The Tonight Dough Recipe

Do you ever find yourself dreaming of digging into a pint of Ben & Jerry’s Tonight Dough ice cream but wish you could recreate the magic right in your kitchen? If you’re a fan of rich, creamy caramel and chocolate ice creams swirled with decadent chunks of chocolate cookie dough and peanut butter cookie dough, you’re in for a treat.

How to Make Tonight Dough

The Tonight Dough® is a popular ice cream flavor by Ben & Jerry’s, launched in February 2015 in collaboration with Jimmy Fallon to celebrate his hosting gig on The Tonight Show.

Ingredients

Ice Cream Base:

• 2 cups heavy cream
• 1 cup whole milk
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 4 egg yolks
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 cup caramel sauce
• 1/2 cup cocoa powder (unsweetened)

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough:

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter (softened)
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 cup all-purpose flour (heat-treated to make it safe to eat raw)
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup chocolate chips

Peanut Butter Cookie Dough:

• 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
• 1/4 cup unsalted butter (softened)
• 1/3 cup brown sugar
• 2/3 cup all-purpose flour (heat-treated)
• 1/4 tsp salt

Chocolate Cookie Swirl:

• 1/2 cup crushed chocolate cookies (such as Oreos or chocolate wafer cookies)
• 2 tbsp melted butter
• 1 tbsp cocoa powder

Instructions

Step 1: Make the Ice Cream Base

1. Combine milk and cream: Heat the heavy cream and whole milk in a saucepan over medium heat until warm but not boiling.
2. Whisk egg yolks and sugar: In a separate bowl, whisk the egg yolks and sugar until pale and creamy.
3. Temper the eggs: Slowly pour some of the warm milk mixture into the egg yolks while whisking to avoid scrambling the eggs. Gradually add the tempered egg mixture back to the saucepan.
4. Cook the base: Cook the mixture over low heat while stirring constantly until it thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon.
5. Divide the base: Separate into two bowls—add caramel sauce to one and cocoa powder to the other. Chill both mixtures in the refrigerator for at least 2–3 hours.

Step 2: Prepare the Cookie Dough

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough:

1. Mix softened butter, sugars, and vanilla extract in a bowl until creamy.
2. Add heat-treated flour and salt and mix until combined. Fold in chocolate chips. Refrigerate for 15–20 minutes.

Peanut Butter Cookie Dough:

1. Combine peanut butter, softened butter, and brown sugar in a bowl.
2. Add heat-treated flour and salt, mixing until smooth. Refrigerate for 15–20 minutes.

Step 3: Create the Chocolate Cookie Swirl

1. Mix crushed cookies with melted butter and cocoa powder until it forms a crumbly mixture. Set aside.

Step 4: Churn the Ice Cream

1. Add the caramel ice cream base to an ice cream maker and churn for 20–25 minutes. Repeat with the chocolate ice cream base.
2. Once churned, layer the caramel and chocolate ice creams in a freezer-safe container. Add chunks of cookie dough and chocolate cookie swirl between the layers. Be generous—this is Tonight Dough after all!

Step 5: Freeze and Serve

1. Cover the container and freeze for at least 4–6 hours or until firm.
2. Scoop, serve, and enjoy the ultimate homemade Tonight Dough!

Tips for Success

• Heat-treat the flour: Raw flour can contain harmful bacteria, so it’s important to bake it on a tray in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for 5 minutes or microwave it for 1–2 minutes before use.
• Chill components: Ensure everything (ice cream base, cookie doughs) is well-chilled before assembling for better consistency.
• Swirl strategically: When layering, use a fork to swirl your ice creams slightly for a “marble” effect while keeping the cookie dough intact.
• Make extras: Cookie dough freezes well, so feel free to make a double batch to save for future creations!

What to serve with

Ben & Jerry’s Tonight Dough is a decadent treat that combines caramel and chocolate ice cream, chunks of chocolate chip and peanut butter cookie dough, and a chocolate cookie swirl.

a) Warm Brownies

Why it works: The warm, fudgy texture of brownies is the perfect companion to the creamy, cold texture of Tonight Dough. The chocolate in brownies enhances the chocolate elements of the ice cream while contrasting beautifully with the caramel notes.

