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Tag: Frozen Treats

Goat Cheese Ice Cream with Dried Cherries in Anisette

Goat Cheese Ice Cream with Dried Cherries in Anisette

Goat Cheese Ice Cream with Dried Cherries in Anisette

 

5 large egg yolks

2/3 cup granulated sugar

2 1/2 cups heavy cream

8 oz. soft goat cheese, crumbled

3 oz. dried cherries

4 oz. anisette

 

In a large bowl, mix the egg yolks and sugar until combined. (Save the leftover egg whites in the freezer for macaroons or pavlovas.) Pour the cream into a small saucepan and heat it over medium heat. As soon as it comes to a boil, remove the pan from the heat. Gradually whisk about 1/2 cup of the hot cream into the egg mixture to temper the eggs and prevent them from scrambling. Slowly whisk the egg mixture into the pot of cream. Heat the mixture over medium-low heat for about 5 minutes, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, until it thickens enough to coat the back of the spoon. Do not let it boil. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the goat cheese. Let cool completely. Freeze in an ice cream maker according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Pour into a container and freeze until scoopable, 6 to 8 hours. For the cherry topping, simmer the dried cherries in the anisette in a small saucepan for 4 to 5 minutes, or until the cherries are soft and the liquid is reduced to a syrup. Remove from the heat and chill until cold. (I like the resulting subtle anise flavor, but for a stronger hit, add a splash of anisette off the heat.) Serve a scoop of ice cream with a tablespoon or two of cherries and syrup drizzled over the top.

Pistachio Semifreddo with Raspberries

Pistachio Semifreddo with Raspberries

Pistachio Semifreddo with Raspberries

 

1 cup raspberries

1/2 cup honey

1/2 cup sugar

1 cup pistachios

6 large egg whites

2 cups (1 pint) heavy cream

 

Put plastic wrap in a cake tin of any shape or size, making sure to get it evenly in the corners and with a lot of excess hanging off the sides. In a bowl add the raspberries and press them with the back of a spoon to combine. Add the honey and stir together until it forms a paste-like consistency. In a blender or food processor combine the sugar and pistachios and pulse until ground, but with some chunks still left. In a bowl beat the egg whites at medium speed until they have fluffed up with stiff peaks. Set aside, then beat the heavy cream until it has also fluffed up. Very gently, fold the egg whites into the heavy cream, then the sugar-pistachio mixture. Pour half of the raspberry mixture into the cake tin, then pour half of the egg white mixture on top. Then, pour another layer of the raspberry mixture followed by the rest of the egg white mixture on top. Put the excess plastic wrap on top to cover. Place in the freezer for at least 4 hours, up to 1 week before serving (because of the texture of the egg whites, do not keep it longer). When ready to serve, remove from the freezer and carefully remove the plastic wrap. Turn over and serve immediately.

Mexican Pineapple Pops

Mexican Pineapple Pops

Mexican Pineapple Pops

 

¾ Cup sugar

1 Cup water

4 Cups fresh pineapple chunks, finely diced

1 T. fresh lime juice

4 T. TAJÍN Clásico Seasoning

 

Combine sugar and water and bring to a boil, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Chill syrup until cold (about 1 hour). Purée syrup and 2 cups of the pineapple until smooth in a blender or food processor. Add remaining pineapple bits, lime juice and TAJÍN® Clásico Seasoning. TIP: Freeze in ice pop molds sold commercially or in small disposable cups covered with food wrap; stand a popsicle stick upright through the wrap, freeze and ENJOY!

Foraged Berry Sorbet with Lemon Verbena

Foraged Berry Sorbet with Lemon Verbena

Foraged Berry Sorbet with Lemon Verbena

 

The best of summer and berry season, this foraged berry sorbet is delightfully yummy, rich in musky berries and offset with bright notes of lemon verbena! Makes about 1/2 gallon of sorbet.

 

8 cups mixed foraged berries I used 5 cups blackberries, 2+cups salal, and a scant cup of huckleberries and Oregon grape

2 cups organic cane sugar

2 cups water

1/2 cup lemon juice

2 sprigs of lemon verbena optional

 

In a large saucepan, combine berries, water, sugar and lemon juice and bring to a simmer. Simmer gently for 5 minutes and remove from heat. Add lemon verbena sprigs and allow to steep in cooling fruit base until room temperature. Remove verbena sprigs and puree fruit base until smooth. Pass through a fine-mesh sieve to remove larger seed particles if desired. Transfer fruit base to a large container and chill at least overnight. Transfer fruit base to an ice cream freezer and churn until a very thick “smoothie” consistency. Return to large tub and place in freezer until completely frozen and firm. Alternately, pour into a couple large baking dishes and place in freezer, scraping with a fork every 30 minutes until the sorbet is completely frozen and fluffy. Scoop, serve and enjoy.

