Apple Cider Ice Cream

This Apple Cider Ice Cream tastes just like apple pie to me and its so good!  This ice cream is full of flavor and is perfect for fall.  I brought this ice cream to work and everyone loved it.  My cousin already thinks this apple cider ice cream will go great with pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving.  So I will definitely have to make another batch.  I did make a few changes from my past ice cream recipes since I had limited ingredients when I decided to make this apple cider ice cream.  The ice cream isn't as creamy as it could have been but I had a coworker who told me she prefers a less creamy ice cream.  If you use heavy cream instead of the half and half and double the egg yolks to 6, then you will have the creamy consistency.  Enjoy!

Apple Cider Ice Cream

Printable Recipe

Ingredients

2 cups apple cider (I used a cranberry and apple cider)

¾ cup sugar

1 cinnamon stick

2 cups half and half (or heavy cream)

2 cups milk

3 egg yolks

Directions

In a small saucepan, over medium-high heat, whisk apple cider, sugar and cinnamon stick.  Bring to a boil and stir occasionally until reduced by half, about 25 to 30 minutes.  Remove from heat and discard cinnamon stick.

In a large saucepan, over medium heat, bring half and half or cream and milk to a simmer.  

Beat egg yolks in a small bowl.  Slowly ladle a cup of the warmed milk mixture into egg yolks and whisk.  Make sure the eggs do no curdle.

 

Whisk in egg mixture to saucepan with milk mixture.  Add in reduced cider.

Whisk to combine and cook over medium heat until mixture thickens and coats the back of a spoon. 

Allow mixture to cool and refrigerate until chilled.

Process chilled mixture in your ice cream maker.

Transfer to an airtight container and freeze until firm, at least 4 hours or overnight.

Earl Grey Ice Cream

I loved the Earl Grey gelato I tried at Wagshal's last month and when I went to Wagshal's a week ago, they didn't have the flavor any more.  So here is my own version of Earl Grey ice cream and it is delicious!  I'm excited that I can make my own now.  My next flavor to try to make is a green tea ice cream.  Also I did notice that adding eggs in the ice cream for the custard gave it a creamy consistency and it was easier to scoop after storing in the freezer.  I suggest storing in the freezer for at least a few hours before serving, otherwise it will be more of a soft serve consistency.  Hope you make some ice cream for 4th of July this week.  Enjoy!

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Earl Grey Ice Cream 

Printable Recipe

Ingredients

1 cup whole milk

1 cup half and half

1 cup heavy cream

¾ cup sugar

5 earl grey tea bags

5 egg yolks

Directions

In a saucepan over medium heat, warm milk, half and half, heavy cream and sugar.

Remove from heat and place 5 tea bags in the saucepan.  Cover and allow to seep at room temperature for an hour.

Remove tea bags and rewarm the tea-infused milk. 

Whisk egg yolks in a separate bowl.  Slowly add 1 cup warm milk to the egg yolks and continue whisking.

Pour egg mixture to the rest of the milk in the saucepan.  Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until mixture thickens to a custard and coats the back of a wooden spoon or spatula.

Cool the mixture in the fridge.

Pour the mixture into the freezer bowl of an ice cream maker, and freeze according to manufacturer's directions.

Makes about 1 quart of ice cream.

Ricotta Nutella Ice Cream

I wanted to make a ricotta ice cream and it was a success!  I love nutella and just added that in at the last minute.  This ice cream is to die for - the ricotta is rich and creamy.   The nutella adds that hint of chocolate and hazelnut flavor.  I am really enjoying experimenting with ice cream recipes.  I still haven't tried any custard based ice cream recipes with eggs but I might do that sometime soon.   Seriously, homemade ice cream tastes far better than anything you buy in a carton at the grocery store.  My next ice cream flavor I want to make is earl grey because I had an earl grey gelato recently and it was amazing and is my new favorite flavor.   Enjoy!

