½cup salted pretzels (crumbled, I used Snyder's Snaps)
½cupcreamy peanut butter
Instructions
For the crust, put the cookies into a food processor and pulse until they have turned to crumbs. Add the melted butter and pulse several times to combine. Pour into a 9″ or 10″ springform pan, or 4 4-1/2″ springform pans (mine are from Williams-Sonoma) and press onto bottom and a small bit up the sides.
For the caramel, place 3/4 c. sugar and 1/4 c. water in a medium saucepan over medium heat until the sugar has dissolved. Increase the heat to medium high and cook without stirring until the syrup is a medium amber color (about the color of maple syrup). Swirl the pan occasionally to keep cooking even. Remove the pan from the heat and pour in 1/3 c. cream – mixture will bubble vigorously. Return to medium heat and stir a few minutes to dissolve any bits of caramel. Add 2 tbsp. butter and 1/4 tsp. salt and stir to blend. Spoon the caramel into the crust and place in the fridge while you make the ice cream layer.
Use an electric mixer to combine the softened vanilla ice cream, peanuts, chocolate chips, and pretzels. When evenly mixed, add the peanut butter and mix just until the peanut butter is incorporated. You want to have some streaks of peanut butter left.
Spoon the ice cream on top of the caramel in the crust and decorate the top with additional chocolate chips, peanuts, and pretzels if desired. Freeze several hours before serving. If the cake is going to be in the freezer for longer than a few hours, take it out after 2-3 hours and wrap it tightly with plastic wrap.
When ready to serve, remove the sides and bottom of the springform pan and place on a cake plate or cutting board. Let sit at room temperature about 5 minutes before serving to make it easier to cut.