Wild Berry and Thyme Ice Cream

Wild Berry and Thyme Ice Cream

Wild Berry and Thyme Ice Cream

 

1 cup heavy cream

1 cup half and half

½ cup granulated sugar plus ½ T. granulated sugar

Pinch of salt

¼ tsp. fresh thyme leaves pulled from their stems or a few dried thyme sprigs placed inside a tied bundle of thin cheesecloth

½ cup wild strawberries, or a combination of wild berries including strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, or blueberries, divided in half

1 T. maple syrup (optional)

¼ tsp. vanilla extract (optional)

Balsamic vinegar glaze, for serving (optional)

 

Place the heavy cream, half and half, and ½ cup sugar in a saucepan on the stove over medium-low heat. Stir continuously until the sugar dissolves. Add the salt, maple syrup, vanilla, fresh thyme leaves or dried thyme bundle, and half of your fruit. Continue to heat the mixture, stirring frequently, until it begins to simmer gently and the steam rising off the surface becomes fragrant. Do not allow the mixture to boil. Lower the heat to the lowest possible setting and continue to stir frequently for 5-7 more minutes, crushing the fruit with the back of your spoon as you stir. Remove the saucepan from the heat and allow the ice cream base to cool to room temperature. If using dried herbs, remove the cheesecloth bundle and discard. Transfer the mixture to a closed container and chill for at least 3 hours or overnight in the refrigerator. After chilling your ice cream base, take the other half of your berries and place in a bowl with ½ T. of sugar. Mix and let sit for 30 minutes to macerate (release juice and sweeten). If you are only using small berries like strawberries and low-bush blueberries, you can keep them whole. If you are using large berries, cut them into small, quarter-inch pieces before adding the sugar. Remove the ice cream mixture from the refrigerator and use an immersion blender to process until it is very smooth. Add the remaining fruit-sugar blend and mix. Process in an ice cream maker according to manufacturer instructions. Transfer the soft ice cream to an airtight container and place in the freezer for a few hours to allow the ice cream to fully harden before serving. Serve on its own, top with a few fresh berries, or add a thin drizzle of balsamic vinegar glaze.

Mulberry Sorbet

Mulberry Sorbet

Mulberry Sorbet

 

1 cups water

3 cups ripe mulberries (or substitute other wild berries, such as dewberries)

1 lemon’s juice

1 cups sugar

 

To make the syrup, combine water and sugar and boil for 5-6 minutes until liquid reduces to 1 cup in volume. Puree mulberries and lemon juice in blender or food processor. Stir in syrup and pour into a metal pan and freeze. When mixture is frozen, remove from pan and blend in food processor or blender. Scoop into airtight dish and refreeze.

No Churn Cherry Ice Cream

No Churn Cherry Ice Cream

No Churn Cherry Ice Cream

 

12 oz cherries (frozen or fresh, pitted)

1/2 cup cherries (frozen or fresh, chopped)

14 oz can sweetened condensed milk (chilled)

1/3 cup cherry juice (store-bought or made from fresh)

1 lime (juiced)

1 lime (zested)

1 1/2 cups whipping cream

3 T. powdered sugar

 

Add the 12oz of cherries to a medium-sized bowl and allow to thaw if you are using frozen cherries. It will take about 2 hours for them to thaw. Drain the cherries and reserve the juice. Add the 12oz of cherries to a blender and puree, leaving in some chunks. Combine the cream with the powdered sugar and whip until it holds its shape. Fold the whipped cream into the cherry purée, add the cherry juice, lime juice and zest, and 1/2 cup of chopped cherries. Add the condensed milk and stir well to combine. Pour the mixture into an 8×8 dish, cover with a lid and freeze for at least 5 hours or overnight. Remove from the freezer, and let it stand at room temperature for 15 -20 minutes before serving.

Watermelon Agua Fresca Popsicles

Watermelon Agua Fresca Popsicles

Watermelon Agua Fresca Popsicles

 

8 cups seedless watermelon, cubed

2 T. lime juice

3 T. simple syrup

 

Combine ingredients in a blender and puree until smooth. Pass through a strainer or fine-mesh sieve. Can be enjoyed over ice with a bit of mint or poured into popsicle molds and frozen for a delicious drink on a stick!

No-Churn Pineapple Ice Cream

No-Churn Pineapple Ice Cream

No-Churn Pineapple Ice Cream

 

2 cups heavy whipping cream (cold)

1 can 14 oz. sweetened condensed milk

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1 T. lime juice

1 tsp. lime zest

1 can 16 oz. canned crushed pineapple (drained)

 

In a large bowl, add the whipping cream, and using a hand or stand mixer, beat on medium speed until soft peaks form, about 3-5 minutes. Next, add sweetened condensed milk, zest, juice, and vanilla. Beat on medium speed until fully combined, stop to scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl a few times. Using a rubber spatula, fold in the crushed pineapple. Pour the ice cream mixture into a freezer-safe dish, and cover with plastic wrap or a lid if available. Freeze for 6 to 8 hours or overnight.

Raspberry Chia Yogurt Pops

Raspberry Chia Yogurt Pops

Raspberry Chia Yogurt Pops

 

1 C. Raspberries

1 ½ T. Honey

1 T. Chia Seeds

1 ½ C. Whole Milk Vanilla Yogurt

½ C. Plain Greek Yogurt

 

Put the raspberries and honey into a small saucepan over medium heat. As the berries warm and the honey melts, give it a stir with a fork. Continue to cook, stirring regularly and mashing the raspberries with the fork. After about 3 minutes, the berries will be melted and the liquid will begin to boil. Once it boils, remove the pan from the heat, add the chia seeds, and stir. Put the pan into the fridge to cool completely, about 1 hour. Put the vanilla yogurt and Greek yogurt into a medium bowl, ideally one with a spout for pouring, and stir with a whisk until smooth and well combined. Spoon the chilled raspberry sauce over the yogurt and stir gently several times to mix it into the yogurt. It doesn’t need to be completely incorporated, just stirred enough so that the raspberries are distributed throughout. Pour the yogurt mixture into pop molds and freeze.