Ricotta Nutella Ice Cream

Printable Recipe

Ingredients

½ cup whole milk

½ cup heavy cream

¾ cup sugar

1 ½ teaspoons vanilla

15 ounces whole milk ricotta (about 2 cups)

1/8 teaspoon salt

¼ cup nutella

Directions

In a large bowl, whisk to combine milk, heavy cream, sugar, and salt.  Continue to whisk until sugar is dissolved.

Slowly whisk in vanilla and ricotta until completely combined.

Pour the mixture into the freezer bowl of an ice cream maker, and freeze according to manufacturer's directions.

About 5 minutes before the mixing is completed, add in the nutella.

*Took about 15 minutes.

Store in an airtight container and place in the freezer.

Strawberry Ice Cream

I wish I had bought my ice cream maker sooner!  My first try at making this strawberry ice cream was a success.  Homemade ice cream tastes so much better and it will be hard for me to buy grocery store ice cream again.  It is so delicious, especially with fresh strawberries.  I brought this straweberry ice cream for dessert when I had dinner with a friend recently and she called me a week later to tell me she's still thinking about how good the strawberry ice cream was!  That must tell you how good this strawberry ice cream really tastes.  It is creamy and delicious and every bite tastes like fresh strawberries.  I suggest you go out and get an ice cream maker ASAP and make this strawberry ice cream!  Enjoy!

Strawberry Ice Cream

Printable Recipe

Ingredients

1 ½ cups whole milk

1 ½ cups heavy cream

¾ cup sugar

1 ½ teaspoons vanilla

1 ½ cups strawberries, hulled

1/8 teaspoon salt

Directions

Put hulled strawberries in food processor and pulse until finely or roughly chopped.  

In a large bowl, whisk to combine milk, heavy cream, sugar, and salt.  Continue to whisk until sugar is dissolved.

Stir in strawberries (including juices).

Pour the mixture into the freezer bowl of an ice cream maker, and freeze according to manufacturer's directions.

*Took about 20 minutes.

Store in an airtight container and place in the freezer.

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UPDATE: One Ingredient Ice Cream

I have finally figured out how to make the one ingredient ice cream better since the first time I made it and posted about it, here is the original posting:   http://sophieinthekitchen.blogspot.com/2012/03/one-ingredient-ice-cream.html

Here are my tips to making a perfect serving:

1.  Peel and slice 2 ripe bananas and put slices in a freezer bag. 
2.  Keep in freezer overnight, or even for a few days.
3.  Place frozen banana slices in food processor (or blender).  You will have to pulse it longer and probably remove the cover and scrape the sides down.   It might look weird at first but keep pulsing until you get a creamy consistency!  I promise it will be delicious!

The best tip is freezeing the bananas longer than a few hours, it will make the consistency more like ice cream.  I think the first time I made it, it was more like soft serve ice cream.  Now you can see how it looks more creamy and like regular ice cream.  I still enjoy putting in a spoonful of peanut butter when processing and I topped it with some chopped walnuts this time too.

Enjoy :)

One Ingredient Ice Cream

I got really excited when I read theKitchn post on how to make creamy ice cream with just one ingredient.  I couldn't believe it was just frozen bananas and that it would even taste good, so of course I had to try it.  It was surprisingly good and its healthy!  I've been making this at least once a week since I read about it and now it gives me an excuse to buy extra bananas when grocery shopping!

 

Ingredients

2 or 3 bananas, frozen

Directions

For the ice cream:

You will need a food processor (or a blender).  I already had a few whole bananas frozen in the freezer.  I just peel the frozen bananas under running hot water and cut into pieces.  You could make it even easier for yourself if you peel and cut up the banana(s) and freeze them overnight. 

Just place the cut up frozen banana pieces in the food processor (or blender) and process (or blend).   You may need to scrape down the sides and pulse.  When it looks creamy, it’s ready!

You can add some “extras” if you want, like a spoonful of peanut butter, honey, or chocolate chips.  My favorite is just a spoonful of peanut butter!  Yum :)  Serve immediately.

Serves 1 or 2.