Coconut Crispy Ice Cream Crunch

We all need a dessert recipe in our collection that allows us to make it well ahead of the occasion. This is a perfect one for that! You can trade it up by choosing a different flavor of ice cream. Using gluten-free rice crispies makes it a gluten-free choice. This is one recipe I turn to when my family members come to visit who have celiac disease and have to avoid all gluten - (Dessert without gluten is tricky to pull off for those of us who don't have to think about it everyday. It would also work as an egg-free dessert which is also tricky to think of on the spot.) It's ready in a snap and can be pulled out of the freezer whenever you need it. This was my version of a gluten-free birthday cake. I made one using Mountain Blackberry Ice Cream and another using Maple Nut. Both were delicious and devoured!

Coconut Crispy Ice Cream Crunch
½ cup butter or margarine	2 cups flaked coconut
½ cup brown sugar, packed	1 cup chopped nuts, optional
3 cups crisp rice cereal	½ gallon ice cream, softened (any flavor)
In a pan over medium heat, cook butter and brown sugar until butter is melted and sugar is dissolved.  Stir in remaining ingredients.  Press half of mixture into a greased 9 x 13 pan.  Spread ice cream over crust and top with remaining mixture.  Freeze until firm.