Frosted Strawberry Lemonade

Frosted Strawberry Lemonade

Frosted Strawberry Lemonade

 

1½ quarts strawberry ice cream

1½ cups lemonade

 

Process 3 cups ice cream and ¾ cup lemonade in a blender until smooth. Pour into glasses. Repeat with remaining ice cream and lemonade. Serve immediately.

Peach Melba Popsicles

Peach Melba Popsicles

Peach Melba Popsicles

 

1/2 cup water

1/2 cup sugar

1 cup whole raspberries

2 C. peeled chopped peaches in small/medium chunks

1/8 tsp. almond extract (optional)

1 1/2 C. vanilla ice cream, frozen yogurt or non-dairy vanilla ice cream of your choice, slightly softened (think: soft-serve consistency)

 

Combine sugar and water in a small-medium saucepan (intentionally larger than it requires) and bring to a simmer; stir until sugar dissolves. Pour 1/4 cup syrup (just eyeball it — it’s 1/3 of mixture) over raspberries in a bowl. Add peach chunks to remaining syrup in saucepan and bring back to a simmer, cook for 1 to 2 minute, until they soften. Let both raspberries and peaches cool in syrup. The raspberries will quickly but you can hasten the peaches along by setting them in a larger bowl of ice water for 10 to 15 minutes. In a blender or food processor, puree peaches and their syrup first, then scrape into a measuring cup with a spout and stir in almond extract, if using, then puree raspberries and place in a smaller spouted cup. (The raspberry color would muddle the peach puree much more than vice-versa, hence blending peaches first.)  Pour a tiny splash of raspberry (you’ll only want to use half of your total sauce) in the bottom of each popsicle mold or small glass that you’re using as a mold (I like champagne flutes, for this and really everything), following by a larger splash of peaches (again, using about half the puree) and dolloping in a little softened ice cream. Repeat with remaining raspberry, peaches and ice cream. Use a skewer to lightly marble the mixtures together — I get the best swirls by swiping the skewer right along the inside of each mold. Freeze popsicles according to manufacturer’s instructions.

Salted Spicy Watermelon Margarita Popsicles

Salted Spicy Watermelon Margarita Popsicles

Salted Spicy Watermelon Margarita Popsicles

 

4 cups cubed watermelon

1 jalapeño, halved and seeded, if desired (optional)

2-6 tablespoons granulated sugar, using more or less to your taste

1/3 cup, plus 1 tablespoon tequila

2 tablespoon Cointreau (orange liquor) (orange liquor)

1/2 cup, plus 2 tablespoons lime juice, plus 1 tablespoon lime zest

4 kiwi, peeled and chopped

2 Persian cucumbers, peeled and chopped

flaky sea salt, for sprinkling

 

In a blender, blend the watermelon, jalapeño, and sugar. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve into a pitcher. Add the tequila, Cointreau, and 1/2 cup lime juice + lime zest, stirring to combine. Pour the mixture among 6 popsicle molds or Dixie cups. Freeze one hour. Rinse the blender out and blend the kiwi, cucumbers, 2 tablespoons lime juice, and 1 tablespoon tequila, blend until smooth. Pour the kiwi over the watermelon layer, filling the molds to the top. Insert popsicles sticks. Freeze until firm, at least 4 hours. Serve with lime wedges and flaky salt…and maybe even a margarita too!

Watermelon-Jalapeno Popsicles

Watermelon-Jalapeno Popsicles

Watermelon-Jalapeno Popsicles

 

6 cups chopped fresh watermelon

1/2 cup of lime juice

1/2 cup of sugar*

2 large jalapenos, quartered, seeded and coarsely chopped

1 heaping Tablespoon of lime zest

 

Combine the watermelon, lime juice, corn syrup and jalapenos in a blender and process until pureed. Pour through a strainer or chinois and press out the liquid. Discard the solids. Adjust sweetness/tartness/bite* to taste. Stir the lime zest into the liquid. Pour into Popsicle molds. Freeze until ready to serve. *Depending on the sweetness of your watermelon, you may want to add a little more sugar. Taste and adjust.

Lychee Sorbet

Lychee Sorbet

Lychee Sorbet

 

2 tins (20oz, each) canned lychees or 1 ¼ lb. fresh lychees flesh (peeled and deseeded)

2 tablespoons agave syrup or honey

Mint leaves for garnish (optional)

 

Combine the lychees and agave syrup or honey into a Nutribullet or food processor and blend until you get a smooth texture.

Using Ice Cream Maker: Transfer the lychees mixture into the ice cream maker and follow the instruction manual. Serve immediately when ready or transfer to a freezer proof container and freeze until ready to serve. Serve with mint leaves.