How to prepare: Bake up a batch of your favorite brownies and serve them slightly warm. You can place a scoop of Tonight Dough directly atop the brownie for a classic “brownie sundae.”

b) Chocolate Lava Cake

Why it works: The molten chocolate center of a lava cake complements the gooey cookie dough chunks and chocolate ice cream in Tonight Dough. When paired with the ice cream, it creates an irresistible hot-and-cold combination.

How to serve: Bake individual lava cakes and serve with a generous scoop of ice cream on top. Garnish with caramel drizzle to highlight the caramel ice cream component.

c) Sugar Cookies or Peanut Butter Cookies

Why it works: These soft cookies mimic the cookie dough chunks in Tonight Dough and provide a chewy texture that complements the creamy ice cream.

How to serve: Stack cookies beside a serving of ice cream or crumble the cookies and sprinkle over the ice cream for added texture.

Ingredients Substitutes

The Tonight Dough is a signature ice cream flavor from Ben & Jerry’s, known for its indulgent combination of rich caramel and chocolate ice cream swirled with chocolate cookie dough and peanut butter cookie dough.

1. Ice Cream Base Substitutes

If you’re making your ice cream base but lack certain ingredients, here are some alternatives:

Chocolate Ice Cream Substitutes

• Cocoa Powder + Milk + Cream: If you don’t have pre-made chocolate ice cream, combine cocoa powder with your ice cream base (milk, heavy cream, sugar, etc.) to create a chocolate flavor from scratch.
• Chocolate Syrup or Hot Cocoa Mix: These can be added to a vanilla ice cream base for simpler flavoring.

Vegan/Non-Dairy Alternatives:

• Use coconut milk or almond milk instead of dairy milk.
• Add melted vegan chocolate or raw cacao powder for flavor.

Caramel Ice Cream Substitutes

• Caramel Sauce: Fold pre-made caramel sauce or salted caramel into vanilla ice cream for a similar taste.
• Brown Sugar and Butter: Heat brown sugar with butter to create a quick caramel-like flavor and swirl it through the ice cream.
• Vegan/Non-Dairy Caramel: Use coconut sugar and coconut cream to make caramel for non-dairy ice cream.

2. Cookie Dough Mix-ins Substitutes

Cookie dough adds texture and flavor to The Tonight Dough. If you don’t have certain components, consider these alternatives:

Chocolate Cookie Dough Substitutes

Homemade Chocolate Cookie Dough:

• Replace chocolate chips with chopped dark chocolate or cocoa nibs.
• Use margarine or coconut oil instead of butter for a vegan option.

• Oreos or Chocolate Cookies: Crush Oreo cookies or other chocolate cookies and mix them into the ice cream for a quick replacement.
• Nut-Free Option: Chocolate cookie dough can be made without allergens like nuts. Consider substituting chocolate chips with allergy-friendly chocolate brands.

Peanut Butter Cookie Dough Substitutes

• Sunflower Seed Butter, Almond Butter, or Cashew Butter: Swap peanut butter for other nut or seed butter to avoid peanut allergies.
• Tahini: Tahini (ground sesame seed paste) can be used as a unique substitute to mimic the creaminess of peanut butter.
• Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough: If peanut butter isn’t available, simple chocolate chip cookie dough can replace this component.

Final Thoughts

This recipe lets you bring the creamy, indulgent flavor of Ben & Jerry’s Tonight Dough to life while adding your homemade touch. As you savor each spoonful, you’ll feel like you’ve brought late-night TV vibes right into your kitchen.

More Ben & Jerry’s Recipes:

• Ben & Jerry’s Chunky Monkey Ice Cream Recipe
• Ben and Jerry Milk and Cookies Ice Cream Recipe
• Copycat Ben & Jerry’s Half Baked Ice Cream Recipe
• Copycat Ben and Jerry’s Brownie Batter Recipe