Baked Cookies

The cookie dough chunks in the Tonight Dough Ice Cream are already a treat, but pairing a scoop with warm cookies takes the experience to the next level.

Chocolate Chip Cookies: Classic, soft, and chewy—double down on the cookie dough theme!
Peanut Butter Cookies: Mirror the flavor in the Tonight Dough Ice Cream.
Brownie Edges: Fudgy, chocolatey, and perfect for contrast.

2. Brownies and Blondies

Rich brownies add another layer of indulgence and pair beautifully with the chocolate and caramel ice cream base.

Ingredients Substitutes

Ice Cream Base Substitutes

1. Dairy-Free/Vegan Options

Heavy Cream: Use coconut cream or a thick, unsweetened oat or almond cream.
Whole Milk: Substitute with full-fat coconut milk, oat milk, cashew milk, or almond milk.
Caramel Sauce: Use a vegan caramel (made with coconut milk and coconut sugar).
Sweetener: Maple syrup or agave can replace sugar for a refined sugar-free option.

2. Lower-Fat Options

Use reduced-fat milk and half-and-half instead of heavy cream. Expect a slightly icier texture rather than an ultra-creamy one.

3. Sugar Alternatives

Granulated Sugar: Use coconut sugar, maple sugar, monk fruit sweetener, or erythritol for a lower-calorie or sugar-free base.

Chocolate/Cocoa Substitutes

Dutch-Processed Cocoa: Any cocoa powder will work, but note that it can impact the color and flavor depth.
Carob Powder: For a caffeine-free, naturally sweet cocoa replacement, use carob powder in the same quantity.
Melted Chocolate: For a richer base, swap 1/4 cup cocoa with 2–3 ounces melted dark or vegan chocolate.

Caramel Sauce Substitutes

Homemade Caramel Sauce: Melt 1/2 cup sugar with 2 tbsp coconut cream for a dairy-free caramel.
Dulce de Leche: If caramel sauce isn’t handy, use dulce de leche for a deeper flavor (not suitable for dairy-free diets).
Date Caramel: Blend soaked dates with a splash of vanilla and a pinch of salt for a healthier substitute.

Cookie Dough Chunks Substitutes

1. Flour Substitutes

Gluten-Free: Use almond flour or a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend (heat-treat as with regular flour).
Oat Flour: Great for a nutty flavor and easy to make at home by grinding oats.

2. Butter Substitutes

Plant-Based Butter or Coconut Oil: Both work well in cookie dough.
Nut Butters: In peanut butter dough, almond, sunbutter, or cashew butter can replace peanut butter.

3. Egg Substitutes

Cookie dough for ice cream should be eggless, but if a recipe calls for eggs, replace them with plant milk or use 1 tbsp ground flaxseed mixed with 2.5 tbsp water.

4. Sugar Substitutes in Dough

Coconut sugar, maple sugar, or a sugar-free sweetener.

5. Chocolate Chip Substitutes

Vegan/dairy-free chocolate chips, carob chips for caffeine-free, or chopped nuts for extra crunch.

Fudge & Cookie Swirl Substitutes

Oreos: Use gluten-free sandwich cookies or any preferred chocolate cookie.
Fudge Sauce: Substitute with dark chocolate ganache or melted vegan chocolate with coconut oil.

Final Thoughts

Now you have your own late-night, homemade Tonight Dough Ice Cream—chock-full of cookie dough, fudge, and nostalgia. Grab a spoon, and enjoy!

More Ice Cream Recipes:

Dairy Queen Banana Split Recipe