 

Without Ice Cream Maker: Transfer the lychee mixture into a freezer proof container and freeze for around 8 hours or overnight. Check occasionally with a fork to see whether consistency has been achieved. Once desired consistency is achieved, remove from freezer and serve immediately with mint leaves.

 

Yield: 4 servings

Calories: 25

Fat: 0g

Fiber: 0g

Vitamix Green Apple Ice Cream

Vitamix Green Apple Ice Cream

Vitamix Green Apple Ice Cream

 

6 ounces (180 g) frozen apple juice concentrate, thawed

2 banana, peeled, halved

1½ cup (60 g) fresh spinach

4 cups (520 g) ice cubes

 

Place all ingredients into the Vitamix container in the order listed and secure lid. Select Variable 1. Turn machine on and slowly increase speed to Variable 10, then to High. Use the tamper to press the ingredients into the blades. In about 40 seconds, the sound of the motor will change and four mounds should form. Stop machine. Do not over mix or melting will occur. Serve immediately.

Green Apple Gelato

Green Apple Gelato

Green Apple Gelato

 

3 Granny Smith Apples (cored and grated, with skin on)

2 cup ml Cream

1 cup Milk

4 Egg Yolks

1/2 Caster Sugar

2 tablespoons Lemon Juice

 

Place the cream and milk in a saucepan, heat until just below boiling point. In a mixing bowl, beat together the egg yolks and sugar until thick and pale. Whisk 2 tablespoons of the hot cream and milk into the egg mixture. Slowly add the rest of the cream and milk, whisking as you go. Return the mixture to the saucepan and cook over a low heat, stirring for 8 minutes or until the mixture coats the back of the spoon. Pour into a bowl and refrigerate until cool. Place the lemon juice in a bowl and combine with the apple. Add the cooled cream mixture, ensuring it is well combined. Pour into an ice-cream maker and make according to manufacturer’s instructions. Alternatively, pour mixture into a metal bowl and place in the freezer for 2 hours or until set around the edges, but soft in the middle. Beat with an electric mixer and return to the freezer until firm.

Color Changing Lemonade Slushies

Color Changing Lemonade Slushies

Color Changing Lemonade Slushies

 

4 tsp. Blue pea flower tea

2 C. Boiling Water

2 C. Lemonade

 

Steep tea in water for 8 minutes. Strain into 2 C. measuring C.. Pour tea into ice cube tray and freeze until solid. Place tea cubes in blender and crush. Add ½ C. crushed ice into a glass. Pour ½ C. lemonade over ice.

Crème Fraîche Cherry Compote Ice Cream

Crème Fraîche Cherry Compote Ice Cream

Crème Fraîche Cherry Compote Ice Cream

 

2 C. pitted black cherries fresh or frozen

½ cup sugar

½ medium lemon(s) juiced

 

½ cup sugar

6 large Egg YOLK(s), Organic Pasture Raised

¾ cup whole milk

2 C. Crème Fraîche

 

Make the cherry compote: Combine the cherries, sugar, and lemon juice in a small saucepan over low heat. Cook until the mixture looks like jam, about 20 minutes, stirring frequently. Remove from the heat and allow to cool completely before layering with the ice cream. Make the ice cream: In a bowl, whisk together the sugar and egg yolks until light and creamy. In a medium saucepan over medium-low heat, heat the milk just until a few bubbles start to form. Slowly and gradually, pour the hot milk over the sugar and yolk mixture, whisking constantly. Transfer the mixture to the refrigerator for 6 hours, or until completely chilled. Using a blender or electric mixer, combine the chilled mixture and the Crème Fraîche until smooth. Churn the mixture in an ice cream machine according to the manufacturer’s directions. once churned, scoop a few spoonfuls of the ice cream into a container, and then add a few spoonfuls of the compote. Continue layering, then cover with a lid or plastic wrap and store in the freezer until ready to serve, or up to 1 month.

Berry Berry Cool Pie

Berry Berry Cool Pie

Berry Berry Cool Pie

1 (14 oz.) can Eagle Brand® Sweetened Condensed Milk

2 T. lemon juice

1 ½ C. assorted fresh berries (raspberries, blueberries or blackberries)

1 (8 oz.) container frozen whipped topping, thawed

1 (6 oz.) Keebler Ready Crust Graham Pie Crust

Mix together sweetened condensed milk and lemon juice in large bowl until blended. Stir in berries. Fold in whipped topping. Spoon into crust. Freeze 5 hours or until set. Let stand 30 to 40 minutes before serving. Garnish as desired. For Fudge Drizzle: Place 2 T. Smucker’s® Hot Fudge Topping in resealable plastic bag. Cut small piece off one corner. Drizzle topping over pie before serving.

STRAWBERRY SORREL ICE CREAM

STRAWBERRY SORREL ICE CREAM

STRAWBERRY SORREL ICE CREAM

 

2 cups whole milk

1 cup fresh sorrel leaves, chopped (no stems)

½ cup sugar

4 egg yolks

1 cup heavy cream

Salt

1 cup fresh strawberries, chopped small and frozen

 

In a medium sauce pan combine milk, sugar and sorrel leaves and bring to a boil, reduce heat and let simmer for about 5 minutes allowing sorrel to infuse, take off heat and allow to cool. Transfer mixture to a blender and blend until very smooth in texture. Transfer back to the saucepan and heat to medium again, whisk in egg yolks making sure that the mixture stays smooth and creamy and that it does not boil. Take off heat add a pinch of salt and whisk in heavy cream until combined. Chill the mixture for a few hours in the refrigerator and then follow the instructions for your ice cream maker adding the frozen strawberries during the freezing portion so that that are frozen while entering into freezing ice cream. The idea is that the strawberries do not bleed and stay in place and add tot eh bright green color of the sorrel mixture. *note, chop the strawberries first and freeze on a large sheet tray and avoid touching, can be frozen ahead of time and after freezing placed in a zip lock bag toughing, this will make them easier to drop into the ice cream while freezing.

Watermelon Pops

Watermelon Pops

Watermelon Pops

5 cups chopped fresh watermelon; seeds removed

1 teaspoon mint-infused oil or extract

1 teaspoon orange-infused oil or extract

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

3/4 cup sugar

 

Combine all the ingredients in a blender or food processor. Pour into molds and freeze for at least 6 hours or overnight. Freeze up to 3 months. Store in the molds or release, wrap well in waxed paper, and store in a marked sealable plastic bag.

Basil Strawberry Lemon Granita

Basil Strawberry Lemon Granita

Basil Strawberry Lemon Granita

1 C. Sugar

1 handful fresh Basil Leaves

1 C. Water

4 C. fresh Strawberries, hulled and sliced

Juice and Finely Grated Zest of 2 Lemons

Lemon Slices, for Garnish

 

Combine sugar and basil leaves with the water in a medium saucepan.  Heat over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until sugar is completely dissolved.  Remove heat and let cool.  When cool, strain and discard basil leaves.  Combine berries, lemon juice and zest in a blender or food processor.  Pulse until smooth. Pour cooled simple syrup into the blended fruit and blend well.  Fill 10 8ounce jars ¾ full with mixture.  Cover loosely and place in the freezer for 50 minutes.  Scrape down the edges of the jars with a fork and stir the scrapings into the centers.  Return the jars to the freezer for 90 minutes and scrape them down again.  Freeze additional 5 hours until frozen through.  When you are ready to serve the granita, use a fork to stir the granita mixture one more time.  Serve ice cold, garnished with lemon slices.

Frozen Breakfast Smoothie Pops

Frozen Breakfast Smoothie Pops

Frozen Breakfast Smoothie Pops

1 C. chilled pure coconut water

1 C. vanilla-flavored Greek-style yogurt

1 C. frozen mango chunks

2 T. grated orange rind

2 oranges, separated into segments, seeds removed

1 T. large-flake rolled oats

1 to 3 T. softened coconut oil

 

In a blender, combine coconut water, yogurt, mango, orange rind, orange segments, rolled oats and oil. Secure lid and blend until smooth. Spoon into frozen pop containers and freeze for at least 4 hours or overnight.  Frozen mango chunks make this smoothie or frozen pop very thick, but you can use fresh mango, if desired. Try 1 C. frozen berries in place of the mango. You can substitute instant oats for the large-flake rolled oats.  If you’re new to using coconut oil, you may wish to start with 1 tsp. of coconut oil and gradually increase to 2 T. over time.

 

Light Cherry Lemonade Freeze

Light Cherry Lemonade Freeze

Light Cherry Lemonade Freeze

 

1½ cups light lemonade (If you cannot find this, you can make it with crystal light)

1 cup frozen dark cherries

1½ cups crushed ice

1/8 teaspoon almond extract

 

Place light lemonade and cherries in a blender. Blend to mix.  Add crushed ice and almond extract and blend on high until the ice is completely incorporated. (similar to Wild Cherry Lemonade Mixer from Auntie Anne’s, without the tremendous about of sugar)

 

Nutrition Information Per Serving (1½ cups)

Calories: 50

Total Fat: 0g

Fiber: 2g

Maple Ice Cream with Bacon Bark

Maple Ice Cream with Bacon Bark

Maple Ice Cream with Bacon Bark

 

For the Maple Ice Cream:

 

2 tablespoons organic cane sugar

½ cup plus 2 tablespoons skim milk powder

1â…“ C. whole milk

¾ cup grade B maple syrup

2 C. heavy cream

3 egg yolks

 

For the Bacon Bark:

 

Butter for the baking sheet

1 pound bacon

14 tablespoons unsalted butter

2¼ C. organic cane sugar

½ cup packed dark brown sugar

2 teaspoons salt

2½ teaspoons vanilla extract

½ teaspoon baking soda

8 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped

 

Make the maple ice cream: Prepare an ice bath in the sink or in a large heatproof bowl. In a medium saucepan, combine the sugar, skim milk powder, and milk. Stir with a hand mixer or whisk until smooth. Make sure the skim milk powder is wholly dissolved into the mixture and that no lumps remain (any remaining sugar granules will dissolve over the heat). Stir in the maple syrup and cream. Clip a candy thermometer to the saucepan and set the pan over medium heat. Cook, stirring often with a rubber spatula and scraping the bottom of the pan to prevent sticking and burning, until the mixture reaches 110ºF (45ºC), 5 to 10 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat. Place the egg yolks in a medium bowl. While whisking, slowly pour ½ cup of the hot milk mixture into the egg yolks to temper them. Continue to whisk slowly until the mixture is an even color and consistency, then whisk the egg-yolk mixture back into the remaining milk mixture. Return the pan to the stovetop over medium heat and continue cooking the mixture, stirring often, until it reaches 165ºF, 5 to 10 minutes more. Transfer the pan to the prepared ice bath and let cool for 15 to20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Pour the ice cream base through a wire-mesh strainer into a storage container and place in the refrigerator for 1 to 2 hours, or until completely cool. Make the bacon bark: Preheat the oven to 400ºF. Butter two 12-by-18-inch rimmed baking sheets and line them with parchment paper. On one baking sheet, lay out the bacon strips in a single layer. Bake until crispy, about 15 minutes. Reserve ¼ cup of the bacon grease from the pan and discard the rest or reserve it for another use. Let cool, then break the bacon into small pieces and set aside. In a medium saucepan, combine the butter, cane sugar, brown sugar, salt, reserved bacon grease, and ¼ cup water. Clip a candy thermometer to the pan and set the pan over medium-high heat. Cook, stirring, until just combined, then continue to cook without stirring until the mixture reaches 305ºF. Be very careful—the toffee will bubble up as it boils. It is very hot and will cause serious burns if it spatters on you. Using oven mitts, remove the pan from the heat, remove the thermometer, and add the vanilla. The vanilla might spatter when it hits the hot toffee, so be careful. Add the baking soda and whisk vigorously for a few seconds to combine. Then add the bacon pieces and fold into the toffee. Pour the toffee evenly onto the prepared baking sheet. Before the toffee cools, sprinkle the chocolate across the top. Wait a minute or two, then use a spatula to spread the now melted chocolate across the top of the toffee. Let cool completely, then refrigerate for 1 hour, until the toffee has hardened. Chop the toffee into bite-size pieces and set aside.  Transfer the cooled base to an ice cream maker and churn it according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Transfer the ice cream to a storage container, folding in the pieces of bacon bark as you do.

Use as much of the bacon bark as you want; you won’t necessarily need the whole batch. Serve

immediately or harden in your freezer for 8 to 12 hours for a more scoopable ice cream.

Vanilla (Birthday Cake) No-Churn Ice Cream

Vanilla (Birthday Cake) No-Churn Ice Cream

Vanilla (Birthday Cake) No-Churn Ice Cream

 

2 cups heavy cream, chilled

1 cup sweetened condensed milk

1/4 cup whole milk

1/4 cup light corn syrup

2 T. sugar

1 T. vanilla extract

1/4 tsp. table salt

 

Process cream in blender until soft peaks form, 20 to 30 seconds. Scrape down sides of blender jar and continue to process until stiff peaks form, about 10 seconds. Using rubber spatula, stir in condensed milk, whole milk, corn syrup, sugar, vanilla, and salt. Process until thoroughly combined, about 20 seconds, scraping down sides of blender jar as needed. Pour cream mixture into 8 1/2 by 4 1/2-inch loaf pan. Press plastic wrap flush against surface of cream mixture. Freeze until firm, at least 6 hours or up to 5 days. Serve.

 

Variations

 

Dark Chocolate No-Churn Ice Cream

Decrease vanilla to 1 tsp.. Add 6 ounces melted bittersweet chocolate and 1/2 tsp. instant espresso powder with condensed milk.

 

Birthday Cake No-Churn Ice Cream

Decrease vanilla to 2 tsp.. Add 1/2 cup store-bought vanilla frosting and 1/8 tsp. yellow food coloring with condensed milk. After transferring cream mixture to loaf pan, gently stir in 2 T. rainbow sprinkles before freezing.

 

Strawberry Buttermilk No-Churn Ice Cream

Substitute 1/2 cup buttermilk for whole milk and 1 tsp. lemon juice for vanilla. After transferring cream mixture to loaf pan, dollop 1/3 cup strawberry jam over top. Swirl jam into cream mixture using tines of fork before freezing.

 

Mint Cookie No-Churn Ice Cream

Substitute 3/4 tsp. peppermint extract for vanilla. Add 1/8 tsp. green food coloring with condensed milk. After transferring cream mixture to loaf pan, gently stir in 1/2 cup coarsely crushed Oreo cookies before freezing.

Berry Granita

Berry Granita

Berry Granita

1/2 C. water
1/4 C. sugar substitute
1 bag (10 oz.) frozen blueberries
1 lemon, peeled and juiced
lemon twist, for garnish
1/2 C. low-fat frozen whipped topping (optional)

In a small pot over medium heat, combine the water and sugar substitute. Bring to a boil. Boil for 2 minutes, then set aside to cool to room temperature. In a food processor fitted with a metal blade, combine the blueberries, lemon peel, lemon juice, and cooled syrup. Pulse for 2 minutes, or until the blueberries are coarsely ground. Pour into a small metal bowl and stir a few times with a fork to break up any large pieces. Cover the bowl with foil and place in the freezer overnight. Spoon into 6 serving glasses, garnish with a lemon twist, and top with the whipped topping, if using.

Yield: 6 servings
Calories: 60
Fat: .5g
Fiber: 1g

Lavender Ice Cream

Lavender Ice Cream

Lavender Ice Cream

6 egg yolks
2 cups half and half
1 cup cream
2/3 cup vanilla sugar
1 vanilla bean
3 whole lavender tops or 2 T. dried lavender- be sure to use organic, food grade

Prepare a water bath in a large bowl. Set aside. In a saucepan, heat half & half with the cream and the vanilla bean pod denuded of its interior until it simmers. Take off heat and add in the lavender to steep. Set aside until almost room temperature, about 45-60 minutes. When the time has lapsed, strain the mixture and bring it back up to temperature- just short of simmering again. Take off the heat. *Pro-tip: Frozen foods need more flavor for it to come through the freeze. So taste the cream mixture. It should taste fairly strong. Don’t be alarmed. Once the ice cream is fully frozen, the flavor will have mellowed out. In fact, with any flavoring that you add to ice cream or any frozen dessert, it’s best if the flavor is pretty strong prior to freezing to get the best flavor. Mix egg yolks until lighter in another bowl. Add in vanilla sugar and the scraped out insides of the vanilla bean. Mix well. Temper the eggs with some of the cream mixture until the eggs are brought up to the same temperature as the cream mixture. *tempering of the eggs is why you brought the cream back up to temperature in the last step* Pour it all into the saucepan. Heat over medium-lowish heat for about 2-3 minutes or until it coats the back of a spoon or it reaches 170 degrees. Pour the mixture back through a fine mesh strainer into the egg/sugar bowl and put it all into the water bath. Bring the custard down to room temperature as quickly as possible. About 30-45 minutes. Put it into the fridge uncovered until it no longer forms condensation. Then cover and let sit in fridge for 4-6 hours or overnight.. Put into ice cream maker and follow the instructions for the machine. This ice cream is particularly delightful with sugar cookies made with rose sugar or orange sugar.

Watermelon Granita

Watermelon Granita

Watermelon Granita

5 C. seeded watermelon pulp
1 C. simple syrup
2 T. fresh lemon juice
Thin watermelon wedges, cut into strips for a garnish

Puree watermelon in a food processor. Pour into a 9 x 13 inch baking dish. Stir in the syrup and lemon juice. Freeze for about 4 hours or until frozen solid. To serve, scrape up granita with a large spoon and place in goblets, tulip shaped wine glasses or ice cream dishes. Garnish with a narrow wedge of watermelon. Makes 4 servings. To make sugar syrup; Combine 1/2 C. water and 1 C. sugar in a saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Boil for one minute. Stirring constantly until all of the sugar has dissolved. Cool in the refrigerator

Sweet Basil and Lemon Sorbet

Sweet Basil and Lemon Sorbet

2/3 C. water
¾ C. superfine Sugar
Zest of 2 lemons
1 large bunch of basil leaves (whichever variety you wish), reserve some to serve
2/3 C. lemon juice

Place the water, sugar and lemon zest in a small pan, bring to the boil and simmer for 4 minutes. Remove from the heat and allow to cool for 10 minutes. Remove the basil leaves from the stems (discarding the stems) and purée the leaves in a pestle and mortar or blender. Add the lemon juice and basil purée to the lemon-zest syrup, stir well, then allow to cool for 30 minutes to allow the flavors to infuse. If you wish to be posh, strain the infusion through a sieve or if, like me, you love the leaves, simply pour it straight into a plastic tub or earthenware freezer-proof dish and place it in the freezer. Generally, sorbet takes 2 hours to set. So that the sorbet is not rock hard, remove the container from the freezer after 30 minutes, beat the sorbet with a fork and return to the freezer. Repeat this three more times, every 30 minutes. You will find that this will make the sorbet crystallize rather than set as a rock of ice. Serve decorated with some fresh basil leaves.

Salted Saffron Tinted Coconut Milk Ice Cream

Salted Saffron Tinted Coconut Milk Ice Cream

2-13.5 oz. cans coconut milk
2 T. olive oil
1/8 tsp. Spanish saffron powder
1/2 C. sugar
2 tsp. Maldon sea salt

Adjust salt and saffron to taste. The salt level will remain the same when made into ice cream, but the saffron can become stronger. Also, instead of using the saffron powder, you can choose to use about 20 saffron threads, hand crushed.

In a large bowl, blend all ingredients thoroughly. The coconut milk will have a light yellow tint. Refrigerate for at least an hour to chill. Carefully pour mixture into an ice cream maker and freeze according to manufacturer’s directions.

Passionfruit, Coconut & Lime Batida

Passionfruit, Coconut & Lime Batida

Passionfruit, Coconut & Lime Batida

 

8 passionfruit

4 unwaxed limes

450ml coconut water

200ml cachaça or vodka

3 tbsp caster sugar

 

Cut the passionfruit in half and scoop the pulp into the jar or bottle. Quarter the limes, squeeze in the juice, dropping the squeezed quarters in as well. Add the remaining ingredients, screw on the lid and give the bottle a good vigorous shake. You could strain the mixture now, but I like to let it sit for at least 30 minutes in the fridge for the lime wedges to continue adding flavor to the drink. Strain into individual sealable bottles and chill. Ideally you want to drink it ice cold, so I tend to pop the bottles into the freezer, avoiding the risk of it warming up too much in transit. It has a high alcohol content so although it might turn to slush, it shouldn’t fully freeze.

Tart Cherry Sorbet

Tart Cherry Sorbet

Tart-Cherry-Sorbet-21-2 pounds frozen tart cherry juice – pure tart cherry juice frozen in ice cube trays
3/4-1 cup simple syrup*
1/4 cup lemon juice (1 lemon squeezed)
pinch of salt

In the large work bowl with the large chopping blade, dump in the frozen tart cherry juice cubes, simple syrup, lemon juice and salt. Pulse 10 times, using long pulses. After scraping the bowl, process until smooth, about two minutes. It only took 20 seconds for the frozen cherry juice. Eat immediately or place in a container and place in the freezer.

Notes: Simple Syrup is equal amounts of sugar and water boiled together until the sugar has completely dissolve, creating a sweet syrup. Allow to fully cool before using.

Quick Strawberry Watermelon Sorbet

Quick Strawberry Watermelon Sorbet

open-uri20150722-16-1jogjun1/2 cup Cold water
5 cups Seedless watermelon, cut into chunks then frozen
1 1/4 cup Frozen strawberries
3/4 cup Sweetener that measures like sugar (or sweetener to taste)
2 T. Lemon juice (or according to taste)

Place all of the ingredients in a blender or food processor, and blend until smooth. (This may take a few times of scraping down the sides of the blender, and possibly a few extra tablespoons of water of water.)

Yield: 4 servings
Calories: 72
Fat: 0g
Fiber: 2g

Strawberry Freeze

Strawberry Freeze

1strawberry-lemon-smoothie quart fresh strawberries

2 C. vanilla ice cream, softened

1 3oz pkg strawberry gelatin

1/2 C. boiling water

2 tsp. lemon juice

Serving day: 7UP (2 liters)

Additional strawberries for garnish

In large bowl, mash strawberries and add ice cream. In separate small bowl, dissolve gelatin in the water. Stir in lemon juice. Add to the strawberry mixture and mix well. Freeze mixture in a hard-sided container with lid. Freeze overnight. Serving day: Fill serving glass 1/3-1/2 full with frozen mixture. Add 7UP and stir. Garnish with strawberries and serve.

Homemade Strawberry Ice Cream

1 1/2 cups strawberries, hulled and diced

2 T. honey

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1 tsp. lemon juice

1 cup heavy whipping cream

1/2 cup half and half

1 tsp. vanilla extract

 

In a large bowl, mix strawberries, honey, sugar, and lemon juice. Allow to sit 15-20 minutes, or until the strawberries have released their juices. Mash the mixture with a potato masher, fork, or pastry cutter until there are no longer any large strawberry pieces (if you prefer a smooth ice cream, use a blender or food processor instead*). To the strawberries, mix heavy cream, half and half, and vanilla extract. Stir just until combined. Pour the mixture into your ice cream maker and follow your manufacturer’s instructions (mine took about 15-20 minutes to churn). You can eat the ice cream soft-serve or freeze it in an airtight container for 3-4 hours to thicken it up slightly. For best results, allow the ice cream to sit at room temperature for about 5-10 minutes to soften before serving. Recipe Notes: *If you puree the strawberries, I suggest only using 2/3 – 1 cup of strawberries, as the liquid consistency can make the ice cream less creamy if you use the full 1 1/2 cups.

Lemon Curd Ice Cream

Lemon Curd Ice Cream

Lemon Curd Ice Cream

 

1 3/4 C. cream

3/4 C. 2% milk

3/4 C. sugar

1/4 tsp. salt

5 egg yolks

1 C.  lemon curd  (store-bought may be used, but ice cream is better with homemade!)

 

To make ice cream, in a medium size saucepan add cream, milk, 1/2 C. of the sugar and salt.  Heat over medium/low heat until steaming.  Whisk egg yolks and slowly add the remaining 1/4 C. sugar. When the cream mixture is hot and steaming, slowly pour a small amount of the hot cream mixture into the egg yolk mixture stirring constantly.  Continue to add at least 1/2 of the hot cream mixture.  Slowly pour the egg/cream mixture back into the pan and cook over low heat until the mixture coats the back of a spoon. Stirring constantly with a wooden spoon.  Remove from heat and pour into a bowl.  Cover and chill completely about 2 hours or overnight. When ready to freeze, pour the ice cream custard into a ice cream maker and freeze according to manufacturer’s directions.  Add lemon curd the last 5 – 10 minutes of mixing.  Makes about a 1 1/2 to 2 pints of ice cream.

Strawberry Limeade Slurpie

Strawberry Limeade Slurpie

Strawberry Limeade Slurpie

This is a spectacular summertime treat—so refreshing on a hot day. You can also use this recipe to make ice pops.

 

2 limes, juiced

2 T. agave nectar

6 frozen strawberries

1 C. ice cubes

1 tsp. pure maple syrup

 

Place all the ingredients in a high-powered blender and blend until smooth. Pour into glasses and serve immediately.